There are millions of truck drivers across the United States; and yet, in many ways, truckers are the unsung heroes of the American workforce. Many of the products and services that we use on a daily basis would not be available without the hours and miles that truck drivers put in.
That is one of the main reasons why truck drivers are proud of the work that they do. Most truckers also enjoy life on the road, but that does not mean that life as a truck driver is easy. In fact, the life of a truck driver is filled with challenges that are unique to this profession.
What is it like to be a truck driver? And more importantly, what are some challenges that are unique to truck driver life? In this article, we will go over some of the main challenges that are common in the life of a truck driver, and if you are a trucker yourself, some ways in which you can deal with them.
1. Irregular Schedules
One of the toughest challenges that a truck driver can face is not knowing what their schedule is from one week to the next. Jobs can often vary in both distance and time spent on the road. This can be a challenge for a number of reasons. For example, you do not know when exactly you will be home, your sleep schedule can become irregular and affect your health, or you can have trouble planning appointments.
The Matheson Solution: All of our drivers are on set schedules. This means that you always know when you will be at work and when you will be at home. We also have set routes, which means you don’t have to worry about planning out your route each week.
2. Lack of Home Time
A challenge that is very much related to the first one on this list, lack of regular home time can also be a struggle for many truck drivers. This can be difficult if you have a family that you would like to spend more time with, but also if you are single and simply have other obligations at home — or even just have the desire to sleep in your own bed!
The Matheson Solution: We have positions that suit every driver. Matheson designs our drivers’ routes to make sure that you will be home at least once a week. If you would like to maximize your home time, you can apply for a local job rather than a longer regional route. And as mentioned previously, because we have set routes, you do not have to spend extra time planning each day or week.
3. Irregular Pay
Most trucking companies will pay their drivers by the mile; and with irregular routes, it can be difficult to know exactly what your take-home pay will be for each pay period. It also means that when you are stuck waiting for things like traffic or loading and unloading, you aren’t getting paid.
The Matheson Solution: We pay all of our drivers by the hour, for every hour worked. This not only means that you are properly compensated for all of the time that you spend working, but it also means that you have a much better idea of how much you will take home each period.
4. Health
The long hours spent sitting in one place, the irregular hours, and the need to eat wherever and whenever you can are issues that can cause health problems for many truck drivers. It can also be difficult to find a position where you will have access to a health plan.
The Matheson Solution: Health benefit options are available to all of our full-time drivers. Additionally, all of our loads are no-touch. This is much safer for our drivers because it minimizes the risk of accidents, injury, or strain from loading and unloading.
5. Regulations
There is a lot of red tape associated with being a truck driver. Some drivers can become frustrated with certain regulations placed upon them for things such as how many hours they can drive at a time. And though these regulations are necessary, it can be tough if you want to maximize your time on the road in order to earn more or get home sooner.
The Matheson Solution: We make a special effort to ensure that all of our routes are compliant with all federal regulations, so that you don’t even have to spend time worrying about them. If you are looking to drive longer routes without the extra time needed for rest stops, you can apply for one of our team routes, where you can share the work but will also be paid for every hour that you are not driving.
Life as a truck driver is not without its challenges, but most of them can be tackled with the help of the right employer. If any of these solutions appeals to you, and you believe that you will meet the necessary requirements, you can view our careers page to check your eligibility and available positions.
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