How To Become A Truck Driver with Mike Eggers
Welcome to another OneDegree Careers Career Chat™! We have Mike Eggers who is a Truck Driver, and he is going to share with us how he got into the trucking industry and really share some insights on what it means to be a Truck Driver.
Mike, how did you get into the trucking industry, and when did you know that this was something that you wanted to do?
Well my first few jobs were always dock work so loading and unloading trucks. After a few years of that, someone actually taught me how to drive the truck. A few years passed by and unfortunately I got laid off, but unemployment was able to give me a grant. I used that money to go to truck driving school and I’ve been doing it ever since then. I’ve always loved driving trucks I really enjoy driving. After school I went over the road for a few years meaning I was out for 3-4 weeks at a time and it was great money. I did that for 3 years and got my road time completed which most training programs require at least 1 year of over the road time so they know you have experience. After that, I came back home to spend more time with my family and got local jobs.
How long did it take to complete the Trucking School program and how much did it cost?
It really depends on what you want to do and how far you want to go. It can range anywhere from 6-8 weeks, I ended up doing the 6 week course because I wasn’t doing any endorsements. It honestly just depends on what exactly you’re looking for since the trucking industry is pretty vast when it comes to job placement.
Walk me through what a typical day looks like for you, especially those first few years when you were doing those long 3-4 week stints?
Obviously a lot of driving. If you don’t have a load, you have a computer that tells you exactly where and what you’re picking up and where you're delivering to. I didn't;t have GPS when I started but of course now it really makes the job much easier. You can actually plan out your day and see how long it will take you to drive through each state as well. It also depends on how much time whatever company you’re working for gives you to finish each delivery. Typically, they’ll give you 2-3 days to complete each stop. Also, a truck driver is allowed a 14 hour day, but you can’t do over 70 hours a week.
What was one of your favorite places you’ve ever driven through?
My favorite state was Montana. It might have been the coolest place I’ve ever seen. Like in the movies where they have the wild horses running free, it was exactly like that. It was nature at it’s best. Texas was an interesting state, something I never saw as a New Yorker. There’s just a lot of different places out there and so much opportunity out there for truck drivers to travel.
What would you do during drives to keep you entertained and pass the time?
Lots of music! Other things was talking on the phone with my buddies and my family. Just keeping yourself entertained.
For you, what has been one of your biggest challenges working in the industry?
In the beginning it was tough being away from the family. If it weren’t for by buddy who was like my mentor, he’d been driving for 40 years, it would have been very difficult. Anything I needed or any questions I needed answered he would point me in the right direction. That’s pretty much it, knowing where to go previous to GPS was always hard but it’s so different now with technology. The truck and it’s size can also be very intimidating, but you can’t let nerves get the best of you. You have to be a good driver and not let road rage get the best of you because you’re driving basically a death trap. You have to be responsible with the equipment.
What can someone expect to make as a Truck Driver as an entry level and where are the growth opportunities?
Entry level can make anywhere from $55-65k a year. It also just depends on how long you want to be out on the road. Like myself who was out for almost a month on end no stopping, my annual salary was anywhere between $74-90k. It really is great money, but remember that over the road is tough. If you work locally, your salary can range anywhere from $55-80k a year. Really hinges on how much you want to drive. In terms of growth, every company promotes you for good driving. If you drive safely there’s a program that every company has that if you have a million miles, which roughly is a solid 10 years of over the road driving, they’ll give you either a new truck or a bonus which is a pretty big deal.
Where do you see opportunities for new Truck Drivers?
I will definitely say the biggest opportunities are in over the road driving, especially for someone who doesn’t have a family. It’s a great experience to anyone who wants to see the country too. Places that you would never even think of going, and great people that you wouldn’t have met without the trucking industry.
So we’ve heard and read a lot about self driving trucks; how do you see that affecting the Trucking Industry?
As long as I’ve been doing it, I just don’t think the self driving truck is going to go too far. It might be one maybe two companies that adopt and proceed with it, but even now with such a shortage of drivers we will always be needed. There always has to be a person to load and unload in the best possible way that unfortunately a machine cannot replicate.