Benefits of the “Open Road” Lifestyle

Willie Nelson said it best. 

 

“On the road again, 

I just can’t wait to get on the road again.

Goin' places that I've never been

Seein' things that I may never see again

And I can't wait to get on the road again.”

 

While our site focuses on drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers, we don’t spend nearly enough time on the potential benefits of living the open road lifestyle. Today we are going to look at some of the positive aspects of being in the trucking field and how you and your family could benefit from a life on the road. 

 

For many in the trucking industry, long haul trucking (meaning days and weeks on the road) becomes a way of life, almost a calling. Over the past year, we have heard truckers being called essential workers and even heroes during this pandemic. But what keeps CDL drivers in the industry? Let’s take a closer look. 

Autonomy 

Many careers require employees to sit in an office (or worse yet, a cubicle) for 8-10 hours a day with little or no time to themselves. Truckers, especially long haulers, get the freedom of the open road to enjoy their own music, the company of a pet, and see parts of the country they may not have had the opportunity to see on their own. 

 

Autonomy means the responsibility to do the work without supervision. It allows for a little bit of freedom that many careers do not allow. According to Knight Transport, “Successful truckers are self-sufficient and self-motivated, and complete jobs when no one is looking. The trucker lifestyle requires drivers to plan trips, comprehensive safety inspections, log information, communicate with managers, eat healthily, obey traffic laws, and even do laundry on the road without direction or reminders.”

Paid Travel 

While most truckers do not determine their own routes or days of travel, they do have the opportunity to travel to parts of the country that they may not have ever seen before. The beautiful scenery and the quiet travel is incomparable. All the while, CDL drivers are being paid for their work, they get a chance to travel the country. 

State-of-the-Art Technology 

 

As vehicles improve every year, truckers get the opportunity to work with some of the best equipment available. Top of the line equipment can translate into increased efficiency, productivity, and safety. Specifically, improvements in technology can help during long drives and even expedite time passing through weigh stations. 

Meeting New People 

As truckers become more accustomed to their route, they can begin to build a camaraderie with colleagues, other drivers on similar routes, and those in the manufacturing fields for whom they deliver. Whether you are more quiet or outgoing, the friendly people in our industry will become your valued colleagues who keep you company on the roads and at your stopovers. 

 

So if travelling the country, enjoying good company, and working with advanced technology sounds like something you want to take part in, check out your future in the commercial trucking industry.