Like any other job, trucking isn’t for everyone; where others see an opportunity to have a little more control over how often they work, others may see only the obstacles to that opportunity.
If, however, you’ve already gotten your professional driver’s license and already have a truck – perhaps it was a used Volvo semi truck for sale or another model – and you have a few years of experience under your belt, then it’s safe to say you may well have found the job for you.
Whatever got you into trucking in the first place, you feel you’re ready to put that experience to good use; now you just have to decide which business to get into. That said, here are some of the most profitable trucking businesses to consider.
Private Fleets
Some companies have their own private fleet of trucks, and it’s a fact that they offer higher pay. According to the American Trucking Association, a driver in a private fleet is around $86,000 a year, compared to $53,000 a year – on average – for a regular truck driver.
However, getting a job with a private fleet can be difficult, as most require 3 to 5 years of experience as well as a good record as both employee and truck driver with whichever company or companies you’ve worked with. Given the payout, though, ensuring you have a clean record and putting in the time needed to gain experience will be worth it.
Household Goods Movers
As the name implies, working as a household goods mover means you’ll need to move furniture and appliances from Point A to Point B. Some truck drivers avoid such jobs since they’re physically tiring most of the time and can be difficult to pull off. After all, you’re worrying about getting several pieces of furniture or several appliances from one place to another, and they should be intact upon arrival.
However, the fact remains that household goods movers are in high demand and – as a result – can earn a lot per job. According to the American Movers Society of America, such a job can lead to a net income of around $80,000 to $100,000 a year if you both own and operate the business. If you work as a truck driver in a household goods moving company, though, you can expect to earn up to $80,000 a year.
Ice Road Trucker
The driving season for an ice road trucker is only three to four months long, but because of the driving conditions, it can still mean a lot of money – as much as a year’s salary for the average on-the-road truck driver in the best case scenario.
How much you earn would typically depend on the load you’re bringing, how remote the community is, and what sort of terrain you’d have to travel to deliver. There’s also the weather to contend with, since winter means that not all roads will be open or passable when you need them to be.
Given that, not just any truck driver can be an ice road trucker, so companies looking for one will be looking for significant experience and endorsements. If you have experience with all kinds of freight, including hazardous material and oversized, then you have a better chance of becoming one.
