Have you recently made the decision to pursue a career as a professional truck driver? Before you decide which type of driver you want to be, you will want to enroll in truck driving school when you’ve made the decision to drive for a living. In the time it will take you to earn your CDL, you can mull over your options and choose the best path for you and your family. To help you get started thinking about this important decision in your driving career, here are some things to consider when choosing between short and long haul trucking after you graduate from truck driving school.
Time Away from Home
Perhaps the biggest contributing factor to your decision is how long you intend to be away from home on the road. Short-haul truck drivers are usually home every night, since they typically just run routes around town or back and forth from nearby cities. Long-haul truckers, on the other hand, can be away from home for days or even weeks at a time, though they tend to have longer breaks between trips.
Differences in Pay
Long-haul truck drivers are away from home for longer periods of time and often clock more miles each day than short-haul truckers, and the difference in pay reflects this. Data from the BLS shows that tractor-trailer drivers made an average of $40,260 per year in 2015 while delivery truck drivers (a category most short-haul drivers are most typically included in) made an average of $27,760 per year. The difference in pay is often enough to persuade drivers to earn their Class-A CDL and become long-haul drivers.
Long-Term Career Plans
Many drivers hit the road with plans to become owner-operators someday, and while both short-haul and long-haul trucking can pave the way to this lofty goal, long-haul trucking better prepares drivers for the demands of running a successful independent trucking business. If your plan is to be your own boss someday and you want to “learn the ropes” when it comes to lucrative long-distance logistics, being a long-haul driver might be a good fit.
Yuma Truck Driving School can provide you with all the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in any type of professional driving position, including short- and long-haul driving. Call us toll-free at (888) 647-3239 to learn more about our truck driving programs in Southern Arizona.
