At 160 Driving Academy, there are plenty of reasons to get your CDL—great starting salaries, opportunities for advancement, and a thriving industry just to name a few… but we also recognize that it takes a certain resilient personality to become a tried and true truck driver. So you know you’re making the right choice for your career, we put together a list of things that all truck driving students should consider before becoming a professional driver.

The hours are long

This comes to no surprise—you’re getting only a few hours of sleep a night and the rest is spent sitting at the steering wheel. You’ll be driving all through the daylight hours and even into the night.

Most of your time is spent alone

Along with long hours comes long hours of alone time. If you’re the type of person who enjoys their quiet time, this could be a great job for you. And when you’re feeling in need of some chit chat, park at a truck stop, grab some grub, and meet others on the road.

You must be independent and adventurous

Trucking is an adventure. You can drive through deserts to mountains to plains—all in a day! Be prepared to see some wonderful sites as well as some very boring hours. Either way you must have a sense of adventure and be self-sufficient. You’re in control of your hours and have a responsibility to your company to meet their requirements.

It’s hard to stay healthy

It comes with the territory. Staying healthy is difficult when you’re confined to one position of sitting for hours on end. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be! With a little effort and discipline you can keep your body healthy on the road. Check out this blog post on health tips for truckers .

Are you up for the challenge? Get started on your new career path and earn your CDL with 160 Driving Academy! We offer dedicated instructors, hands-on training, and small classrooms to help you you’re your CDL in as little as 4 weeks. Call us or fill out our online form to learn more.