The world today depends heavily on truck drivers; without them, items ranging from basic necessities to clothes and essential supplies would not be so readily available in shops, supermarkets or hospitals.
The transport sector is currently facing a crisis, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but above all due to the shortage of truck drivers with trucks that are often at a standstill due to a lack of specialised personnel.
Truck drivers in their trucks on the motorway
How to become a truck driver?
Becoming a professional truck driver usually requires a high school diploma, completion of truck driving school and a commercial driving licence.
What does the profession of truck driver entail?
Truck drivers generally transport a large number of goods across the country. In most cases, these drivers transport goods across state borders. Not only are they responsible for transporting the goods, but they must comply with all traffic laws, report any delivery problems, keep a record of all kilometres driven and inspect documents during the journey. There are also delivery drivers for shorter distances, usually within an assigned region or area, who have similar job responsibilities.
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A typical day in a truck with a truck driver
What are the requirements to become a truck driver?
Working as a truck driver usually involves some basic requirements, in addition to having a high school diploma:
having Italian citizenship for sole proprietors
having the availability of adequate technical and economic means
being registered with the Chamber of Commerce for the activity of road haulage for third parties
having taken out an insurance contract for civil liability arising from the use of vehicles and for damage to goods to be transported
not having been sentenced to a penalty involving disqualification from a profession or art
not having been subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
What are the advantages of being a truck driver?
Salary
How much does a truck driver earn? The average salary is € 1,900 net per month. The salary of a lorry driver can start at a minimum salary of € 1,400 net per month, while the maximum salary can even exceed € 2,900 net per month.
Travelling
As a truck driver you will certainly travel a lot: you have the opportunity to visit many different states and parts of the country that you may never have had the chance to see before, plus you will be travelling providing a very important service.
Truck driver driving a truck
Insured work
Without truck drivers, all the materials, equipment and supplies that the public relies on would not make it to shop shelves or warehouses. Trucking is an essential service for every country and is likely to continue to increase in demand. Employment of truck drivers is expected to increase by 6% by 2030, further increasing the job security of this profession.
Job freedom
Being on the road every day can seem much more liberating than being stuck behind a desk or staring at a computer screen all day. Even though you will probably have a strict driving schedule and deadlines, you will still be able to enjoy digital services such as music or audio books while travelling. If you become an owner operator, you will have even more control over the schedule and thus more independence.
One has to take into account the compulsory forced rest stops that often force drivers to spend even a weekend at truck stops.
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