The COVID-19 pandemic threw a number of different industries into turmoil. It instantly became more difficult for a wide variety of individuals to work in the same fields that they did before. Those who did often needed to accept reduced hours and salaries. Women were particularly affected by the pandemic, as many households in the United States are run by single mothers who provide the sole incomes for their children to depend upon. Although there is ideally an end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight with the promise of different vaccines, it’s clear that it will be some time before Americans at large are properly vaccinated and those employees displaced by the pandemic can return to work. Furthermore, many companies that survive the pandemic will likely bring employees off furlough and rehire at a reduced capacity at first. Therefore, millions of women have been left looking for new positions that are stable and relatively lucrative. This has led many to consider truck driving.
Though the trucking industry is traditionally associated with men, female truck drivers have long been present in the field, and their presence could very well be on the rise in light of the pandemic. Commercial trucking has long been one of the most trusted shipping methods for countless companies across the United States and Canada. Furthermore, trucking is a profession that can physically be done by not only both men and women, but people with varying levels of experience. Individuals do not need to be young in order to become successful within the commercial trucking industry. Indeed, the fact that many women had yet to enter the trucking industry perhaps only made some women more likely to embark on their trucking careers.
The Appeal of Trucking for Female Workers
Commercial trucking does come with a learning curve, and many of the women becoming commercial truckers are embarking on entirely new careers quite different from what they did previously. Therefore, it is easy to assume that there must be significant draws leading them to pursue trucking careers.
The assumption is certainly not wrong. There is a greater need for truckers than ever before. The income that people would normally be investing into travel and other luxuries is now being funneled into everyday necessities and food items, which are the types of products that truckers usually transport. Additionally, many older truck drivers have retired in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is most harmful to senior citizens. There is both an increased demand for new truckers and a loss of older truckers.
Commercial trucking can also provide a salary comparable or in some cases better than what was offered to many women in their previous positions. While the median salary for truckers is around $43,000 to $44,000 per year, it’s not unusual for truckers to be paid anywhere between $60,000 to $80,000 per year. Those that operate as commercial truckers may need to travel, but they can also potentially have more uninterrupted family time than they would if working in accordance with a traditional office or retail worker’s schedule.
Technology has also made it easier for truckers to stay in touch with their families. They can easily video conference with their relatives, perhaps more easily due to advancements made because of the pandemic. Indeed, trucking could be seen as an excellent position for those attempting to properly socially distance. Nonetheless, women intending to enter this workforce will be required to undergo a great deal of training.
Transitioning to the Commercial Trucking Industry
Those unfamiliar with commercial trucking may understandably feel intimidated by the idea of operating 18-wheel trucks and transporting cargo over long distances. Fortunately, employers require potential hires to attend programs that train new truckers and prepare them fully before they enter the field fully. Not only are the truckers trained to drive as they usually would; they’re also trained to work in the specific conditions drivers are dealing with during COVID-19. Due to social distancing measures, many truck stops are either closed down or operating at reduced capacities, as are restaurants that truckers would usually rely upon. Due to the limited resources available, truckers are being taught not only how to work within pandemic-friendly parameters but to utilize certain survival skills. This is particularly important for women moving within Northern regions like New York state.
Women seeking commercial trucking jobs in Rochester need to attend trucking school first and foremost. Though there are different options available, they need to focus on those with good reviews and recommendations, as well as thorough curriculums. The more intensively commercial truckers are trained, the more likely they will be to get good jobs within their new fields.
Reliable commercial trucking training programs in Rochester need to require in-cab training. Although commercial truckers are in essence driving, the vehicles that they’re driving are much larger and therefore weightier than the cars that they would be used to driving personally. In-cab training allows student truckers to carefully practice operating these massive vehicles in a safe, contained setting. Furthermore, this kind of experience can be used as leverage for a higher salary.
It’s crucial that future truckers take the types of trucking schools that they consider seriously. While it may be tempting to use lower quality, less expensive trucking schools this could not only leave female truckers less able to attain the jobs that they want but leave them less prepared for their futures. It’s also important for truckers in training to consider the amount of time that it will take them to fully train. These are not the types of careers that individuals can simply leap into, but most standard programs require roughly a four-week commitment.
There is a reason why this training is considered important. While it may seem simple in theory, commercial trucking requires certain practiced skills. After all, in one-fourth of all trucking accidents, driver error is responsible. If Rochester women interested in this field commit themselves to a good trucking school and gaining the experience that they need, they may find more opportunity than they expected.
