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Chris Nickell drove his own truck for 14 years. When back problems made driving too tough to handle anymore, he gave Jim McCormack, an entrepreneur starting up TruckertoTrucker.com, a call.
“I understood he was looking for salespeople to launch his new Web site,” says Nickell. “He hired me in early 2004, and I now spend my days talking with owner operators, dealers and truck fleets about buying and selling trucking equipment. That talk comes very easily for me -- being on the road all those years really gave me knowledge of both trucks and trailers. I'm very happy I know the industry so well, and it makes my job much easier.”
Truck drivers have a variety of related opportunities open to them -- provided they are willing to learn new skill sets and, in some cases, sit in a cubicle rather than a cab. “I would suggest talking to people that are in the industry, whether they be drivers, mechanics, office workers, managers or owners,” says Craig Robins, a transportation consultant. “Everyone will have a different perspective and story to tell. If you decide it is right for you, research the companies you are interested in and then apply.”
You should check out the American Trucking Association to get a sense of what the industry issues are and find conference information.
At trucking company Schneider National, several options are available to drivers who want to transition into a new career, says Rob Reich, Schneider vice president of enterprise recruiting. “One is to become a manager of drivers. We have a management-assessment process -- quite a few will pursue that. One-quarter of our managers used to be drivers.”
Ex-drivers may also go into customer service or become dispatchers, applying their experiences and skills to those roles, adds Reich. And some have headed into the maintenance career field. “It depends on your level of technical experience, but many do have that, especially those who got a good feel for working on their truck while driving.”
If you work for a large trucking company, your employer may help you assess your skill sets for alternative occupations. Even if you’re looking at a variety of potential employers, “the bottom line is, employers want someone who has similar demonstrated experience,” says Robins.
“It is far more attractive to a prospective employer to know that a candidate can hit the ground running from their first day on the job rather than have to take the time and resources to train them,” Robins explains. “Front-line operations positions like dispatchers, driver managers, customer service reps, load planners -- you will find that most carriers are not willing to train someone from outside the industry.” Of course, stable work histories and positive references play a huge part as well.
Related Skills
One skill truck drivers should be prepared to have when applying to related occupations is multitasking. “Most successful trucking companies run lean and mean, so the majority of people are doing the work of two to three people and have an extremely heavy workload,” cautions Robins. “You must be able to talk on the phone, type quickly, know how to get around a computer and software, and know who to talk to and how to talk to them to get problems solved. If you can’t talk fast, move fast and do it without losing your temper, then this is not the industry for you.”
Nickell notes that he was not computer-friendly until he went to work for McCormack. “But now I find myself teaching others how to do the tasks I could never understand.”
Does It Pay to Make a Change?
Experts warn that in many cases, going into management doesn’t mean a higher-paying job. “Drivers can make a good wage,” points out Reich. “Many of these roles are not as close in salary. But one of the trucker issues is lifestyle, being away from home.”
Robins agrees, noting that on the logistics side, “some folks are ex-drivers that wanted to come off the road and into the office so they could be home every night. Usually the pay is less, but it is a tradeoff. Some will end up going back on the road for a while and then want to come back into the office.”
Although the US Department of Labor (DOL) cites the median hourly wage for drivers of tractor-trailers in 2004 as being $16.48 (and a mean average annual salary of $35,460), truckers who are paid by the mile earn more as they drive more. But many related occupations are 9-to-5 office jobs. The DOL cites truck mechanics as earning a median hourly wage of $17.61 and cargo/freight agents at $17.24, for example.
But when you simply can’t drive a truck anymore, the options are out there. “I think ex-truckers make great equipment salespeople, because until you’re behind the wheel, you don't really understand trucks and trailers,” says Nickell. “I love being in the sales end of the business, plus I'm home every night...but I still get to be around trucking, which is in my blood.”
