Trucking is an industry with immense opportunity, but drivers can’t enjoy the benefits without hustle and sacrifice. That being so, this reality seems to contrast what millennials expect from their employer. A recent New York Times article found young professionals born between 1981-1996 tend to value schedule flexibility to such a degree that some are willing to take a pay cut to get it.

The article cites one 28-year old woman who left her last job as a project manager in the corporate office of a bank not for a raise, a different role, or more seniority, but for improved work-life balance. 

And she's not alone. Over the course of the article, company recruiters and millennials from a variety of industries share their desire to have the freedom to get their work done on their own terms rather than being held to the typical “9 to 5” standard.

When discussing this topic in greater depth on the Trucking For Millennials podcast, Michael Clements, Jr., president of PDQ America had this to share:

“These are sales positions that these people are in. They’re at marketing agencies, clothing companies…we’re not hearing from manufacturers, we’re not hearing from transportation companies, and I feel like that is what a majority of Americans are working for…not for marketing agencies in Portland”.

While PDQ takes every measure to ensure a healthy work-life balance for our workforce, the point is that flexibility in the workplace is highly dependent on the type of work being done as well as the amount of experience an individual brings to the role to balance out the value exchange between employer and employee.

Millennial misconceptions

For example, Anthony Arnette, a truck driver recruiter (and millennial) we met at the Great American Trucking Show in August gave us insight into the expectations aspiring drivers have and how they don’t always align with the reality of the job. Here’s what he said when we asked him what drivers entering the industry are looking for:

"I think they (millennials) are looking to make a whole lot of money in a short amount of time, and possibly own their own trucks. They want to be able to control what’s going on with their own company so they can be home as much as possible and still make pretty good money.” 

When you get down to it, everyone wants to get paid well and work on their own time. This aligns with a recent survey of people ages 27-37 who believe they’ll attain seven-figure wealth by age 45 or sooner. But while this ambition seems commonplace, it isn’t entirely practical. 

“I come across a lot of guys that are hard headed..they feel like they know everything already, and they haven’t even scraped the surface of [ the potential of the trucking industry]. They think ‘I just finished school, I know what I want to do, this is where I want to be...they don’t understand [career success] isn’t A to B. It’s not. It’s A, B, C, D, E, F…you’re going to have a whole lot of zig zags [in your career]".

Anthony acknowledged that some recruiters can earn a bad reputation for “selling a dream” of fast success without acknowledging the work it takes to earn the rewards many desire when entering the workforce. 

Simply put, a career on your own terms doesn’t come overnight - a reality he knows all too well. When Anthony graduated college in the middle of the recession 11 years ago, he struggled to find work and had to resort to living in his car for a period of time. 

“Once I figured out, ‘hey, just because I have this degree doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to get a job walking straight out of college,’ the trucking industry turned my life around.”

Anthony eventually became a truck driver and worked his way up into a role in recruitment and hasn’t looked back.

Reaping the rewards

Now might be the best time to consider starting a truck driving career. The $700 billion dollar logistics industry is built on the fact that virtually every other industry relies upon it to exist. And while the trucking industry is changing due to immense investment from the tech sector, these changes also provide new opportunities for upward mobility. 

New truck technologies need new drivers who know how to take advantage of it properly, and a truck driver can provide extremely valuable insights to companies entering the industry with outside expertise. While the opportunity in trucking & logistics continues to grow, it’s important to set the right expectations from the beginning.

So, how can you reap the rewards of a truck driving career sooner than later? 

Here are a few ways:

1. Don’t Focus on the Money Yet

   This may sound counter intuitive when considering a career move, but it’s an important first step. Focusing on a dollar figure could mean that you pass up excellent opportunities to grow over time. It’s also important to have a realistic understanding of the value you can bring to an organization. 

2. Get the Experience

   If you’re just beginning your truck driving career, gaining experience should be your top priority. Regardless of what school or CDL program you graduate from, there is still much to learn on the job. Remain humble and get the experience before chasing the $.

3. Think of the Future

   Beginning your career in trucking and logistics in the cab of a truck is an excellent start, but what can you imagine yourself doing years down the road? There are many different career paths within the industry without being behind the wheel. Try to find the intersection between what type of work you enjoy, the lifestyle you want to live, and where the industry is heading.

4. Set the Goal

   Starting with your big “future goal” work your way backward to your present situation establishing clear, realistic, goals that will serve as stair steps to get you where you want to be.

5. Fight like Hell for it!