About half of the people responding to a recent survey said they'd leave their current jobs to become truck drivers if -- and this is a big if -- the job paid more than they make now.
The survey by Findit Parts found 46% of those responding would become truck drivers if they could earn more than they already do. Folly 32% said they'd consider a career in trucking if it paid $100,000 or more a year.
The survey also found:
- 85% believe truck drivers are important to the nation's economy
- 79% of Americans consider truck driving a viable career choice for young people entering the job market
- 44% of Americans have considered driving a truck as a career
- 53% of men have thought of becoming a truck driver compared to 35% of women
- 62% of survey respondents believe truck drivers are paid too little.
Among age groups, 52% of Gen Zers (those born between 1997 and 2012) are most likely to say they've thought about driving a semi-truck for a living, while 50% of both millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1980) have thought of becoming a driver. However, Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are 20% less likely to say they've considered becoming a truck driver than those in other age groups.
Still, nearly a quarter of Americans say they wouldn't become a truck driver no matter what salary they were offered.
What's keeping many Americans from joining the trucking industry is the lack of home time. The survey found more than 50% of Americans believe excessive time away from home is the biggest downside to hauling freight for a living. The compares to only 26% of respondents who said safety and health concerns are the biggest downsides. Less than 10% selected low pay, job security, or negative views of the profession.
