Big Rig Truckers: The Unsung Heroes of American Transportation

Becoming a big rig trucker is not a glamorous job, but it is an essential part of the backbone of America. Trucking is a crucial aspect of every single industry in the United States. For example, trucks transport goods such as clothes, medicine, construction materials, gasoline, plumbing and electronics. Whatever it is that you have or need, you can be sure that it was brought to you by a trucker.

It might amaze you to discover that many truck drivers spend up to 300 days on the road annually. At times, they may spend two to three weeks away from home. Drivers get paid by the mile and most average approximately 500 miles per day. That adds up to around 2,500 miles per week, which is nearly equivalent to driving from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. That rounds out to 125,000 miles annually, which is the same distance as driving around the entire world five times!

Big rig truck drivers do not have a set start time to begin their day, but as long as they meet delivery windows and follow mandated breaks, they can start driving at sunrise or even drive overnight. However, after working 70 hours, a driver must take off a full 34 hours. In addition, a driver cannot drive more than 11 hours a day and must take a 10-hour break before returning to driving.