In fact, there aren’t too many jobs that are in high-demand, offer good job security, have high earning potential, and don’t require a college degree—a rare combination worth considering as part of any career strategy for uncertain job markets. But working as a truck driver is one of them.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 214,500 truck driving openings are projected each year. The median annual wage was $58,640 as of May 2025.

People normally have an intuitive sense of whether they’d like to work as a truck driver. Yet intuition can be a little misleading.

However, there are people who don’t believe it’s right for them who would actually thrive in that working environment. On the other hand, there are others who think it is for them, but who are actually less well-suited than they believe.

In fact, part of how to evaluate a career change decision is that you’d know for sure whether it’s right for you once you got started. But career development tools for self-assessment can give you a good idea beforehand, by showing how your personality fits with the demands of the job. If you tick all of the following, then it’s highly possible that trucking would be the perfect career choice—part of finding the right career fit in the first place.

Are You Comfortable With Solitude?

For example, truckers can spend a long time on the roads by themselves. Unless you’re working as part of a driving team, expect to spend many hours a day on your own.

As such, being comfortable with solitude is a necessity for solo truck drivers, and recognizing that is really about how to identify your career values before committing to the role. Working as a team, too, comes with its own challenges, since you’ll be sharing a small space with another person, with no external social interactions except during breaks.

According to research published in PubMed, prolonged social isolation among long-haul truck drivers is linked to a higher risk of depression and reduced social support.

Do You Have the Physical Resilience for the Job?

Similarly, it’s easy to overlook the physical demands of trucking since, well, it can appear that you’re just sitting down. But you’re not just sitting down. You’re sitting down for hours at a time, operating a large vehicle, often at irregular hours.

That’s why physical resilience sits towards the top of the list of the qualities of a good truck driver. Ultimately, prioritizing your physical and mental well-being is part of how to build career resilience, and it could make you well-suited to the physical demands of the role.

Can You Stay Calm Under Pressure?

Things stay relatively calm and orderly in an office. In contrast, when you’re out there on the roads, that’s not the case. For instance, there can be long traffic delays, bad weather, and other delays that make it difficult to stick to an existing schedule.

Knowing how to stay calm under pressure is key for ensuring that your job runs smoothly. Thinking on your feet to change plans when necessary matters just as much. Overall, if you find that you generally take difficult moments in your stride, then that’s a good sign.

Are You Curious About Trucking Mechanics?

You don’t have to be an expert in truck mechanics to become a truck driver. In fact, many people have no understanding of the under-the-hood aspects when they first start.

However, having curiosity and a willingness to learn is essential for people who want a long career in trucking. This curiosity can be the difference between spotting a potential issue early, giving you time to fix it, and experiencing a breakdown on the road that throws your schedule off.