Trucking is a stable and in-demand career path for people who want an alternative to working in an office. For many truckers, the job becomes a lifestyle and identity. Drivers must meet requirements that include a medical exam, written test and driving evaluation, but some employers are willing to help you with these costs and hassles. When you explore trucking as a career, you'll see that there are many more advantages than hassles.

Stable Income and Benefits

Truck drivers can choose to be independent contractors, but when you opt to become a trucking company employee, you can receive a stable, high salary that increases over time. You may also get sign-on and performance bonuses, meal and accommodation allowances and more. Most trucking companies also offer medical insurance, paid vacations, retirement plans and other benefits. It's possible to make more money in trucking than those who have a college degree make in office jobs.

Job Security

The nation's economy relies on truckers to operate efficiently. Competent truckers who do their jobs safely and efficiently can keep their positions for years, even decades. Demand for trucking services continues to rise, and in many regions truckers are almost always in short supply. Even as new transportation technologies arise, no viable alternative to trucking is in the works.

Flexible Schedule

Truckers aren't always on the road, as some people may think. While long-haul trucking can keep drivers away from their families for days or weeks at a time, that's not the only career path available. If you want to be home most nights, you might consider intermodal trucking jobs, which usually involve dropping cargo off or picking it up from train yards. Long distances are handled by the trains while truckers handle the first few miles to the yard or the last few miles to the destination.

Travel Opportunities

Long-haul drivers often make more trips around the nation than even the most avid leisure travelers and sometimes have downtime in fun and exotic destinations. Plus, the nation's freeway system passes through remarkable scenery that you will see while driving that you might otherwise never experience. With some trucking jobs, the tradeoff for being away from home is getting to see the country from a unique perspective.

If you think a trucking job might be right for you, look for companies that offer training and other incentives. If you prefer, you can get your commercial driver's license at your own expense before you start looking for the right job. Either way, there are ample and diverse opportunities in the trucking industry for those who want great pay and are looking for a way to contribute to the nation's economic stability.