Common Challenges Faced by Semi Truck Drivers and How to Overcome Them

There are over three and a half million professional truck drivers in the United States. Being a semi truck driver is more than just a job – it’s a lifestyle. These drivers spend hours and hours on the road each day, driving a hundred thousand miles a year. While the freedom of the road, being your own boss, seeing the country, and the potential salary are all great benefits, trucking comes with its own set of challenges.  

If you’re considering getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and starting a career as a semi truck driver, either as an employee or a freelance driver, you’re probably wondering, “Is truck driving hard?” The physical act of driving a truck is not inherently challenging; trucking challenges come from other factors which we’ll explore here. 

Common Truck Challenges for Drivers 

Folks who work an office job might list their biggest challenges as poor internet connections or poor management. Blue-collar workers might list long hours outside, dealing with the weather, as well as poor management. Truck challenges include combinations of all of those. So is truck driving hard? It can be. 

Personal Challenges

The trucking lifestyle isn’t for everyone. There are common challenges that come with being on the road for long hours. These include: 

Too Much Sitting: Semi truck drivers can sit behind the wheel for up to eleven hours a day – the general legal maximum drive time allowed. It’s important to take breaks and stretch every two to three hours. Even a simple lap around a truck stop parking lot can help. 

Sleep: Not being able to sleep in a real bed every night is a major truck challenge. Using a truck with a sleeper cab increases the ability to sleep when needed and reduces the cost of hotels. Basic sleeper cabs generally have a bed, maybe a fridge or TV, and not much else. Luxury sleeper cabs, on the other hand, can look more like RVs. 

Diet and Exercise: Eating healthy can be a major challenge for truck drivers. The food options at truck stops and along highways are generally not the best. Plus, eating out can eat away at your budget. Luckily, there are plenty of options to save money and eat better. 12-volt appliances including fridges, electric skillets, slow cookers, microwaves, and coffee makers can be used in any truck. These appliances make it easy to store and prepare food on the road. Even without any cooking appliances, having a fridge at minimum, can help keep produce fresh and enable easy-to-make meals such as wraps and sandwiches.  

Hygiene: Maintaining proper personal hygiene while in a truck for the majority of the day is a challenge. Truck stop showers can feel like a luxury (and oftentimes can be free after a certain amount of diesel purchased). And changing into fresh clean clothes can help a trucker feel better about themselves. Even without a shower, having the ability to brush your teeth, use body wipes or a washcloth, and take bathroom breaks can make a huge difference in a truck driver’s day.

Loneliness: Long haul semi truck drivers can be on the road for four to six weeks at a time, making it hard to maintain relationships and friendships. Luckily, modern technology makes it easier than ever to stay in touch – phone calls and video chats can combat the loneliness truckers may face. 

Professional Challenges 

Whether you are an owner-operator, freelance truck driver, or an employed driver, there are professional challenges on top of all the personal challenges. 

Pressure: Semi trucks can carry 80,000 pounds of cargo. No matter what that cargo is, it’s probably worth a decent amount. There’s the pressure to ensure items are delivered in perfect condition, on top of the pressure to deliver on time. Employers can set unrealistic deadlines, forcing drivers to push themselves through lack of sleep, too many hours on the road, speeding, and dangerous weather to make deliveries on time. For everyone’s safety, logistics companies should loosen up tight deadlines, and consumers should aim to be more patient. Freelance truck drivers can work to negotiate delivery deadlines to ensure they are realistic. 

Parking: Semi trucks are big. While highway rest stops tend to have truck and trailer parking, and some interstates even have designated truck-only stops, there are still millions of trucks on the road, with limited overnight parking options. Highway rest stops are starting to provide dynamic signage indicating how many spots are available at upcoming stops. Private truck stops may offer reserved, premier parking for a small fee, ensuring you have a spot to rest. 

Maintenance: Dealing with a poorly maintained truck is not only stressful, it’s unsafe. Owners need to make sure their vehicles are undergoing regular maintenance to limit any stress or delays due to a poorly functioning truck. 

There are also challenges semi truck drivers face that are simply out of their control. These are the hardest to overcome and deal with. Weather conditions, infrastructure, and other drivers are the main three. While we can’t control the weather, a skilled driver should be prepared for weather conditions, and have the proper tools. Knowing when it is simply too dangerous to keep going is an important skill in any driver’s toolbox. Knowing the infrastructure along the route can help a great deal in avoiding low bridges or too many windy roads. While you can’t control the potholes, you can learn how to properly navigate poor infrastructure. Patience is an essential skill for all professional semi truck drivers, not just for weather and infrastructure, but for dealing with other drivers on the road. Quick reflexes are also an important trait. 

So is truck driving hard? Being a professional semi truck driver isn’t for everyone. There are plenty of challenges – both personal and professional. But it can be worth it for the experience, the freedom, and the job security. There isn’t a career or a job out there that doesn’t face some type of challenge. Luckily, many of the common challenges professional truck drivers face can be overcome.