1. Truckers are dangerous drivers and cause more accidents than their smaller counterparts.
Trucks are 3 times less likely to be in an accident than a regular motor vehicle, 4 times more likely to pass a random safety inspect, and out of all accidents are only responsible for 2.4% of all accidents. The trucking industry is a highly regulated industry and as a result, the drivers often practice much safer driving.
David Bradley, chief executive officer to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, said "while some may question the abilities of the operators they encounter on the road, industry standards, insurance providers and government bodies ensure that truck drivers are among the safest drivers in the country."
2. Truckers use a lot of drugs.
Because of their often long-distance driving and high hours behind a wheel, some suggest that truck drivers use or take drugs. This simply isn’t true.
Here are a few facts:
Ontario Road Safety Annual Report, 2011 Data Regarding Drug and Alcohol Use Involving Commercial Drivers:
- Alcohol was involved in zero percent of all fatal collisions involving heavy trucks.
- According to ORSAR, large truck drivers are also less likely to be impaired by alcohol or drugs than all other drivers.
3. Trucking is a man’s industry.
Not true! There are more than 9000 female trucking industry in Canada today and that number is growing. Out of those women, based on a recent survey, which you can read HERE, women are mostly satisfied with their careers in trucking!
4. The trucking industry isn’t that important to the Canadian economy!
This couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, we wrote an entire blog on it! You can read that blog HERE. The short summary is that trucking industry is the #1 transporter of goods in the world and employs more than 300,000 people in Canada.
5. Truck drivers are poor.
While demanding, working as a truck driver can be a career for life and you can make a good living at it. Furthermore, working as an operator in the trucking industry gives operators access to higher positions within the trucking industry, including fleet operators and freight brokers.
“Typically, across most of the country, a long-distance tractor-trailer driver can make in the range of $70,000 to $75,000 a year,” David Bradley said, adding that the driver’s salary will depend on how much time he or she spends on the road that year. Drivers who focus on localized pickup and delivery, which allows them to sleep in their own bed each night, earn closer to $40,000 annually, he said, while long-haul tractor-trailer operators based in Alberta, which has been facing a labour shortage, can earn in excess of $100,000 annually.
Next time you see a truck on the road, think about the driver behind the wheel, and realize he—or she—is a person just like you, working toward a goal, delivering goods you depend on, and looking forward to getting back home to family and that certain myths that you may have about the men and women in the trucking industry may not be true!