Discover the World on Wheels: Top 12 Fun Facts About Truck Drivers You Never Knew!

1. Truckers Rule the Freight World

Who needs planes, trains, or automobiles when you've got eighteen-wheelers ruling the road? All hail the mighty truck drivers: In 2020 alone, these highway heroes hauled a whopping 12.5 billion tons of freight valued at over $13.1 trillion, outpacing rail transport by tenfold and dominating the freight market with 65-73% of total weight and value share. Keep on truckin' indeed!
Source => truckinginfo.com

2. Truckers' Bedtime Laws

Have you heard about truckers and their strict bedtime routine? Unlike college students, they can't pull all-nighters to keep their loads rolling: Truck drivers carrying passengers must hit the hay after 10 hours of driving, while property haulers need a 10-hour break after 11 hours on the road – all governed by Uncle Sam to thwart any sleep-deprived mishaps.
Source => wrshlaw.com

Did you know that semi-trucks can carry up to a massive 40 tons (80,000 pounds)? Discover the factors that determine their weight limits and how they handle such a heavy load! 🚛💪

=> Fun Facts about Semi-Trucks

3. Mandatory Sleep Breaks

Ever wonder why truckers seem so well-rested at truck stops and pit-stops? Could they secretly be following the fabled road of the sandman? Turns out, they're not sleepwalking their way to success: By law, truck drivers must take a mandatory 10-hour break after 14 consecutive hours on the road, ensuring they stay refreshed and alert to avoid exhaustion-related mishaps. Remember, these modern-day knights of the highways are not riding on a sleepless cloud, but keeping our roads safe and themselves healthier by following indispensable regulations!
Source => newsnationnow.com

4. Truckers: Swiping & Connecting

Say goodbye to "breaker breaker one-nine" and hello to "swipe right for a trucker match": truck drivers have ditched CB radios for smartphones and mobile apps like Trucker Path, DAT Trucker, and Convoy. The serious reveal: these high-tech tools offer real-time information about weather, traffic, and weigh stations, as well as provide a platform for networking and messaging with fellow road warriors.
Source => yumatruckdrivingschool.com

5. Golden Years on the Road

Holy sags and wrinkles, Batman! By the time truck drivers can yodel "I'm the king of the road", they're already in their golden years: The average age of truck drivers at Polman's company is around 57 years old, hinting at a looming shortage of younger road warriors to transport our precious cargo in the future.
Source => wadenapj.com

6. CDL: License to Haul

Ahoy, matey! Feast your eyes on the Captain of the asphalt ocean, steering their trusty land-ship: Truck drivers are a special breed, requiring a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles with a gross weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, carrying 16 or more landlubbers, or hauling hazardous booty, ensuring they’re well-versed in the art of navigating colossal road-faring vessels safely.
Source => truckingtruth.com

7. Beware the Blind Spots

Listen up, highway ninjas stealthily lurking in those giant four-wheeled dragons' secret lairs: you might find it harder to sneak up on these mythical beasts than you think: Semi-truck drivers have four blind spots significantly larger than those of a sedan, making it crucial to maintain a safe distance and stay vigilant around their invisible zones to prevent high-speed duels on the open road.
Source => pattersonlegalgroup.com

8. Truck Driver Shortage

They say that truckers are always on the move, but lately they've been trading in their big rigs for fancier rigs elsewhere: The trucking industry experienced a record shortage of 80,000 drivers in 2021 because of factors like an aging workforce, limited young and female workers, and federal cannabis prohibitions causing job losses.
Source => blog.blueinktech.com

9. Good Vibes Convoy

Here's a convoy that truly hauls some good vibes: The World's Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics Minnesota involves participating truck drivers donating $125 entry fees to support athletes with intellectual disabilities. This quirky parade consists of various wheeled wonders such as semi-trucks, dump trucks, fire trucks, buses, and even large box trucks, strictly sans hazardous materials, alcohol, or tobacco brands. Organized by Orange County Sheriff's Department Corporal Norm Schneiderhan, the event invites athletes to hitch a ride in select trucks while escorted by law enforcement officers to keep things rolling smoothly.
Source => specialolympicsminnesota.org

10. Knight-in-Shining-GPS

When truckers need a little help from their "knight-in-shining-GPS" to navigate the open road: Trucker GPS devices reveal the best trucking routes alongside handy intel on truck stops, rest stops, repair services, weigh stations, eateries, and tow services catering specifically to their needs.
Source => smart-trucking.com

11. Icy Salaries

Who needs a freezer when you've got an ice road trucker: these daredevil drivers can rake in between $30,000 to $40,000 in just three months! While their high salaries come with frostbite-level risks, tanker truck drivers enjoy a cool $60,000 annual income, and oversized load haulers average over $54,000 each year, affirming there's still a lot of cold, hard cash to be made on the frosty highways.
Source => zippia.com

12. Truck Stop Master Chefs

Truck drivers are the kings and queens of mobile cuisine, whipping up gourmet feasts in the most compact of kitchens: their trusty rigs come equipped with a myriad of portable appliances, including mini fridges, waffle makers, pressure cookers, and coffee machines, all conveniently sized, lightweight, and energy-efficient for a healthy truck-stop lifestyle on the road.
Source => hmdtrucking.com