Without wasting any time, YES! It is still worth becoming a truck driver in 2025. It is a highly in demand role and if that’s where your passion lies, it will be a great career choice for you. In this blog we explain the good, bad, and great parts to truck driving in 2025 and hope you make the right choice!
Perks of becoming a truck driver in 2025
1. Good earning potential
Most truck drivers start with an average hourly pay of $17.50. Drivers with 2-5 years of experience make around $25/hour, while those with over a decade of experience make around $35/hour. The pay scale also varies depending on the type of cargo and distance covered. Some logistics companies offer benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid vacations to more experienced drivers.
2. In-demand career
After looking at the average hourly rate, you might wonder how it is enough for a comfortable living in Canada. $25.05/hour is the current livable wage in the Greater Toronto Area, which you can achieve in the next couple of years with your current skills. If you upgrade your skills through experience, training, and certification, you can climb the ladder quicker.
Once you have broken into the logistics industry, you can grow into higher paying roles. Team Truck Drivers earn around $85,673 annually (team truckers take on long-haul trucking where drivers alternate driving round the clock and reach destinations faster) and Entry Level Intermodal Owner Operator Truck Driver earn around $181,839 annually.
3. Flexible schedules
Once you’ve gained a couple years of experience, you can ask your company for a flexible schedule to accommodate your lifestyle needs. Long-haul drivers can choose to stay on the road for weeks and take a week break in between or opt for shorter, regional routes where they are on the road for 4-5 days and take 1.5 days off.
4. Travel across Canada and the US
If you want to visit the Rocky Mountains or drive through Atlantic coastlines, trucking might just open up the right opportunities for you. Drivers get paid to travel and can experience the beauty and variety of the country in a way few other professions allow.
5. Work independently
Those who prefer working alone but like the security of having a full-time job will flourish as a truck driver. With this freedom comes several responsibilities including working closely with dispatchers to stay on schedule, make independent decisions, and understand rules and regulations of each city, province or state, and country you drive through.
Why truck driving may be the right career for you?
1. Long Hours and Irregular Schedules
Most truck drivers drive 13-hour shifts in Canada, which is 5 hours longer than an average Canadian’s 8-hour workday. Add delivery deadlines and an unpredictable schedule to the mix and you might find yourself questioning your career choice. To overcome this, keep yourself engaged in hobbies. You can sign-up for a gym membership that allows you to workout at any location. Find fun things to do in any city you’re halting overnight and whenever you are home, meet friends and family, and plan dinner parties.
2. Health Concerns
While mentally taxing, truck driving is a sedentary job and with limited access to healthy food options on the road, you are at a risk of developing conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Manage these stressors and find ways to stay active.
3. Isolation
Drivers need to be away from home for extended periods, which can strain personal relationships and lead to a sense of disconnection from social circles and family life.
4. Safety Risks
Navigating through adverse weather conditions, dealing with fatigue, and the risk of encounters with reckless drivers on the road all contribute to the job’s hazards.
5. Job Stress
Meeting tight delivery schedules, dealing with traffic congestion, and ensuring cargo safety can be stressful. There is pressure to maintain safety standards which will add to the stress.
6. Limited Career Progression Without Further Education
Your hourly pay will cap at $35-40/hour if you don’t learn new skills. If you are thinking of trucking as a short, highly profitable career, you are wrong. Like any other profession, you need to find new opportunities and upgrade your skills and certifications to grow in the career.
Caledon Truck Driving School offers personalised MELT Program for students in Brampton and Caledon. Our small group settings ensure each student receives attention from our experienced instructors. If you’re interested in knowing more about our courses, please get in touch with us by filling this form.
