Missouri Over The Road Jobs
If you live in Missouri, you may be in an excellent place to start a truck driving career. Missouri trucking companies often transport goods between Midwestern states, southern states, and other parts of the country. As a result, trucking companies may hire truck drivers that are willing to drive over-the-road. Driving over-the-road involves spending long periods of time away from home, typically up to two weeks per trip. Are you ready to take your place in one of the country's fastest-growing industries? Learn more about OTR trucking jobs in Missouri.
Truck drivers in Missouri tend to earn salaries that are fairly similar to the national average. O*Net reports an average salary of $38,600 per year for Mississippi truck drivers, which is very similar to the national average. The full salary range goes from $24,000 to $58,800 per year (O*Net, 2013). Some companies offer sign-on bonuses to over-the-road drivers, which may boost your salary.
Job growth in Missouri is promising, so you may be able to appreciate a positive job outlook. Between 2010 and 2020, O*Net expects a 12% increase in truck driving jobs. This job growth rate is slightly higher than the national average (O*Net, 2010). It may lead to over 1,300 new jobs per year in this time frame (O*Net, 2010).
Missouri is home to many well-known trucking companies. You may work for major companies like C.R. England, West Side Transport, Werner Enterprises, and Roadrunner Transportation Systems.
You will likely want to spend some time getting comfortable with a straight truck or tractor-trailer before getting your commercial driver's license. While some trucking companies to train their drivers, completing your training beforehand may make you a more appealing hiring option to employers. Consider attending a local trucking school or trucking program at a community college. You can anticipate spending four to six weeks in school to prepare for your licensure exam.
There are two licensure routes you can go through in Missouri. You can take your written test and get a learner's permit. With your learner's permit, you may practice driving. After you get enough practice, you can take your skills exam. If you wish, you can complete all your training at once and then take both exams on the same day. Either way, you must pass both exams before getting your commercial driver's license from the Missouri Department of Revenue.