How much a trucker earns in the USA and how to become one: the experience of an immigrant from Ukraine

The $8 billion in revenue is not the budget of the world's leading country, but the 2018 revenue of the US trucking industry. In America, more than 70% of all cargo is delivered using them. And although due to the trade war with China, the pandemic and protests, transportation volumes and pay have decreased, truck driving remains a profession that guarantees a stable and decent income, writes "Voice of America".

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

How to become a so-called truck driver in the United States and how much it costs to get a commercial driver's license, a Ukrainian driver told us during a stop in Denver, Colorado. Ruslan Potushansky is one of 3,5 million truck drivers in the United States.

Earlier this year, the Ukrainian migrant Ruslan Potushansky decided to try his hand at the profession of a trucker. According to him, a lot of Ukrainians in the USA work in the trucking business. Most of them do not see their family, but this work gives them the opportunity to support her, help their relatives in Ukraine, and indeed just work.

On the subject: How to get a driver's license in the USA and how much they pay a trucker: the experience of an immigrant

By education, Ruslan is a military financier. In the USA, he first had to master the skills of a builder. He was also involved in organizing tourist trips. Subsequently, he received a license to drive commercial trucks: to do this, you must be a US citizen or have a green card (permanent resident card), or an immigration status that gives the right to work. Driver's school lasts 3-12 weeks and costs between $1500 and $6000 depending on the school and state. Drivers undergo a medical examination and pass theoretical and practical exams.

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

“I work on a trailer called a flat bed. This is a platform on which you upload some structures and building materials. You fix them yourself and are responsible for absolutely everything. I must say that the speeds in America are not the same as in Ukraine, when you can drive 70 kilometers per hour. Here the truck travels on average 100 kilometers per hour,” explains Ruslan. “Its weight is quite large, and if something falls on the road, it can lead to serious casualties.”

Most of America has very good roads, says the truck driver. So an average of 700 miles (just over 1100 kilometers) can be driven per day. A novice trucker can count on average at 50 cents per mile on the road. About $ 50 a year. If the driver owns the truck, then at full load can earn twice as much. However, coronavirus significantly reduced the earnings of truckers.

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

“It was a very profitable business a couple of years ago,” says Ruslan. — A lot of people bought their own trucks and worked on them themselves. Sometimes they hired another driver and thanks to this they earned quite good money. But now prices for cargo have fallen, but the same number of trucks remains. Over time, relations with China worsened, then there was the coronavirus, and the market situation itself forces many people to work almost to zero.”

Ruslan works 3 weeks in a row, rests at home in Miami for a week. He came up with his own way to relieve fatigue and maintain physical fitness during a long drive.

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

“I am an active and quite social person, I have many friends and acquaintances,” he emphasizes. — Music is, of course, good, but I discovered audiobooks for myself. Mobile communications and the Internet save you, because you can communicate with Ukraine, Costa Rica, Spain - with whomever you want. I know guys who carry dumbbells, parallel bars, and horizontal bars with them. I just do push-ups, stretch every time I get out of the car, try to stretch my back - this is one of the most painful issues for all truck drivers: after 5-10 years they all start treating their backs.”

On the subject: How I got my first driver’s license in America, and why it’s not necessary to go to a driving school

The operation of the freight transport industry is overseen by the appropriate agency under the US Department of Transportation. According to the rules, the driver can stay behind the wheel for 11 hours for a 14-hour period. He or she can return to work only after a 10-hour rest.

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

“During my life, I have tried quite a lot of professions: flight attendant, insurance specialist, tourist guide, builder, electrician,” said Ruslan. “But during my entire stay in America, I like this profession because I am constantly on the move, every time I see something new, I do not stop in my travels and meet new people.”

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