I’ve spent the last 8 years in the transportation industry, driving trucks, managing logistics and personnel, before finally landing in the role I am in today. I had considered retiring in this position, as it was a role that I thoroughly enjoyed. That was a premature thought that didn’t take into consideration the different ways a business can change in order to adapt to the ever-changing landscape. Sometimes what works for you as an associate at the start of your career, doesn’t work for you as your life progresses and your needs change and develop. That is what happened here. This job no longer aligns with the long term vision I had when I started it.
One of the biggest drawbacks to my current role is the hours. I work overnight shift, because driving into Chicago during the daytime would be too risky for my long term career. One non-preventable accident, even one caused by a drunk driver, could permanently scar my ability to find quality work in the future. Working at night reduces the traffic, and gives me a fighting chance of making it home without incident each night. Nine to ten hour work day has transformed into 11 and 12 hour work days over the past few months. It’s beginning to take a toll on my relationships outside of work.
I’m also concerned that the oncoming wave of automation will catch me off guard. It’s no secret that the trucking industry is desperately trying to turn toward autonomous vehicles. The point is to cut down the cost of labor and to increase its productivity in an industry plagued by driver shortages and federal restrictions. Many insiders claim that the impact on my job won’t be felt for several years or even decades. Other industry experts estimate we could have self driving trucks becoming commonplace in the next five years. It’s certainly an uncertainty.
I decided I needed to change my career path into something a little more viable, something that could open a few more doors as the years go on. I am going to continue my education and work toward becoming a software developer. This change starts by removing myself from the 12 hour truck driving role I am currently in. I am going to need to transition into a more flexible schedule, whether that is somewhere else internally within my current organization, or perhaps that will involve moving on to a different company altogether. The next few weeks are going to be critical in how the long term goal progresses.
I take a lot of pride in being part of the company I am with today. I would like to continuing working for this company, but it won’t be as a truck driver. Perhaps I can move into a part-time operations role while I continue my education. Maybe I can even move into an entry-level IT support role, or something similar. I’m going to keep my options open but I’m going to stay focused and vigilant. I expect this to be a difficult journey, but failure is not an option. I look forward to the challenge and the opportunity to grow. I’ll keep you updated with my progress.
