9. Licensing, Insurance, and Warranties
The level of driver's license needed depends upon company policy, and the type(s) of vehicles involved. An ordinary operator's license is all that's needed, under federal guidelines, to drive all but the largest (bus-size) RV, because these all weigh less than the 26,000 lbs. that's the threshhold for mandatory possession of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) that truckers need. But many states require such drivers, working for hire, to hold an intermediate level of license, usually called a "chauffeur's license." However, the Chauffeur's License is almost as easy to obtain as is an ordinary Operator's License. CDLs are a vastly different breed of cat, however. Drivers who seek them generally need to spend a minimum of $100, and often several hundred dollars, for the training required, and temporarily acquiring a vehicle they can use for the driving portion of the test. Some manufacturers require their drivers to hold a class of CDL, and many do not. Drivers are far more likely to encounter that requirement when applying to transporter companies. That is because transporters frequently serve many different manufacturers, and want drivers who are versatile with respect to licensing -- so they can deliver a truck, if necessary. Most of the time, though, people engaged in this work do not need the CDL -- and that makes this job accessible to just about every driver that is 18 or over, and has a decent driving record. Few companies expect perfection. Safe drivers who have nothing of a serious nature in their driving records within the previous 2 or 3 years normally are fully eligible. As for the lower age limit of 18; that applies because virtually all companies provide the insurance to cover driver and vehicle while en route... and the driver needs to be 18 to qualify. Finally, these vehicles are fully covered by manufacturers' warranties, because they are brand-new. Breakdowns only rarely occur with such new vehicles, but when they do, the inconvenience to the driver is minimal, and no expense is incurred.
10. Seniors 65 and Over Make Up One-Third of the Driver Workforce!
One of the most fascinating aspects of this job is the fact that so many people doing it are over 65! This is especially surprising when one considers that most folks begin to fear that -- by as early as age 50 -- they may be among the ranks of those who are unemployable due to their age. For all too many companies, that's true. But it's not true for this industry. Here's why. Actuarial tables of insurance companies show that people in that age group comprise some of the very safest drivers out there. And that's the most important factor to a company involved in building or transporting vehicles: safety. So -- the companies will hire people just as readily if they are in good health and in their 70s, as they will those who are in their 20s and 30s. There is absolutely no upper age limit in this field. The only important factors in getting hired are these: (1) A good driving record, (2) reasonably good health, (3) a mature, common-sense, and responsible attitude, and (4) a friendly personality. After a person has reached the age of 18, age simply no longer figures into the hiring chances. Folks in this age group perform the work in all the ways we've discussed: full-time, part-time, seasonally, weekend, occasionally, and on-call, as they choose. However, of all the drivers who work on an on-call basis (working as needed when other drivers all are out), most such drivers are retirees. That's due simply to their greater degree of availability on short notice. And of great importance to countless retired seniors, this is for sure: no matter how a person chooses to do this job, it is the solution to the fixed-income problem! In terms of stress-free, enjoyable work... meaningful and interesting work... decently-paying work... and availability of work to seniors, this is almost certainly the world's most senior-friendly industry. Over 30,000 people in the USA and Canada who are performing this job are age 65 and over.
11. Students and Teachers: This Summer Job is for YOU!
As summer jobs go, this one is a dream. In fact, it worked so well for the Handbook's author that when -- after 10 years of teaching school -- he took a summer job delivering new RVs, and then by summer's end, chose to continue the adventure, rather than return to teaching. And spent the next 10 years delivering RVs full-time. And, writing and publishing the first editions of the Handbook! And... as summer jobs go... this one is pretty lucrative! Typical earnings over the course of a 10-week summer employment period, for Handbook-equipped drivers, run $13,000 - $15,000. And it carries the added advantage that by college age, almost all students have attained the minimum age of 18. Students and teachers are in demand every year at that time, because that's when production rates are highest, and supplemental drivers are needed for the season. In fact, one Canadian manufacturer has asked us to always add this note to their listing in the Job Market Section: "Driver opportunity for students... Sometimes it's hard to find a student to drive." The Handbook provides complete guidance to assist students and teachers to apply for this job as seasonal work. While earnings by singles having the guidance of the Handbook average between $45,000 and $60,000 per year, the earnings for such couples are substantially higher: between $60k and $80k. It isn't double, because it isn't always possible for them to travel together, and in such cases, one or the other person often elects to remain home until the other one returns from the run. Most couples make their lucrative earnings by following each other in a pair of vehicles, either to the same destination, or to two destinations that line up along the same route. That way, they both have their return fares paid by the company, and they both receive payment for the number of miles that each of them drives. For those who either choose not to fly, or who prefer to earn money by driving in both directions... that, too, is possible, and we provide full instructions. It's even possible for couples who have children to do this job... and we provide full guidance for that, too.
12. Couples Make Up 40% of this Workforce.
13. One of Every Three Drivers is a Woman.
This job is just as much for women as for men. According to government statistics, in the United States, 40% of the overall workforce is comprised of women, and the figure would probably be the same in this job, except that fewer women probably are aware that this job is just as much for them as the men, and that they are employed just as readily by the companies. And the news gets even better. Even though U.S. government projections indicate that it will be decades more, before women are treated as complete equals to men in the workplace, salarywise, as well as all other aspects... this industry is free of that stigma. Either 100% free of it, or very close to it. Women are paid equally well, treated equally well, and given the same choices of available runs as the men. It's good news for single women, too. Approximately one out of every 10 drivers is a single woman. In North America, this means that out of the total workforce of 100,000 drivers, single women comprise 10,000 of them. That's 5,000 full-time and 5,000 part-time single women at work, across the continent.
14. At Last!! The Time that You Need to Pursue Your Dreams!
Sad, but true, the majority of people -- even in America -- are not living their dreams, or realizing their full potential. And the primary reason for that is probably the lack of adequate time. Most people's jobs require them to live out a daily grind, usually on a fixed, "9-to-5" type of schedule. When they arrive home, they are generally exhausted -- particularly if a long commute also has been involved! -- and ready to just vegetate in front of the tube for a few hours, before hitting the hay and then getting up in the morning to do it all over again. Day after endless day. Week after tedious week. Month after interminable month. Same old, same old. Year in and year out. While locked into such a rut, it is next to impossible to plan and develop a better way of life. Most people simply are resigned to believing that there are surely better and more enjoyable things that they could be doing with their lives -- but have no way to attain those dreams. No way, generally for lack of the necessary time to implement a change. Even weekends aren't enough to provide the solution, because most people reserve those two precious days for unwinding and relaxing. The only real answer is to somehow obtain more time. That is where this job comes in! As an independent contractor, you suddenly find yourself with unbridled, not-previously-dreamed-of freedom! Suddenly, you have the ability to fully control your schedule. You set your own hours, days, and even weeks. Suddenly, you find that you have full control of your time and are no longer enslaved, limited, or constrained by it. This comes about in two ways. First, you have immense blocks of time in which to think and plan while driving . Especially at times when you are driving across such open country as the Great Plains, and thus are less distracted by the scenery. Secondly, you can take several runs in a row and get sufficiently ahead, financially, to take a week or even a month or more off. And with that larger block of time, you can develop your plans for a lifestyle that will become your ultimate dream job. Of course, there is one additional barrier to making changes in your life for the better. Security. Most people quite sensibly are reluctant to sacrifice the security of their present job to take chances with the unknown. Even if they dislike, or downright hate their current job. Fortunately, this is a job into which a transition is possible, so that there is no risk to that security. Remember that fully one-tenth of this whole workforce is made up of people who do this job just on weekends, while retaining their other jobs. Some of those folks are supplementing their income, but many others are using that as a method of making the transition to moving entirely into delivering vehicles. For them, the weekend work is an experiment, so that they can see whether or not they want to make the change. Others accomplish this by delivering vehicles during their vacation periods, or by taking leaves of absence to try it out. So this may be your ultimate dream job. Or it may serve as your gateway to a job that you would love even more. Either way, though, this job can get you out of the "daily grind" rut, and into a position where -- just maybe -- you can make all of your life's dreams come true.
15. If You Have to Work, Why Not Get Paid to Do Your Hobby?
= = = A Personal Message from the Author = = =
