There is a sense of freedom and pride that comes with spending time behind the wheel, and thankfully it’s possible to earn a living too. Many people are passionate about driving, so some learn to become truck drivers to start a trucking career. But that’s not the only job open to drivers.
If you love driving or have dreamed of earning a living behind the wheel, there are many more careers open to you than truck driving. Sure, a trucking career is rewarding and gets you the most mileage across great distances, but there is a host of other automotive jobs you can tap into and get paid. Explore your options with our list of jobs for men who love driving.
Long Haul Truck Driving
Men who enjoy driving and solitude are a perfect fit for life on the road. For them, trucking is the job of their dreams, and they are bound to find a job in a diversified field, given the rise in trucking jobs over the last few years.
As a trucker, you need to ensure your load and truck are safe and in good condition. You also need to meet your deadlines and drive safely to avoid accidents and other road incidents. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you will appreciate the opportunity to advance and potentially become an owner-operator.
Depending on the truck type you drive, you will encounter periodic testing and CDL certification. It’s worth mentioning that due to the long distances and higher risk factors, long-haul truckers usually earn more than short-haul drivers. However, they spend extended periods away from home.
Auto Hauler
An auto hauler transports vehicles, including luxury ones. Due to the responsibility and skill the job requires to transport such expensive items as automobiles, it pays a decent annual salary. Plus, if you love driving and have a passion for cars, you will interact with numerous types and brands of vehicles on the job.
Working at an Automotive Plant
Anybody who loves driving is also likely to be passionate about the vehicle’s craftsmanship. Thankfully, the automotive industry is vast, with numerous careers such as automotive engineering, body technicians, and automotive instructors. If you are lucky, you will be the guy testing the new trucks coming off the line, allowing you to drive as much as you want and get paid to do it.
Automotive Fleet and Events Manager
Working at an automotive fleet and events company allows you to drive and be around different vehicles every day. You may get a job hauling cars on trucks to various events, positioning cars correctly for a showcase, or driving VIPs around town. Working at a fleet management company allows you to drive some of the hottest sports cars in the market or the biggest trucks straight from manufacturers.
Auto Dealerships and Mechanic Shops
A mechanic shop and car dealership are excellent places to work as a car enthusiast or passionate driver. You will work with new and used vehicles and help people find the right vehicle. You will constantly move vehicles inside the lots and to and fro other lots and showrooms. You will get the opportunity to experience various cars and trucks and build up your experience. You may also deliver vehicles to buyers.
Driving Instructor
Becoming a driving instructor allows you to drive and instruct other drivers every day. It helps if you can remain calm under pressure, convey detailed information, teach others how to drive, and have a high standard of driving. You must complete an extensive training program before your certification as an instructor. You also need a clean license, have several years of driving experience, and be over 21.
Taxi or Rideshare Driving
Driving people from one location to another is another great career opportunity as a driver. For years, cab drivers and car services dominated the industry and imposed some barriers to entry. However, today rideshare apps and companies dominate the market, allowing people to work on their schedule.
You can consider signing up for a known rideshare program like Uber or Lyft. Once you sign up, you can decide your hours, who you pick up, and when you wish to work. Additionally, you can turn it into a full-time career or a part-time job as you do something else on the side.
Limo Driver
Professional limo driving is a fancy job requiring a special license and good conduct. You will work at a standard rate as a limo driver but get gratuities. You can drive people to events like weddings and proms, work as an airport limo driver, or work as a personal driver to a celebrity or a high net worth individual. Of course, it would be best if you were always ready to offer your services at a moment’s notice.
Food and Package Delivery
Delivering food using your vehicle or a company truck allows you to drive around the city all day long. You can find food delivery jobs in restaurants that deliver food to clients. You’ll also need to know your way around local traffic.
Alternatively, you can opt to deliver packages for companies such as UPS or FedEx. You can also visit your local post office to see if it’s hiring or choose the freelancing route and work with companies like Amazon to make same-day deliveries.
Automotive Blogger or Journalist
You can become an automotive journalist who interacts with vehicles every day as part of their work and report about it. You can also become an automotive blogger or vlogger. If you have a large online following, you could leverage your popularity to get car brands to send you different models to promote.
Start by contacting or visiting local dealerships and writing a vehicle feature. Then, promote your blog on social channels and network with other car enthusiasts and bloggers on platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Once you get noticed, it will open more doors and opportunities to drive cool trucks and cars.
As you can see, there are many driving jobs available other than the trucking industry. A trucking career is rewarding, but if you cannot spend a lot of time on the road covering long distances, any of the other jobs on this post can get you paid. Nothing is more satisfying than building a career from your passion.