5 Reasons to Become a Truck Driver in South Africa
Driving a truck or bus is an incredibly popular vocation in South Africa. There are numerous routes, many positions, and an absence of foreign competition that saturates other trades like law and medicine. For those interested in becoming a truck driver, there is no better time than now to get into this exciting trade.
It's the most popular profession in South Africa
According to Stats SA, over half of the employed males and nearly 20 percent employed female individuals work as professionals within either industry. That means that approximately 4 million people drive for their job! This number far outstrips lawyers, doctors, and all other professions combined.
Truck driving jobs may offer you more money than any other job on the market
The salaries of professional truck drivers and other transportation staff are higher than any other trade available in South Africa. The average salary for a transport worker is estimated at R47,400 per year. Lawyers, on the other hand, earn an average of R402,100 per year and doctors cannot even hope to break the R500,000 margin. 3: You can start as soon as you receive your license To work as a truck driver in South Africa you only need a minimum driver’s license (Class 5). It’s possible to get this qualification at age 16 and many companies prefer those who have not attained their 25th birthday due to the fact that they usually have fewer accidents under their belt. Newcomers with a class learner’s permit can also join the market. This enables them to work as long as they are under the supervision of an experienced driver. They can take behind-the-wheel training for 14 weeks with a driving school and learn the ropes before getting their class 5 license.
You can start as soon as you receive your license To work as a truck driver in South Africa you only need a minimum driver's license (Class 5).
It’s possible to get this qualification at age 16 and many companies prefer those who have not attained their 25th birthday due to the fact that they usually have fewer accidents under their belt. Newcomers with a class learner’s permit can also join the market. This enables them to work as long as they are under the supervision of an experienced driver. They can take behind-the-wheel training for 14 weeks with a driving school and learn the ropes before getting their class 5 license.
The industry is experiencing growth
According to the trade organizer, there were 300,000 unemployed drivers in South Africa prior to 2010. Today that number hovers around 240,000. There’s no question that this occupation has rebounded since the dark days of 2008/2009 when thousands lost their jobs every month due to poor sales across all sectors. Since then, transportation staff has increased at a steady pace thanks to increasing sales within South African borders and higher commodity prices.
You don't need to know another language to work as a truck driver in South Africa
Unlike many other jobs that require fluent English, you don’t need to know any other language to work as a truck driver in South Africa. The industry is booming and you can find positions all over the country. So what are you waiting for? Start your journey today!