Have you thought about working as a truck driver? Maybe the idea of spending time on the open road appeals to you, but you have not pursued this route because you've heard some not-so-awesome things about the profession. Here's the truth: the truck driving industry has changed a lot over the past several decades, and many of the things you've heard are not even true — at least not anymore. To that end, here's a look at a few common misconceptions about truck driving jobs.

1. Truck drivers are low-paid workers.

You might view truck driving as a lower-end, minimum wage job like working in a fast-food restaurant. But this is not the case. According to Indeed, the average base salary for a truck driver in the United States is just over $60,000 per year, and many truck drivers end up working overtime and earning more than that. You can also expect your salary to go up as you gain more experience. That's quite a decent living wage in most areas.

2. Truck drivers have to stay awake for long hours to meet deadlines.

Regulations have become much more stringent in the truck driving industry over the past few years. Yes, truckers used to drive for 24 hours straight to meet deadlines, but this caused a lot of accidents. As such, drivers are now required to stop and rest every so many hours, which means the potential for being over-worked and over-tired is a lot lower than you might expect.

3. Truck driving is a really unhealthy lifestyle.

Some truckers do live an unhealthy lifestyle. They eat a lot of fast food, smoke to pass the time, and don't exercise. However, this is their personal choice — it's not inherently a part of a truck driving career. If you want to be the driver who eats salads for lunch and runs 5 miles every morning, your job won't get in the way of that. There are other ways to pass the time rather than smoking. You can listen to podcasts or good music. Yes, you will spend much of the day sitting behind the wheel, but you can make up for that sedentary time during hours that you're not working.

If you love driving and want to work independently, then a career as a truck driver might be right for you. Don't let these misconceptions keep you from pursuing your very real dream.

For more information about truck driving jobs, contact a company like CMAC Transportation.