From Rookie to Veteran: Chart Your Truck Driving Career Success in Nebraska and Beyond
Are you considering a new career or looking for a change in your current truck driver career? The world of trucking offers incredible opportunities for growth, stability, and financial success, but navigating the path to a fulfilling trucking career requires a clear vision and the right partner. Whether you’re an experienced Nebraska truck driver or just starting your journey, it’s important to know exactly what you want from your career in the trucking industry.
At Chief Carriers, we believe in more than just moving freight—we believe in moving lives forward. As a leader in the flatbed trucking industry, our reputation is built on a driver-centric culture and an unwavering commitment to the long-term career growth of our team. Our drivers are the backbone of our business, and we’re dedicated to providing the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive in Nebraska and elsewhere in the US.
What Does a Successful Truck Driver Career Path Look Like?
Success as a truck driver is about more than just logging miles; it’s about achieving stability, maximizing your earning potential, and finding personal satisfaction in your work. A successful career path in trucking should offer clear opportunities for advancement, competitive pay, and a supportive work environment. It’s a path that empowers you to take control of your professional life and build a future you can be proud of.
What are the Different Types of Truck Driver Careers?
The trucking industry offers a range of driver roles to suit various lifestyles and career goals. Understanding these options is the first step in charting the direction of your trucking career.
- Company Driver: As a company driver, you work for a carrier, using their equipment and receiving a consistent paycheck and benefits.
- Lease Operator: A lease operator is a driver who leases a truck from a carrier. They operate their business independently, but with a structured relationship with the carrier that provides the truck and often a steady flow of freight. This role offers a middle ground between the stability of a company driver and the full independence of an owner-operator.
- Owner-Operator (Independent Contractor): An owner-operator owns their truck and operates their own business, often contracting with a carrier for freight. This path offers greater independence and earning potential but also comes with more responsibility.
- Local: Local drivers typically stay within a limited radius, returning home daily.
- Regional: Regional drivers operate within a specific multi-state region, with more frequent home time than OTR drivers.
- OTR (Over-the-Road): OTR drivers travel long distances, often across the country, and may be away from home for several weeks at a time. This role often offers the highest earning potential.
At Chief Carriers, you can explore opportunities as a company driver, a lease operator, or an owner-operator. Whether you’re looking for OTR work or a more regional route, Chief offers a variety of roles to achieve your career goals.
Key Skills and Qualifications Needed for a Rewarding Truck Driver Career
Advancing your career as a truck driver begins with the right foundation—a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and a clean driving record. But it doesn’t end there because the best drivers are the ones who possess a combination of technical and soft skills, like the following:
- Technical Skills: Specialized skills, such as flatbed securement, heavy haul/oversized loads, tanker endorsement, or reefer transport, can open up more opportunities and lead to higher pay.
- Soft Skills: Strong communication, excellent time management, and effective problem-solving are essential for navigating the road and interacting with customers and dispatch personnel. The ability to be adaptable and self-sufficient is also key to success.
RELATED: Why Truck Driver Personal Accountability is the Key to Success on the Road
At Chief Carriers, we understand that these skills are developed over time. We’re committed to providing our drivers with the training and support they need to not only meet these requirements but to excel in their career development.
Chart Your Career Growth with Chief Carriers
If you’re looking for trucking jobs in Nebraska or elsewhere in the country, learn how Chief Carriers can help you achieve your trucking career goals.
We don’t just offer CDL driver jobs; we offer a long-term career in trucking. We’re dedicated to helping you achieve your professional goals, whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned veteran looking for your next challenge.
Opportunities for Career Growth at Chief Carriers
We offer drivers a clear career growth plan that allows you to advance your skills and earning potential. Our programs are designed to support you every step of the way.
- Advancement from Company Driver to Independent Contractor: Our comprehensive lease-purchase program is a standout feature, designed to help our most dedicated drivers transition from company drivers to successful independent contractors. We provide the guidance and support needed to build a profitable business and take the next step in your truck driver career path.
- Specialized Hauling: Chief Carriers specializes in flatbed hauling, which offers unique challenges and rewards. We provide comprehensive training in securement and safety, which are essential skills for a specialized trucking career. This expertise can significantly increase your earning potential and provide a more engaging and diverse work experience.
Training and Mentorship for Drivers
We are deeply invested in the success of our drivers. Our training and mentorship programs are designed to equip you with the skills you need to become a successful and professional driver.
- On-the-Job Training: We provide hands-on training for new drivers, ensuring they are confident and competent in all aspects of their work.
- Mentorship Programs: Our veteran drivers act as mentors, offering guidance and support to new hires. This one-on-one approach helps new drivers acclimate quickly and build the confidence necessary to be a successful truck driver.
- Ongoing Professional Development: We believe in continuous learning. We offer ongoing training and opportunities to expand your skills, ensuring you stay at the top of your game and are prepared to move to the next level in your trucking career growth.
RELATED: Chief Carriers: Safety Program Success for Nebraska Truckers
The Benefits of a Truck Driver Career at Chief Carriers
A successful truck driver career is also about financial stability and a healthy work-life balance. Chief Carriers is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports your professional and personal life.
Financial Rewards and Benefits of Trucking Jobs with Chief Carriers
Our compensation package is designed to reward hard work and dedication. We believe our drivers deserve to be among the best-paid in the industry.
- Competitive Pay: We offer a competitive pay structure with top earners making six figures. We believe that hard work should be rewarded, and we provide a clear path to high earnings.
- Performance Bonuses and Safety Incentives: We reward our drivers for their commitment to safety and efficiency with a variety of performance and safety bonuses. Your excellent record directly translates to more money in your pocket.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Our benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance to protect you and your family. We also offer a 401(k) with a company match, helping you build a secure future and a stable career as a truck driver.
RELATED: Navigating Truck Driver Compensation Packages: What to Look For
Work-Life Balance for Our Drivers
We believe that a truck driving career shouldn’t come at the expense of your personal life. We understand the importance of home time and the role that family support plays in truck driver job satisfaction.
We strive to provide our drivers with predictable routes and flexible schedules that allow them to spend quality time with their families. Our goal is to have our drivers in our primary hiring area return home every 7-10 days and those in our extended hiring area return home every 14 days.
RELATED: Achieving Work-Life Harmony as a Long Haul Truck Driver
The “Chief Carriers Family” Culture
What really sets us apart from other carriers is our company culture. We aren’t just employees working for a company; we’re a family. Our drivers support one another, and management is always available to help.
The supportive environment at Chief Carriers makes your truck driver career more than a job—it makes you part of a great community.
As a proud subsidiary of Chief Industries, a company with deep roots in Nebraska, we’re committed to the success of our local communities and the drivers who call them home.
RELATED: Chief Carriers Named Among 2025 List of Best Fleets to Drive For
How to Begin Your Truck Driver Career Journey with Chief Carriers
Ready to take the next step and build a rewarding career in trucking with Chief Carriers? We’re always on the lookout for dedicated, professional drivers to join our team. The basic requirements for our CDL driver jobs include:
- A minimum age of 21.
- A valid CDL.
- A clean driving record.
- A commitment to safety and professionalism.
RELATED: CDL Requirements to Get Hired: Decoding a Driver’s PSP and MVR Report
What to Expect During the Application Process
Our application process is designed to be as simple as possible. You can apply online, and our team will guide you through each step, from the initial interview to onboarding. Our goal is to get to know you and understand how we can help you achieve your professional goals.
No need to worry if you’re new to flatbed driving. Chief Carriers offers specialized flatbed training designed to help you get started on the right foot. We’ll provide you with the comprehensive, hands-on instruction you need to become confident and proficient in flatbed hauling.
If you’re an independent contractor considering a return to a company driver role, allowing someone else to handle the business side of things, we hope you’ll apply as well. Former owner-operators bring experience to the table that we value in our drivers.
RELATED: Shifting Gears: Successfully Transitioning From Owner-Operator to Company Driver
Start Your Trucking Career Journey and Drive Your Future Forward
Chief Carriers is more than a place to find a truck driving job; we’re a partner in your professional growth. We provide the tools, training, and support you need to succeed. Our commitment to our fleet of drivers is a testament to our belief that a truck driver at Chief Carriers is more than an employee—they’re a valued member of our family.
If you’re ready to take the wheel of your truck driving career and build a future with a company that genuinely cares, we want to hear from you. Visit our website to explore specific truck driver job openings in Nebraska and other states where we’re hiring and apply today.
You can hear more about how Chief Carriers sets drivers up for success from our General Manager, Andrew Winkler, in the Driven Too Far podcast episode, “Are Your Habits Delivering the Miles You Want?”
