Monster trucks, with their giant tires, gleaming chrome, and signature ability to crush anything in their path, have long captured the imaginations of fans across the country.
For many fans, driving one of these powerful and iconic vehicles is a dream job. If you have the skills, the right training, and some sponsorship, monster truck driving can be an attainable goal. Here is a guide on how to land in the driver’s seat.
Getting Started – Skills and Requirements
The first steps to becoming a monster truck driver are making sure you have the necessary capabilities and experience. While monster trucks provide a huge adrenaline rush, controlling one requires responsibility and maturity.
Drivers must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid standard driver’s license. Operating vehicles of this size and magnitude is vastly different than driving a commercial or passenger vehicle, so specialized training and skills are mandatory. Here is an overview of some requirements:
Physical Strength and Stamina
Driving a monster truck is an intensely physical endeavor. The vehicles weigh around 10,000 pounds and produce a force of 3 or more Gs when jumping.
This requires tremendous upper and lower body conditioning to combat the gravitational forces. Drivers need strength and stamina to handle long courses, withstand jarred landings, and wrestle with the steering wheel.
Mental Toughness and Focus
Beyond athletic capabilities, succeeding as a monster truck driver requires intense concentration before and during driving. Tuning out distractions and intensely focusing on controlling these powerful machines takes mental discipline. Learning to remain calm under pressure is also key.
Mechanical Knowledge
Monster trucks drivers don’t just operate vehicles – they often build and maintain them too. Having a working knowledge of mechanics, including engines, suspensions, tires, and specialized parts is important. Familiarity with tools, machinery, welding, and technology aids in keeping trucks optimized and running properly.
Driving Experience
While monster trucks don’t handle like regular automobiles, prior driving experience is preferred for prospective drivers. Time operating commercial vehicles, ATVs, tractors, forklifts, and other specialized equipment is useful. This translates well to maneuvering monster trucks.
As long as you meet age requirements and hold a valid license, sufficient training can teach necessary tactics. However, fitness and basic mechanical skills should already be ingrained. Sponsorships may impose additional guidelines, so regular license testing and drug screening can also be mandatory.
Finding Training Programs
Becoming a skilled monster truck driver requires finding a quality training program. Monster truck universities and private training camps offer specialized curriculums built just for these vehicles.
Things like maneuvering, obstacle navigation, equipment management are covered extensively. Here are some options for getting schooled in monster truck driving basics:
Attend a Monster Truck University
Organizations like Monster Truck University (MTU) offer specialized driver training and certification. The MTU curriculum focuses on truck dynamics, jumps, obstacle navigation, crash avoidance, and more.
Skills are applicable to various major truck styles. These intensive programs often supply trucks for training purposes. Attending an MTU can quickly build fundamental and technical monster truck driving skills.
Seek Out Private Instruction
Some current monster truck drivers offer private training programs and camps. These are usually smaller, more personal sessions allowing tight mentorship under an experienced driver.
Subjects like truck mechanics, setup, sponsorship, and the monster truck industry itself may be covered more in-depth. Costs, schedules, skills training, and trucks vary between instructors.
Apply as a Team Member
Getting on as part of an existing monster truck owner/driver’s team can provide direct training. Teams always need additional crew for transporting vehicles, track setup, mechanical work, and driving. Joining a team builds relationships within the industry while learning the ropes. Driver openings do come available on occasion.
No matter how training is obtained, sufficient practice time driving real monster trucks is essential. Simulations and basic driving skills translate only to a certain point. Hands-on experience controlling these intense machines is the best education.
Getting Sponsorship Deals
Once fundamental skills are acquired, getting some financial backing is the next key step. Monster trucks have huge operating expenses between fuel, tires, repairs and maintenance, insurance, and transport.
Sponsorship deals help alleviate the costs in exchange for some promotional considerations. Here are some tips for securing sponsor partnerships:
Create a Pitch Package
A well-crafted proposal helps convey what a driver brings to the table for a potential sponsor. Emphasize attributes like skills, personality, creativity, perseverance, and existing fan base. Include past experience, training details, event participation, and accolades. Personalized, well-presented pitch packages set the right tone for securing partnerships.
Perform Well at Events
There is no better advertisement for sponsorship opportunities than performing in events. Competing and placing well, making exciting runs, having a creative truck concept – these all draw attention from spectator crowds and sponsors alike. Many sponsorship deals happen organically by drivers making a name through events.
Leverage Social Media Presence
Building an audience on social platforms opens additional chances to get noticed by sponsors. Share event videos, showcase personality, post images of truck builds and events, engage with fans – this all extends reach beyond local events. A respectable following signals marketability potential.
While not absolutely essential early on, lining up even minor sponsorships provides some welcome budget relief. Sandwich board ads, branded gear, complimentary parts and services – many related businesses are willing to contribute. Building a name and proving skills by continuing to perform sets the stage for bigger sponsorship over time.
Booking Events
Once equipped with a competition-ready monster truck, the next step is getting event bookings lined up. This simply takes researching and contacting some event promoters. There are circuits across North America catering to various competition levels. Here are some avenues to check out:
Local Events
Start small by looking into local monster truck events, rallies, and shows seeking drivers. County fairs, festivals, motorsport dealership events, and small venues regularly host shows needing truck teams. Rules are typically less strict compared to major events. Get some experience performing in front of live crowds.
Major Circuits
For seasoned drivers, hooking up with an established organization like Monster Jam, the USHRA, or Monster Trucks Unlimited opens bigger opportunities.
These major promoters arrange arena tours and huge stadium shows nationwide. Competition here is fierce, with only the best professional drivers participating. Securing a place requires intensive tryouts and nepotism from existing teams.
Exhibition Events
Exhibitions focusing strictly on wowing crowds rather than competition also need talented drivers. Check local speedways, race tracks and motocross facilities for special monster truck feature shows. Obstacle course challenges, freestyle segments, rides-alongs, and meet-and-greets are common.
Start connecting with promoters well ahead of annual seasons to improve chances for bookings. Having an existing fanbase and social media reach helps considerably too.
Undercard or last-minute openings may provide chances to get a foot in the door with major tours as well. Persistence and continually honing skills ultimately allow drivers to progress to top tier events.
Additional Considerations
Beyond finding training, getting sponsored, and booking events, a few other items factor into successfully breaking into monster truck driving professionally:
Income Potential
Monster truck driving offers the potential for decent wages, but managing expectations early on is important. Many local events pay only a modest truck appearance fee. Major shows may garner US$3,000-5,000 for a winning driver, but such big payouts are less frequent.
Supplemental income from merchandise sales, ride-alongs, garages, and pit parties helps substantially. Over time, income potential rises in proportion with fame.
Costs and Expenses
Owning and operating a monster truck brings considerable costs. Top trucks and transporters alone can cost $250,000. Extensive mechanical work, replacement parts, damages, insurance, fuel, and more tally up quickly.
Covering overhead while not earning much starting out presents financial hurdles for new drivers. This makes obtaining sponsor backing vital early on. Over time, those investments pay off handsomely.
Work/Life Balance
Finding a healthy balance between competition, training, truck maintenance, transporting, and personal obligations takes some finesse for drivers. Weekends and evenings disappear quickly. Being on the road for a quarter or more of the year also strains family and friend relationships.
Passion for the lifestyle helps tremendously in adapting over time. Having a solid crew to share truck duties also prevents burnout.
The path to going pro starts by laying a foundation of skills and experience through training. As competition experience accrues, bigger events, sponsorships, and income potential come into reach. It’s a long road, but with dedication, talent, and persistence, becoming a monster truck icon is an attainable goal.
FAQs
Here are answers to some common questions about pursuing monster truck driving:
How much does it cost to build a monster truck?
What kind of transmission do monster trucks use?
Can anyone drive a monster truck for fun?
How long is the monster truck season?
How often do monster trucks get maintenance?
Conclusion
Becoming a real-life monster truck driver takes commitment, resilience, and serious driving capabilities. The journey demands mastering extreme vehicle control, securing financial backing, and booking high-profile events. While the road is long with much to learn, the lifestyle offers unmatched thrills.
Remember – attempting to operate these trucks without sufficient training can be extremely dangerous. Always practice safety and seek expert guidance as you work towards your monster truck goals.
*Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional driving advice. Please consult professional organizations and training programs for up-to-date, complete guidelines and requirements around operating monster trucks.