The trucking industry is booming, and the demand for professional drivers is high. Truck driving jobs are expected to increase by 11% in the next 10 years, which means that many people will be looking for truck driver training. If you are interested in becoming a truck driver, here are some things you should know before investing your time and money into this career.
Written Test
Many truck drivers start by getting their commercial driver’s license (CDL), which means that they must pass several tests before becoming certified to drive large vehicles with hazardous materials. The general public is not allowed to operate these kinds of trucks, so you will need special certification to get behind the wheel. The first test in your truck driver training you will need to pass is a written exam, which covers several different areas including safety regulations, understanding your CDL handbook, and more. You can read over the material that will be covered on the test before taking it by studying from an official CDL manual or another source of information online.
When preparing for this test, make sure to study every part of the DMV’s truck driver handbook – even if you don’t think it pertains directly to what you’ll be tested on! This way you have all of your bases covered so there won’t be any surprises when it comes time for testing day.
Commercial Driver’s License
The CDL is different from a standard driver’s license, and it requires more time and money to get one. A CDL allows drivers to operate large trucks through interstate commerce, which means that they can drive across state lines while delivering goods or services. You also must have this type of certification if you want to transport hazardous materials with your truck – even if the load isn’t technically classified as “hazardous material.”
Commercial driving licenses can typically be obtained by attending an approved training program at school (or online), where drivers learn how to maneuver big rigs safely in all kinds of conditions including day/night driving, adverse weather, construction zones, etc. Training classes may include information on defensive driving techniques, map reading, loading, and unloading cargo safely in the truck’s bed, etc. Keep in mind that these classes are not mandatory to get your license; however, they will teach you valuable information about operating large trucks which can make you a better driver on the job.
Pass A Physical Exam
Before you can get behind the wheel of your big rig, you must meet all state and federal health standards. The medical requirements for commercial drivers vary depending on where they live – however truckers under the age of 21 typically won’t be eligible if they have certain types of conditions including epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease/stroke risk factors, etc. Some states allow older applicants with these issues as long as their overall health is good enough that it doesn’t pose any significant safety risks or interfere with driving ability. If you fall into this category there may also be restrictions placed on how many miles/hours you’re allowed to drive per day or week.
Trucking jobs can be a great career for anyone who loves to travel and is looking for an exciting new job. However, it does require some special training to become certified, so keep that in mind when thinking about this profession!
Skills Test
If you are interested in landing your first job as a commercial driver, it is important that you feel comfortable driving the truck before ever stepping foot inside of one on the road! A prospective employer won’t be willing to hire someone who doesn’t have all their “ducks in a row” – so they will typically allow applicants to prove themselves by allowing them to take part in some kind of testing process ahead of time.
During this test, employers will ride along with drivers and observe how well they can handle different situations while operating large vehicles. This may include things like parallel parking or backing up into tight spaces for example; however, keep in mind that every company has its specific requirements when it comes to skills. For this reason, it is usually a good idea to get in touch with the hiring department ahead of time so you can review what specific criteria they will be looking for when testing applicants on-site.
A Background Check
Truck drivers must be able to maintain clean criminal records to stay eligible for continued employment – so before you ever set foot inside of your first truck, all charges and convictions must be taken into account by the hiring manager. Several types of crimes can disqualify applicants from getting behind the wheel including DUI’s/DWI’s, drug-related offenses (especially those involving narcotics), sex crime-related charges such as stalking or sexual assault, etc. Some employers may also conduct credit checks on potential employees as well; however, this typically depends on who they work for and how much liability is involved with doing business as a company driver.
If there were any previous problems with your driving history or criminal record, you must be completely honest with potential employers about your past. This way you can avoid getting into a serious situation down the road which could hurt both your reputation and future employment opportunities!
If these tips have helped you to decide whether trucking makes sense for you, we would love to help get you started on this exciting new career path – so be sure to connect with us today for more information on how we can help prospective drivers like yourself succeed in this growing industry!