There is a severe shortage of truck drivers across a wide range of industries that provide ground travel and transportation. If you have a strong sense of responsibility and want a rewarding job, steer your future into a truck. Becoming a truck driver doesnt often take much time, but you do need to meet a few strict requirements before you can land a job. I do not have any truck driving experience but i really want to be a truck driver. Learn about education requirements, job duties, average salary and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you. Truck driving isnt for the weak of heart im going to tell you one thing right away if you want to be successful and make really good money driving truck, it is not an easy job. An interstate class a commercial driver s license with hazmat endorsement. If you want a job that will support you and your family, you want a job that requires training and experience, like truck driving.
With this checklist, youll be able to pack the important stuff. Getting your commercial drivers license cdl and becoming a professional trucker is a highly rewarding opportunity, you get to drive a heavy vehicle across the roads of north america and meet interesting people. Truck driving is one such occupation in many ways, being an otr overtheroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job. The job description of a dump truck driver is to transport garbage or other materials using a truck with an openbed. Well, perhaps its about time you considered a career in truck driving. If you dont know any truckers, head out to a truck stop to find some. Mar, 2017 you need to watch this before you become a truck driver driver solutions. If you wish to drive across state lines, you need to be 21. To earn a cdl, youll have to attend a truck driving school. Or if you want to do local work theres lots of that delivering general freight in 5 ton trucks driving local transit buses or hauling gravel trucks, cement trucks those.
Truck drivers are required a certain list of qualifications to be able to apply for a job. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit what time you spend at home, thus. A new truck driver endures the most challenging part of his entire career, in their first year. Ive met everyone from high school dropouts to former dentists and commercial pilots. Want to become a truck driver, here are the steps to do it. If you want to know how to become a truck driver, take some time to research the industry and learn about truck driver training, cdl license requirements, and what it takes to become a truck driver. If you want to become a truck driver, youll need to have a clean driving record, have a high school diploma or ged, and in most states, be at least 21. Thousands of jobs exist right across canada and so, its simply a matter of where do you want to live, and then who do you want to work for. Jul 11, 20 if you want a balanced life i think you have to get home most nights. At minimum, armored truck drivers need to be high school graduates. To do this, carriers give truck drivers incentives or reasons to stay for longer periods of time and to continue driving safely. The correct answer was already given but since i was asked i will add a little. Truck driving jobs mean you live in your truck, and living in your truck means you need to pack it all. But, with truck drivers making more, freight prices are going up.
An ideal candidate will know that its urgent for their load to be balanced and at a safe weight. Most monster truck drivers begin their careers on the day they finish building their own custom trucks. The answer to this question will let you know if a truck driver is familiar with the daily protocol for driving on interstates and freeways. There are many perks to becoming a professional truck driver. If you do this for the money and do it because you simply need a job, youre setting yourself up for a big disappointment. Do you see any part that would make you want to become a truck driver.
While several answers can be grouped into categories such as. A six percent hike in longhaul driver employment is expected between 2016 2026. We want to show these kids these are good, allamerican jobs. What to expect your first year as a new truck driver. There are different types of truck driving jobs but most of them include some of the following bullet points in the job description work more than the typical 40 hour work week. Becoming a truck driver doesnt often take much time, but. I had to fly a driver out to ma to bring the truck back. Luckily for drivers, the ongoing truck driver shortage means more opportunities to make money in the professional truck driving industry.
The applicant needs to be an american citizen, or a foreigner who has all their legal documents updated. You may learn from their experiencesboth good and badand may even pick up a few referral cards. First prove that you have enough money to be allowed to. For instance, do you even know whether the trucking business is really profitable. Just a few things the new trucker ought to be aware of, so you know what to expect in your first year. Employers want candidates with clean driving records and specialized training. How to become a truck driver in 12 steps truckers training. A huge number of truck drivers are retirees or those who just want to experience the unique lifestyle. I mean, how many people have ever experienced being a truck driver or even gotten a chance to travel with one.
None of those sound too appealing to most people, and i would dare say that trucking is not for most people. Since he abandoned the truck at this time i do not know what paperwork if any he left receiptsrepair bills, and bl 12. Dire driver shortages in us trucking companies could hit. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit what time you spend at home, thus impacting relationships with those around you. Youll play a critical role in the economy, the demand for drivers is high, and the driverfriendly opportunities with schneider are great. Driver solutions can help you get started with pam transport just like we did for chad. In my years as an instructor, ive found a few common characteristics that bode well for. Some see it as an opportunity to travel the country and better yet, get paid to do it. Either way, for fleet owners with too many loads and too few drivers, it begs the question, what do drivers want from their job.
What are the requirements to become a truck driver. This is a plan that have to be accomplished in time ahead, because presently am working to make some money to. Even in a stressed economy, the nation depends on tractortrailer truck drivers to get goods to market. You may also want to talk to a few truck drivers at a truck stop.
May 28, 2018 america has a massive truck driver shortage. A good truck driver will stop as expected and wont take shortcuts that could prove costly for your company. Many married couples get into the career of truck driving together, as long haul trips will keep you from home for weeks at a. With a small population spread over the secondlargest country in the world, the country is looking towards immigrants to solve this employment issue. Truck drivers transport products and other materials from point a to point b. From there you will find out what they need and want. For those of us who hate being cooped up in an office, a career in truck driving is one of the best jobs in the world. After securing a copy of your commercial driver s manual, the next step is to contact a truck driving school in your area. According to the american trucking associations, the nations trucking industry needs 50,000 more drivers at the end of 2017 and. There are select occupations you ought to first discuss with loved ones before even considering applying for a job in the field. In looking back, i believe there are two main reasons ive loved it so much because if fits my personality, and because it fits my lifestyle. There are truck driving jobs that allow that, but most of us over the road haulers do not have a balanced life in my opinion.
There are many ups and downs to being a truck driver, many of which may surprise you. May 10, 2014 a new truck driver endures the most challenging part of his entire career, in their first year. The driver shortage that has been steadily growing for 15 years has become a crisis. How to become a truck driver get hired check into job placement services. The hours are very long, it takes a lot of selfdiscipline, and you spend the vast majority of your time alone. Congratulations on making the decision to become a professional truck driver. Find licensing requirements and salaries for your state. If you love to drive and experience new places, longhaul truck.
The irs considers a semitruck to be a qualified nonpersonal. Being out on the road means they have immense responsibility so make sure you check their commercial drivers license cdl and driving record. All in all, in the world of trucks you need to possess several skills, it is like. Without a cdl just about all youre going to be able to deliver is pizza. It may seem like an odd shortage to have but canada is in growing need of truck drivers. Every day as a truck driver, the only thing routine about your day will be the sun rising and the sun setting. Employment of heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. What steps do i need to take to be an armored truck driver. Furthermore, in most cases, transport companies require their.
Often, youll want to hire someone with their own truck so, in this case, check their insurance papers too. Get a truck drivers licence xxxxxxxxxxx do you not live in canada. An interstate class a commercial drivers license with hazmat endorsement. Oh, ok,let me reach into my pocket here and pull out that truck driver i have so i can cruise around with him for a while. Truck drivers transport goods over short or long distances. Throw a tight schedule or some weather into the mix and it would look even worse. Research the job description and the licensing requirements, and find out how to start a career in armored truck driving.
The first thing youre going to need is a cdl commercial driver s license. If you truck in your own state, you can begin as young as 18 years old. Its hard work but the pay is much better than you can make anywhere else driving truck and it is a good experience. Learn more about our sponsored cdl training program. Taxes and deductions that may be considered ordinary and necessary depends upon. You need to watch this before you become a truck driver.
Money, after all, is what pays the bills and keeps life trucking along. Give out some kind of free porn with your product and it will make a fortune. Why become a truck driver in canada truckers training canada. For somebody considering a career in the trucking industry, this is the million dollar question. But do you have the courage to try involving in this tricky business. Even though youre driving every day, its a whole new batch of drivers, on a new set of roads going through new cities. So go ahead, get out there and chat with some established truckers. My name is bright izuogu, 26 years old and from nigeria. Im going to tell you one thing right away if you want to be successful and make really good money driving truck, it is not an easy job. In many ways, being an otr overtheroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job.
When carriers hire quality truck drivers, they want to keep them a part of their team for as long they can. For a driver this means that while it is an auto, you need to allow the truck time to change gears and sometimes you will have to override the transmission and select gears in the manual mode to ensure the truck and safely traverse the route. Because truckers transport so much freight, they provide freedom to americans, including the freedom to have clean drinking water, access to. This means that there is an auto shifter changing the gears in a manual gearbox. No more than two 2 moving violations while operating a. If youve ever wondered about a career in truck driving and whether or not its for. First, the thing to remember is that everyone can become a successful truck driver you just need a complete devotion, learning ethic, and a little. Jul 06, 2016 for anyone who is interested in becoming a dump truck driver, the information below should help you decide. First year truck drivers have the opportunity to see the country, but will also be developing their driving skills. The first step is to obtain a commercial driver s license cdl. Heard once that after oil and drugs porn was the third largest industry in. I ve met everyone from high school dropouts to former dentists and commercial pilots. You want a candidate whos honest about their driving record as well as one who can demonstrate that theyll handle accidents in a calm and reasonable manner. The number of active truck drivers continues to fall well short of the overall industry demand.
Youll mostly get to drive modern trucks with comfortable, ergonomically designed seats to help you stay alert and focused. A minimum of 30 months of experience working in a fulltime class a tractortrailer driving position in the last 3 years. Truck driver tax deductions may include any expenses that are ordinary and necessary to the business of being a truck driver. Jun 12, 2017 the average truck driver the information provided was gathered from polls taken by truckers news and overdrive subscribers. Commercial truck driving can be a rewarding career, especially if you really enjoy driving and dont mind spending long periods of time away from home. Club online interviewed monster jam competitor jim koehler, who explained that you become a monster truck driver by building or purchasing a truck, entering competitions and winning events. Alot and i do mean alot of truck stops have adult stores or strip clubs of some kind in close proximity to them, this is not a coincidence. Ok, if youve made it this far, and still want to be a truck driver, then read on. How to become a truck driver wikihow how to do anything. There are many perks that come with a truck driver s schedule, not the least of which is a unique view of the country, as well as camaraderie among your peers.
Instead, you will learn on the road and start earning money quickly. You need to immigrate before you can think of a licence and a job. This is a plan that have to be accomplished in time ahead, because presently am working to make some money to process my migration, but at the other hand, i decided to let you know that if there is a way they can help and support me to migrate and train me. Aug 30, 2016 thousands of jobs exist right across canada and so, its simply a matter of where do you want to live, and then who do you want to work for. Once you meet the basic requirements, truck driving school cdl training will prepare you for the cdl knowledge and skills tests. Moreover, doing this as a successful truck driver requires constant awareness on the road and complete preparation to handle any situation. Below is a variety of answers to the question from industry experts and media pundits. Choosing a second career is a big decision, so here are nine more solid reasons to consider becoming a truck driver. After securing a copy of your commercial drivers manual, the next step is to contact a truck driving school in your area. The essentials, entertainment options, and work related items for a smooth ride. Aug 24, 2019 we want to show these kids these are good, allamerican jobs. What i have learned the most is to get to know all of your truck drivers on a personal level. Get a truck driver s licence xxxxxxxxxxx do you not live in canada.
With less than 60% of those polled being long haul truckers, the average miles logged still came in at 106,350 miles annually. But if youre willing to put in the effort to learn the ropes and tolerate the long hours, truck. I tell friends who are working minimumwage or factory jobs to go get their cdl commercial drivers. Its one of the most important questions to ask when considering a new career.
1151 683 294 896 400 14 966 448 583 1341 884 1115 1182 71 1452 167 958 618 1274 1495 24 1453 546 1191 902 155 422 1459 1147