Truck Driver (Recession Proof)

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Almost every product sold in the United States spends at least some time in a truck. While planes, trains, and ships are also used to transport goods, no other form of transportation has the same level of flexibility as a truck. As a result, trucks are used to transport everything from canned food to automobiles. Drivers are responsible for picking up and delivering freight from one place to another. This may be from a manufacturer to a distribution center, from a distribution center to a customer, or between distribution centers. In addition, drivers may be responsible for loading and unloading their cargo. They are also responsible for following applicable laws, keeping logs of their activities, and making sure that their equipment is in good working condition.

Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers operate trucks or vans with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW). The vast majority of these are over-the-road or long-haul drivers, meaning they deliver goods over intercity routes that may span several States. Some drivers have regular routes or regions where they drive the most, while others take on routes throughout the country or even to Canada and Mexico.

Long-haul drivers are often responsible for planning their own routes. In most cases, operators are given a delivery location and deadline, and they must determine how to get the shipment to its destination on time. This can be difficult, as drivers must find routes that allow large trucks, and must work within the rules imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Drivers must fill out logs to show that they have followed these rules, which mandate maximum driving times and rest periods between shifts. Companies sometimes use two drivers on long runs to minimize downtime. On these “sleeper” runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other operates the truck.

Light or delivery services truck drivers, often called pick-up and delivery or P&D drivers deliver goods within an urban area or small region. In most cases, they carry shipments from distribution centers to businesses or households. Drivers who work for package delivery services may have a single load and make many stops over the course of the day, while other drivers might have several loads in the course of a day. Depending on the load, drivers may have helpers who load and unload their vehicles. When making deliveries, they may accept payments for cash-on-delivery shipments, or handle paperwork, such as delivery confirmations and receipts.

Specialized truck drivers work with unusual loads. While most trucks carry freight loads in semi-trailers or vans, some carry liquids, oversized loads, or cars. Others carry hazardous materials, such as dangerous chemicals needed for industrial purposes, or waste from chemical processes that must be stored in approved facilities. Drivers who work with these types of loads must follow strict procedures to make sure their loads are delivered safely.

Driver/sales workers or route drivers, have sales responsibilities. For example, many driver/sales workers deliver and arrange goods to be sold in grocery stores. They may recommend that a store increase their inventory or encourage store managers to sell new products. Companies that rent linens, towels, or uniforms employ driver/sales workers to visit businesses regularly to replace soiled laundry. Driver/sales workers may also be responsible for soliciting new customers along their routes.

Local truck drivers frequently work 50 or more hours a week. Drivers who handle food for chain grocery stores, produce markets, or bakeries typically work long hours—often late at night or early in the morning. Most drivers have regular routes, although some have different routes each day. Many local truck drivers—particularly driver/sales workers—do a considerable amount of lifting, carrying, and walking.

Education and training. Most prospective truck drivers take driver-training courses at a technical or vocational school to prepare for CDL testing. Driver-training courses teach students how to maneuver large vehicles on crowded streets and in highway traffic. These courses also train drivers how to properly inspect trucks and freight for compliance with regulations.

Some States require prospective drivers to complete a training course in basic truck driving before getting their CDL. Some companies have similar requirements. People interested in attending a driving school should check with local trucking companies to make sure the school’s training is acceptable. The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) certifies driver-training courses at truck driver training schools that meet industry standards and Federal Highway Administration guidelines for training tractor-trailer drivers.

Employers usually have training programs for new drivers who have already earned their CDL. This is often informal and may consist of only a few hours of instruction from an experienced driver. Some companies give 1 to 2 days of classroom instruction covering general duties, the operation and loading of a truck, company policies, and the preparation of delivery forms and company records. New drivers may also ride with and observe experienced drivers before getting their own assignments. Drivers receive additional training to drive special types of trucks or handle hazardous materials. Driver/sales workers receive training on the various types of products their company carries so that they can effectively answer questions about the products and more easily market them to their customers.

Licensure. Federal and State regulations govern the qualifications and standards for truck drivers. Drivers must comply with all Federal regulations and any State regulations that are in excess of those Federal requirements when under that State’s jurisdiction. To qualify for a CDL, applicants must have clean driving records, pass written tests on rules and regulations, and demonstrate that they can operate commercial trucks safely. A national database permanently records all driving violations committed by those with a CDL, and issuing authorities reject applicants who have suspended or revoked licenses in other States. Licensed drivers must accompany trainees until they get their own CDLs. A person may not hold more than one driver’s license at a time and must surrender any other licenses when issued a CDL. Information on how to apply for a CDL may be obtained from State motor vehicle administrations.

Other qualifications

• Federal regulations require employers to test their drivers for alcohol and drug use as a condition of employment and require periodic random tests of the drivers while they are on duty.
• A driver must not have been convicted of a felony involving the use of a motor vehicle or a crime involving drugs, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, refusing to submit to an alcohol test required by a State or its implied consent laws or regulations, leaving the scene of a crime, or causing a fatality through negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

You can be a truck driver without even completing High School! Most truck driving schools can cost you 2000 to 6000 dollars to learn BUT there are community colleges that will teach you everything for way less than that. If you live near a port city you being a truck driver allows you to run your own business and they make about 200 bucks a run and can usually do two to three runs a day. Think of all the distribution companies like Wal-Mart, UPS and even Coca-Cola who need truck drivers to make deliveries from the distribution warehouse to individual stores.

Don’t limit yourself by thinking you will have to drive across country. Trucks drivers are needed in every city around the United States locally. That means you can come home and have a regular life and still make enough money to live a good life.

START YOUR OWN! - An owner operator trucker is a truck driver who owns her own truck and uses it to haul loads as an independent contractor. The owner operator, often called an “owner op” or “OO,” work for a variety of truck lines and companies. Her “rig,” which is their tractor-trailer, is driven to a site where the load is attached and then driven across the country. The job has rewards that include high pay (as much as $65,000 a year or more in some cases) and a sense of freedom, but the challenges include managing your own schedule and finding loads to haul.

• Get your CDL license endorsement. This is an endorsement that is added to your existing driver’s license. It must be obtained in the state where you reside and where your current license is held. To obtain the endorsement, you must take and pass a knowledge exam and a skills test. Both are administered by your state Department of Motor
• Gain experience in driving a truck for a variety of companies. Most owner operators have over-the-road experience before they ever think about heading out on their own. It is important to learn the business by being a part of it, with hands-on experience.
• Lease a truck. Apply for a loan for a tractor-trailer through a bank or a lease purchase program. Bank loans require a substantial down payment, because tractor-trailers can cost upward of $50,000. The payments on your lease will be part of your expenses in the business, so include this in your estimates when you consider if becoming an owner operator is for you.
• Secure loads through a trucking company. As an independent contractor, you have the freedom to choose who you want to work for and when. Consider the flexibility of the company and its reputation. Working for a disreputable company can harm your business, earning power and reputation, because missed loads and poor communication cost you as the operator.
• Research the available jobs in your area and find out which permits are required to carry them. For instance, there may be steady loads for those with double trailer experience and permits. Or, there may be loads for those with a hazardous waste endorsement. If so, take the required tests to obtain these permits and add them to your credentials and resume.
• Continue to network with other truckers and business owners to find and secure loads for your business. The more you network, the more loads you will be able to haul.

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