Truck Driving Careers

Choice of Truck Driving Careers

The type and size of the truck driven usually is tied to the length and distance of the route driven.

Heavy Truck and Tractor-trailer Drivers

These vans and trucks have a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds. They transport large loads over long distances. Typically loads include automobiles, raw materials and packaged materials.

Drivers may drive for days or weeks to complete the full delivery. For long routes with tight delivery timeframes, two drivers are often employed, so one can drive the truck while the other driver sleeps in a bed in the back of the cab.

United States Department of Transportation regulations require tractor-trailer and heavy truck drivers to:

• Limit driving time to no more than 60 hours in any seven day period
• Rest at least ten hours for every eleven hours they drive
• Be randomly tested for drugs and alcohol
• Report the condition of the vehicle and any accidents at the end of each trip

Light or Delivery Services Drivers

Trucks with capacities of less than 26,000 pounds typically provide package and merchandise pickup and delivery. Drivers may have a full load that takes them all day to unload over a variety of stops. Other drivers may make a series of trips from a warehouse to various customers.

The trucks are usually loaded before the truck driver arrives, but truck drivers are often responsible for unloading their trucks when they reach each destination. The driver might have an assistant, depending upon the weight of the items being carried.

Some deliveries may require customer interactions, such as signing delivery receipts or collecting cash for the delivery of merchandise. Drivers return paperwork to their headquarters at the end of the working day.

Local truck drivers, often called route drivers, may also be responsible for stocking shelves, selling an assortment of goods, taking orders, collecting payments and answering customer questions. For example, a bread truck driver might make recommendations to a store manager about how much they should purchase based on their sales and stock levels. Route drivers often work more than fifty hours a week, usually during early morning or late evening hours.

Job Basics

Truck drivers are responsible for moving almost everything including food, mail, consumer goods, manufactured goods and construction materials. There is very little that is used in the United States that didn't spend some time on a truck.

Responsibilities

Truck drivers are responsible for safely getting their loads between two points and maintaining the quality of the items being delivered. To accomplish this, the driver may need to:

• Inspect their vehicle before they leave – Drivers make sure that the fuel and oil are at the proper levels, the brakes and windshield wipers are working, the mirrors are adjusted properly and that all necessary safety equipment is on board.
• Watch for road hazards – A driver can stay on schedule and ensure safety by monitoring the road and traffic conditions.
• Achieve a specific delivery schedule – Local drivers, intercity and long distance drivers are all responsible for getting their cargo to a specific destination by a specific time.
• Load and unload cargo – Some drivers, such as those who operate moving vans, will have local workers help load and unload heavy furniture. In some cases, the driver may be the only person certified to handle special cargo they are transporting. For example, automobile transport drivers are responsible for unloading the vehicles at the dealership.

Work Environment

Technology has certainly improved the ability of the truck driver to analyze progress and keep in touch with the dispatcher, family members, customers and other truck drivers. Drivers now have:

• Global positioning systems (GPS) devices that can provide driving directions and track the truck's progress for the dispatcher
• Weather radios and cell phones to receive up-to-the-minute road and weather information
• Computer-assisted technology to keep track of inventory

The physical demands of truck driving have decreased with the introduction of better driver seats, ergonomically-designed cabs and efficient heating and cooling systems. However, the stress of staying on schedule, meeting the demands of the employer and maintaining quality service can be stressful for the driver.

Long-distance drivers have increased efficiency and lowered stress levels because of special in-truck equipment such as comfortable beds as well as televisions and refrigerators. But, even with these "conveniences from home" the long distance driver has the added stress of heavy traffic, driving at night and being away from home for long periods of time.

Qualifications

Truck drivers are governed by Federal, state and employer standards:

• All drivers
  • Must have a valid state driver's license
  • Most states require drivers to be at least 18 years of age to drive within the state
  • Are required to have an excellent driving record
  • Must have a Commercial Driver's License if they are hauling hazardous materials or 26,000 or more pounds of cargo

• Federal interstate route drivers
  • Must be at least 21 years old.
  • May be required to pass tests for heavy-lifting
  • May be required to have 3-5 years of truck driving experience
  • Must be able to pass a biannual physical exam, including hearing and vision screenings
  • Must pass a written exam on Federal safety regulations
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English

Education and Training

A high school education is not always required but it is definitely preferred by most employers. Prospective drivers can benefit from courses in truck driving and automotive mechanics. These courses are usually available at public or private vocational-technical schools. Prospective drivers should look for a school that offers:

• Behind-the-wheel instruction
• A course certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute
• Help with employment placement

Trucking firms occasionally offer limited classroom training on:

• Truck operation
• Loading procedures
• Form preparation and record keeping
• Sales and product training

Salary

Entry level truck drivers earn about $30,000 annually, with wages increasing to $65,000 as they gain more experience. It is not uncommon for a heavy truck and tractor-trailer driver to earn up to $85,000 per year, and husband-wife teams often earn more than $100,000 annually. Some self-employed drivers, who own their own trucks, can earn significantly more income.

Career Advancement

New drivers often start as substitutes for regular drivers who are sick or on vacation. As they gain more experience, they may be assigned to a regular route with a better schedule.

Many drivers start on smaller trucks, moving on to larger trucks and tractor-trailers as they gain driving experience. Some drivers gain positions as managers, dispatchers and planners. Other drivers decide to own their own truck and start their own delivery company.

Job Opportunities

The demand for truck drivers tends to follow the strength of the economy, which dictates the amount of freight that needs to be moved. Economic slow downs often result in decreased job opportunities and occasional layoffs. The most stable employers are those who work for relatively stable industries such as grocery stores.

The most jobs are usually located in larger metropolitan areas or along major highways where trucking and wholesale companies have their distribution warehouses.

Opportunities for long distance heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers continue to increase as new job opportunities open up, and as the industry loses drivers to retirement. Employment opportunities are expected to increase through 2014.

The biggest competition and the slowest growth in job opportunities are for the local route drivers.

Additional Information About Truck Driving Careers

• American Trucking Association - Information on career opportunities in truck driving
• Professional Truck Driver Institute - Lists of certified tractor-trailer driver training courses
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Information on union truck driving