Demand is growing within the trucking industry for skilled, professional drivers. Combine these opportunities with the freedom of the open road and trucking may be the career for you.

At this very moment, trucks are at work for you!

Around the clock, coast-to-coast, trucks are on the road carrying everything the nation needs: food, furniture, books, clothing, automobiles and medical supplies.

But a serious shortage exists in some segments of the industry that could disrupt our fine-tuned distribution system. It's not a shortage of freight or equipment; surprisingly, it's a shortage of men and women qualified to drive trucks.

To solve this problem, trucking companies are offering better wages and benefits to attract and retain good drivers. In fact, the trucking industry expects to hire about 450,000 new drivers over the next few years. The prospects for a professional truck driver have never been better!

TRUCKING - IS IT A JOB FOR YOU?

Qualifications

To qualify for a truck driving job with a company operating in interstate commerce, a driver must meet the minimum requirements prescribed in the federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations guide. In addition to federal regulations, most companies have other rules and guidelines which a driver must follow.

AGE: While many states allow those 18 and older to drive trucks within state borders, federal regulations require drivers operating across state lines to be at least 21 years of ages.

LICENSE: Every truck driver must have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) issued by a state. A commercial driver can hold a license from only one state.

PHYSICAL CONDITION: The U.S. Department of Transportation requires a driver to have a complete physical examination every two years. A driver must not have suffered any loss of a hand; an arm, a foot, or a leg, nor have any physical defects or disease likely to interfere with safe driving. A driver must not have a medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes that requires insulin for control. (There are some D.O.T. waivers that can be applied for, contact your Admissions Rep. regarding this matter.)

VISION: A driver must have a minimum of 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without corrective lenses, and have a 70 degree field of vision in each eye. Drivers may not be color blind.

HEARING: A driver must be capable of perceiving a forced whisper in the better ear at not less then five feet, with or without the use of a hearing aid.

EDUCATION: A driver must be able to read and speak English well enough to understand traffic signs, prepare required reports, and speak with law enforcement authorities and the public. (Note: Some companies may have additional educational requirements.)

SAFETY: The U.S. Department of Transportation sets safety rules for interstate truck drivers (vehicle inspection, hours of service, etc.), and drivers must learn these rules and comply with them. Most states have adopted similar rules for intrastate drivers.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Strict regulations forbid the use of alcohol or drugs prior to, or while operating, commercial vehicles. Drivers are subject to drug and alcohol testing by their employers and by law enforcement officials under four different circumstances; pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and random testing. A driver must have no current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism, and must not use any illegal drugs.

CRIMINAL/DRIVING RECORD: A driver must not have been convicted of a felony involving the use if a motor vehicle; a crime involving drugs; driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or, hit-and-run driving which results in injury or death.

TYPES OF TRUCK DRIVERS

• Long-distance or over-the-road drivers operate heavy trucks and drive for long periods of time, either interstate (between states) or intrastate(within one state). Some long-haul drivers travel a few hundred miles and return the same day; other are away from home overnight, or for several days or weeks at a time.

• Local drivers operate light, medium or heavy trucks, and work in route-sales or pick-up-and-delivery operations. These drivers have more contact with customers than do long-haul drivers, and usually make many more stops each day. Those in route-sales often need sales skills as well as driving skills.

• Specialized trucking involves operating specialized trucks that handle unusual, oversized or sensitive loads. Drivers cover local and long-distance routes, and need extra training to operate their equipment. Examples of specialized trucking include: auto carriers, dry bulk carries, tank trucks(permitted), oversized and overweight loads, or double and triple trailers.

• Drivers who transport hazardous materials also need more extensive training, usually provided by their employers. These drivers must know the content of the loads they haul, how to handle the load safely, and what to do in an emergency. Drivers who transport hazardous materials are required to take additional testing in hazmat regulations and safety precautions when applying for the CDL.

• An owner-operator or independent driver owns his or her own equipment - anything from a straight truck to a flatbed tractor-trailer - and hauls freight on a contractual basis. Husband-and-wife owner-operator teams are very common, especially in the household moving industry.

It's possible to make a good living as an owner-operator but, like most small businesses, the competition is tough and there are many overhead expenses involved-equipment purchases, maintenance, fuel and insurance, to name a few. Most owner-operators begin their careers as salaried drivers with a motor carrier before starting their own business.

Rates of pay and potential earning vary considerably within the industry. Most city pick-up-and-delivery drivers are paid by the hour. In long-haul operations,drivers are usually paid a specified rate per mile or, in some cases, a percentage of the revenue the motor carrier receives for the load hauled.

CHOOSING A TRUCK DRIVING TRAINING SCHOOL

A good way to get started in the trucking industry is by enrollment in a quality certified truck driving school.

When choosing a school, consider the following guidelines:

The school should have adequate facilities for in-class instruction, comparable to the average public school classroom. Classroom instruction should include lectures and training videos, and should adequately prepare you to pass the Commercial Drivers License (CDL) exam. Contact your state division of motor vehicles for a copy of the CDL study manual.

The school should provide a variety of well-maintained trucks, tractors, and semi-trailers to prepare you for local, long-haul, and city pick-up-and-delivery driving. The school should have an off-street area for initial, behind-the-wheel instruction in vehicle handling and maneuvering.

Instructors should have a solid background in truck driver training, combining education and actual driving experience. Preferably, instructors should be accredited by a university or college driver-training program.

Be wary of schools that claim to be endorsed by the federal government, trucking associations or specific truck fleets. Contact organizations for which such endorsement is noted and verify the claims.

Check with the local board of education or business licensing agency to see which certificates or licenses the school is required to have. Then, check to see that the licenses are displayed and are valid. (Telephone numbers for these agencies usually can be found in the state and local government section of the telephone directory.)

• One of the best ways to verify the reputation of a training school is by checking with major companies to see if they hire graduates from that school. Talk with recent graduates about the content and quality of training received, and ask if they have been successful finding a driving job.

Read and understand the contract, and know exactly what your obligations are. Verify the tuition and other costs and terms governing refund or forfeiture of the down payment, arrangements ( and be sure you clearly understand the terms) for financing the remainder of the tuition.

If the school is far from your home, check into the availability of room and board at the school. Be sure to investigate adequacy and costs of those facilities. If you have dependents, be sure you have made arrangements to support them while you complete training.

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