IS TRUCK DRIVING FOR ME?
There are several things to consider before embarking on truck driving as a
career. This is designed as a general guide for the trucking industry as a
whole...each company may have varying and more stringent policies on hiring.
JOB SECURITY
The outlook for the trucking industry is excellent. These is a shortage of
drivers in general and over-the-road drivers particularly. With a good CDL
Class A, job security in the future is virtually assured. Individual trucking
companies that bankrupt stem from bad management, not lack of business.
TYPES OF TRUCKING
There are three types of trucking:
(1) Local: involves mostly loading and unloading at local businesses. Pay is
usually hourly and drivers are home every night. Long days are typical (8-10
hours). An example of a driver is a tanker service that deliver gasoline.
Local drivers may only need a Class B CDL to drive such things as UPS
delivery trucks, break trucks or dump trucks.
(2) Over-the-Road <OTR>: delivering freight in all or part of the 48 states and
Canada. Pay is usually by the mile, with 2,500 miles per week a reasonable
expectation. Drivers are limited driving/working 70 hours in 8 days, with a
maximum 10 hour work session before an 8 hour break. More money is made
when less loading/unloading is required (no touch freight), freight is point-to-
point rather than multiple stop and traffic lanes avoid congested areas like
New York City. Drivers are away from home an average of 1-4 weeks.
Additional terms in OTR trucking a regional (a limited running area like
the southeastern states), dedicated (same run or runs day after day) and
irregular route (new delivery routes each time). Examples are J.B. Hunt and
USA Truck.
(3) Short Haul: companies that haul LTL (less than truckload) freight terminal
to terminal (hub to hub). Pay may be mileage based or hourly. Time away
from home is usually one or two nights at a time. Some of the best pay and
benefits are found in this type of trucking but hiring is very selective and some
OTR experience is normally needed. Short haul companies include UPS
(doubles on the highway) and Roadway.
HOME TIME
No one should enter the trucking industry without being prepared to
sacrifice some home time. Even local drivers may put in over 10 hours a day.
The OTR industry will usually give a driver one full day off for every week
(7 days) away from home. This makes trucking a lifestyle, not just a career
change.
Most good paying local and short haul companies like at least a year's
experience OTR. This demonstrates reliability and skill of prospective
drivers. The OTR industry will give an 'out-of-school- new driver a training
period with an experienced Driver Trainer to get them started right (period of
4 weeks or more)...local and short haul usually don't have this extra training.
While solo driving companies (one driver in the truck verses a team
operation) often allow a rider in the truck, smaller children are normally not
allowed to ride.
A rule of thumb is this: if you and your family cannot invest one year of
your life with an OTR company, trucking may not be for you.
QUALIFICATIONS
Different companies
will have varying policies. Below are
some general qualifications...
AGE: to drive out of state, minimum age is 21 years old.
CDL CLASS A: must have this with some endorsements (hazardous materials,
doubles or tanker for example) and training from an recognized trucking
school.
D.O.T. PHYSICAL: must pass a standard department of transportation
physical and a drug screen (illegal drug use is an immediate disqualification).
A history of heart trouble, mental illness or back injury often will be additional
drawbacks to hiring.
DRIVING RECORD: a good driving record with no more than three moving
violations (speeding, running stop sign, etc.) and/or accidents in the last three
years is a median qualification, but there is great latitude in this area from
company to company (some stricter, some more lenient). A DUI/DWI on the
driving record in the past 5 years is normally a disqualification...many
companies require 10 years. Reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident
and fleeing a police officer are also strong negatives.
CRIMINAL RECORD: companies crossing the border into Canada may not
send a driver with a felony conviction on those runs: Canada will arrest the
driver and seize the truck. A Canadian waiver or Ministers Permit must be
obtained to legally cross the border.
Drug or theft related crimes are usually immediate disqualifications. Felony
convictions in general must normally be at least 10 years old, but many OTR
companies will not hire anyone with a felony record at any time.
WORK HISTORY: because of high driver turn-over, particularly in the OTR
industry, a stable work history is needed. Long periods at one job and military
service are strongly desired by major companies. 'Job hopping' without a
good (attached to the application) explanation is usually a disqualification.
Trucking companies must call and verify former employers at least 3 years
back, so accurate information is vital.
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