Local Driving:
This type of truck driver is an hourly employee who is generally home every evening. Truck driver local jobs require loading and unloading in the same town or area and usually work 8 to 10 hours per day. Some businesses employ material handlers who have the truck loaded before the driver arrives, with items arranged for ease of delivery. They may be responsible for deliveries such as tankers of fuel to refill local gas stations, or semi trailers full of farm produce to nearby packaging plants. Although this does involve many hours of driving, the position is often considered to be the easiest.
Over the Road:
This type of driver could be responsible for delivering to all 48 states, or could be contained to a specific demographic area, such as the southeastern states. These heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers operate vehicles with a capacity of 26 thousand lbs.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has specific laws that control the number of hours a truck driver can be behind the wheel in a given period of time. This is for the driver's own safety, since this type of driver's pay is directly related to the number of miles they drive. An OTR driver is allowed to drive for 11 straight hours before they are required to have a 10-hour break. A driver is limited to working 60 hours in a 7-day period, or 70 hours during an 8-day stretch unless they have taken 34 hours off. A logbook is required to be kept by all drivers. This is used to document all driving and work time.
Because of these stipulations, many companies use two drivers as CDL truck driver jobs are very demanding. One sleeps in the area behind the cab while the other drives. These are called ‘sleeper runs' and generally only stop for fuel, loading or unloading. Drivers on these runs can be away from home for extended time periods.
Some drivers are required to load and unload their cargo. This is a common practice with specialty cargo, as the driver may be the only one with the qualifications and training required to unload or handle the specific materials. Over the road drivers may be driving for lengths of up to four weeks at a time. The amount of time away from home should be a major factor when determining whether this type of trucking is right for a particular individual. Drivers engaged in these long runs face the difficulties of being alone, boredom, and fatigue. This type of work is clearly not for everyone.
Short Haul:
The short haul driver is usually contained to 100-mile radius or less from their location. They may make one or multiple deliveries in one trip and are sometimes required to load and unload their own vehicles. Many short haul CDL drivers have daily delivery routes.
Some route drivers also have customer service and sales responsibilities. In addition to delivering products to locations on their established routes, these drivers are expected to introduce products to potential clients and new products to existing customers. They may also be responsible to handle customer complaints, product quotes, and collecting payment for deliveries. This type of driver may deliver goods, such as food, beverage, or supplies to grocery stores, warehouses, or the restaurant industry. These driver/sales positions are typically rewarded with a generous commission in addition to a base salary.
Education and Training:
In order to drive large trucks, a commercial driver's license (CDL) must be obtained. Most major cities offer several truck driver training courses. Students are trained in specific laws and compliance regulations that will prepare them for the written portion of the testing. They also learn to maneuver a large vehicle through heavy traffic, backing up to a loading station, turning around, and other harder to handle aspects regarding a large vehicle.
In order for training to be accepted, the driving school must be certified by the Professional Truck Driving Institute (PTDI). This non-profit organization, established by the trucking industry, only certifies the training programs that meet industry standards and adhere to Federal Highway Administration guidelines. It is important that anyone in need of CDL licensing and driver training check the school's credentials in advance.
Employment and Outlook:
Income of hourly paid drivers averages between $15 - $22 per hour, but can vary greatly from one employer to the next. Local drivers are paid by the hour, while long haul and independent contractors are paid by the mile or by a certain percentage of the load's profit.
Truck drivers held 3.5 million blue collar jobs last year, with an expected increase of 8% during the next five years. Future labor job opportunities for drivers look favorable. As experienced drivers are expected to retire and more products are in need of delivery each year; reliable drivers will continue to be in demand.
