By going to one of these schools, you will become qualified to be hired by a company for one of their CDL Truck Driver jobs In order to qualify for this job, you will have to successfully complete the trucking course and also pass the state certification and licensing test and get your CDL license. Even school bus drivers now have to have a CDL license in order to chauffeur schoolchildren around.
Trucking companies and business owners should always verify any of the CDL licenses that are shown to them by candidates for truck driving jobs. They should also verify the driving record for the past 10 years to see if the person applying for the job has any history of DUI, speeding or serious accidents. They should also make sure that the truck drivers they hire are familiar with the type of truck and trailer they will be required to operate.
Companies need to make it clear if they are hiring only experienced truck drivers or if they are hiring new or inexperienced drivers and pairing them with an older driver. This will save time and aggravation during the hiring process. Most of the new drivers are hired and given a probationary status of several months. Their pay is not as high during this time and he is considered a trainee. The trucking companies will be monitoring his driving, logs and report sheets. If the trainee is doing a good job, he will be kept on as a driver when his probationary status is removed.
There is a very serious shortage of qualified truck drivers and many of the large companies are desperately trying to recruit qualified drivers to fill these positions. Without truckers, the mammoth tractors and trailers languish in the docks. With no freight being moved, there is no money being generated by the company.
Owners and managers at many of the biggest trucking firms want as many of their machines on the road as possible. Many of the companies are beginning to use web sites to help them find highly skilled and well-trained drivers. Currently there is a turnover of 140% for drivers in the trucking industry. The hours can be long and there are times when truckers have no company on long hauls. The long hours, isolation and stress of maneuvering an 18-wheeler in heavy traffic are key factors in this turnover.
The trucking industry itself has been taking many blows lately. Some of the hits have been in relation to diesel fuel costs, others hits have come from new regulations regarding drivers and freight costs, but the worst hits have come from the critical shortage of qualified truckers to hire.
People have flocked to other jobs and have often left blue-collar jobs like trucking in the dust. There are people who think that they can make more money working at a convenience store or shopping center than they can make hauling freight across the country. These might be physically easier jobs for some people but Truck drivers can still make $40,000 a year and have most weekends free to be with their families. The higher money is paid to those who are making the longest and most frequent hauls. These drivers also receive health insurance for their families and disability insurance.
Truckers are responsible for keeping their vehicles in good shape and they have to try to make timely trips when they are hauling freight. This requires that he keeps up with diesel fuel cost and receipts and makes sure that his tires and brakes are in good repair. Many of the runs in the tractor trailers are considered to be very time sensitive by the owners. This means that professional truckers are almost always working on strict deadlines.
Logs must be kept that show the mileage for each day and breaks and down time must also be recorded. The trucking industry operates under many different regulations and some of these deal with how many hours the driver has been on the road and how many miles he has driven in any 24 hour period.
Law enforcement officers have the right to examine these books and they can make a trucker park his rig if he has been putting in long hours. Correct bills of laden must also be kept available and be able to be shown at any time. The need to be organized is crucial for a good trucker.
