Truck Driver Jobs

by Paul Still

If you currently have a class A or B professional transport licence then you won't need to read the following information about the trucking industry, the issues and demands made on the professional truck driver, and the job of trucking effects on the family. If you are looking for the online driver application click here, if you would like to search trucking jobs click here.

The Trucking Industry will need to replace
160,000 truck drivers by 2012 - truckline.com

Are you looking to get rich? Are you looking for job security? Are you simply in need of a job? Why do you want to be a truck driver - and be honest - it's the difference between a successful career as a trucker and a spiral downwards into financial bottom and a strained family like. It's not like the movies; there aren't incredible scenic views all the time and the money doesn't flow - and just because there is a driver demand doesn't mean they can hire anyone that applies; in fact most trucking companies are pretty strict on their hiring requirements due to federal laws and insurance demands.

Truck Driver Demand

Due to an aging working class, the transportation industry will need hundreds of thousand of drivers over the next century, this coupled with the effects of 9-11 will strain the transportation industry to find qualified drivers and even push regulation that may disqualify current truck drivers. As a class a truck driver you are asked to haul everything from milk to military equipment, and into area ranging from farms to air fields; many of which will require security and verified background checks - this means bigger cost for most trucking companies and tighter highering requirement. Please keep this in mind with your decision to become a truck driver - your background history, employment and criminal records WILL be brought into the light of day at some point.

Truck Driver Requirements

note: This section is subject to change and may be different from the published date.

There was a time when anyone could driver truck; little to no education, criminal back - no problem, but as the highways increased in activity, and the court rooms increased with lawsuits, those days have changed.

The Federal Motor Carrier Association lays down the guild lines by which a trucking company can or can not hirer an individual to drive, and the rules during the course of employment. ( and you though becoming a truck driver was easy - well it still is, but... ) There are only 2 major criminal issues that will prevent, by law, you from becoming a truck driver:

1. Conviction of possession or distribution of an illegal drug
2. The use of criminal force such as with a gun or knife

If you have either of these then please don't pay the $6,500 on trucking school - it will be impossible to place you with an employer. Now another issue is: felonies, can you drive truck with a felony? Yes. Can you get a driving job out of truck school with a felony? Maybe. Can you get a job in trucking as a truck driver with 2 or more felonies? No.

Restrictions with Driving Jobs

Let me explain trucking's dirty little secret in one word: insurance. In order to haul freight OTR trucking companies have to be insured to the gills, and then insured again - there's the freight, the truck, the driver, property around the truck...you name it. One of the key points to the insurance is; "who do you have driving the truck?".

A company has to cover ever aspect of the business, and as nice and changed in their ways a person may be the company has to take liability into account with the hiring process. Because if; for example, a driver with a background ( 10+ years ago ) of hard driving was hired to drive a 18 ton rig, and he happened to have a bad week because his wife ran off with his uncle Earl, and he then decides it the right time to take up drinking again, and at that moment he happens to be driving the truck which happens to be headed into a parking lot full of people.....you get the idea. In short any action taken by the company, with full know lodge of the applicant, put a huge liability on that company.

Working Around Restrictions

Okay, so you still want to be a truck driver and you don't 1.) have a drug conviction or 2.) conviction involving a firearm or force - but maybe you have something else on your record like bankruptcies ( this do hurt ), DUI's or felonies of some other type. The it's time for a workaround and to understand the rule that recruiters have to go by:

1. Honesty the bet policy: you heard it in school, and you'll here it in trucking especially at the hirering stage. Many companies have a final interview to gauge the character of the driver, it's during this time that past work history, MVR, references, DAC and credit history are pulled to evaulate the applicant. During this time a review of your application is made, to see if you forgot to tell them about any accidents or employment gaps that the MVR and DAC will give up. The interview will take with you in length about your goals, your past and why you want the job - if he ask this is a good time to assure him that little blunder on your credit was due to a divorce and not because you couldn't control your spending. ( they need to know they can't trust you with $400,000 in cargo and a truck )
2. Dress for Success: Once you get the job you can dress comfortably inside the cab; but you have to get in the cab first. Many of thr top trucking companies are hiring their recruiting staff from outside the field of trucking - but with expeirence recruiting. This individuals expect a level of professionalism and pride in one's self and work. They know well don't live in slacks and button downs, but at interview time - and with other choices sitting right outside the door - isn't it worth it to take an extra hour to straighten the collar and get the job.
3. Be reasonable: Can I get a show of hands from everyone that was told once they finished trucking school that they would make over $60,000 as a professional truck driver? Anyone, anyone else? Unless you have a brother in upper management you will NOT make that much starting out the gate unless: 1) you have no home, family or friends and have no intentino of every having one for a few years or 2.) can take up the idenity of a driver that has experience with the road and equipment types. Trucking is about dues, you have to put your's in to get dedicated routes and top CPM ( cents per mile ) as a professional Truck Driver. Now you can make $30,000 + and establish yourself with a company and come out the next year strong, but it will take time to make the really big money.

Getting Started As a Truck Driver

If you've read all of this and you still want to become a truck driver then I guess the next thing we should do it give you a hand. You have two options you can either learn more about truck driving schools and issues related with them or you can search trucking jobs and use "need training" as an option to locate trucking companies willing to train and hire you after training. If you're still undecided, or would like a few questions answered then check out the truckers forum or give us a call a 866-383-7956 and ask for Connie.

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