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Truck Driving Career

On the Road with a Truck Driving Career

The best possible way of delivering goods from letters, packages, furniture, food stuff and even money on land is through using a truck. There is a never ending and constant need for truck drivers in the delivery and service industry and their presence can be seen in practically everywhere in the world. Not many can be truck drivers. Before you embark on a truck driving career, you need to educate yourself on the job scope, conditions and situations that you will encounter as a truck driver.

First of all, truck drivers face potential hazard on the road. Not only are they exposed to dangerous road accidents such as holes, bad lighting and weather conditions but they are exposed to possible accidents caused by callous motorists, drunk drivers, stray animals and even fallen trees.

A truck driving career will require you to travel long distances and because of this, truck drivers are randomly tested for drug and alcohol use. Not only do truck drivers spend most of their time on the road, they also participate in the loading and unloading of cargo upon reaching their destination.

Qualifications

Truck drivers are not allowed to work more than 60 hours in a 7 day period and they need to rest for at least 10 hours for every 11 driving hours. Local truck drivers often work in an excess of 50 hours each week. In order to qualify as a truck driver, you would need a resident state-issued Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to drive a 26,000 pounds or above cargo truck. This license is also required for drivers who transport hazardous material of any truck size.

Some groups are exempted from the CDL requirement. These groups are firefighters, farmers, emergency medical technicians, snow and ice removers and some military drivers. For truck drivers of light trucks and vans, they are only required to possess a standard driver’s license.

To obtain a CDL to kick-start a truck driving career, applicants need to demonstrate their skills and ability to safely drive a commercial-sized vehicle as well as pass a written exam on the rules and regulations on the road. A person needs to be 18 years of age to operate trucks within the state’s boundaries and 21 years old and above to drive trucks outstation.

Apart from that, a would-be truck driver should also be in optimal physical shape. He or she has to undergo a bi-annual physical examination, must have good hearing and a 70 degree field of vision in each eye. Being color blind won't help and drivers must be able to hear a forced whisper from a distance of 5 feet. If an applicant passes all these requirements, than they’ve got one foot at the driving wheel of a truck.

Truck drivers are also not supposed to be physically disabled and have normal use of their limbs. If they need to use medication, these substances should be verified and prescribed by a licensed medical doctor. Most truck operators or delivery companies favor drivers with a good personality and character. This is because truck drivers are in constant contact with their customers and should project a good and approachable attitude as well as be neat in appearance and can work with less supervision and extra initiatives.