Step Up and Become a Truck Driver!
Truck driving is one of the most desired careers in America today. Unfortunately, it's hard to get your foot in the door. The rules are strict and there's a high number of applicants. But if you're serious about making a career out of driving, it can pay off in the long run for sure! In this blog post, we'll tell you all about how to become a truck driver!
The first step is getting your CDL (Commercial Driver's License). You will need to attend an educational class for at least 12 hours and pass an exam before being allowed on the job market. For the class you will need to have a valid driver's license, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and proof of Social Security Number. Once you've passed the class, you will have to pass a road test before your license is issued.
After getting your CDL, it's time to get started with the trucking company. Make sure that you read the company's guidelines and are willing to follow them if you want to stay with them. The job market is tough and they can easily replace you if they're not pleased with your performance.
Here's a great book that can help you understand how to become a truck driver:
Trucking jobs are hard to come by, but if you're ready for the challenge, don't let it stop you. If you have any questions, comments or feedback we would love to hear it!
-A good book we'd recommend is: "Get a Trucking Job" by Ken Pomeroy and Steve Lott. You can read more about this book on Amazon.com
-Kenny's overall thoughts are: "It's just too hard to get into this business; I was told that getting my CDL was like winning the lottery and it worried the hell out of me". You can't really blame him and I completely understand his concerns.
There is a lot to consider when you're looking to become a truck driver. You need to make sure you have the right mentality because being a truck driver isn't an easy job by any means. You need to be prepared for the long haul and know that there will be days where things just don't go right or where it will seem like you have nothing going for you at all.
Like I always say, hard work pays off, and if you really want to learn how to become a truck driver, it's an awesome career. It's not all that glamourous: you have to know what you're getting into and be willing to go through the hardships of the job if you want to come out on top.
It can take years of dedication before being a professional truck driver. Many people get discouraged after taking their first job and decide that driving isn't for them, but you need to be prepared when choosing this career path. It's not easy by any means, but it's all worth it in the end.
I hope this helps!
-Kenny's blog post: I want to be a Truck Driver!
It is as simple as getting your CDL and following the rules outlined here. You'll first need to get a driver's license, then you'll need to go through schooling (most states will require you to have at least 12 hours of training before getting your CDL), and then pass a test that will directly tie into what you learned in school. After that, you are on the market.
Trucking companies are plentiful. You will be able to get most of them through your local trucking company examiner's office. The best tactic when applying for a job is to get a business card from the examiner and call him or her from that number and introduce yourself, just to make sure you are on the right track. Ask the examiner what kind of training is involved, what skills they're looking for, and what your chances of passing their test are. This will help determine if you should go through more training or fill out an application.
The first step as a driver is getting your CDL (Commercial Driver's License). You will need to go through a training class (12 hours) and pass an exam, but there are also online classes you can take. The major difference between the online and in person classes is that you will be able to get your CDL faster with the in-person class, or if you have a lot of driving experience already.
After getting your CDL, the next step is getting a truck! Sounds simple enough, but it's pretty tough. You can't just go out and buy a truck; you need to have a broker help you find one for sale. There are thousands of trucks on the market every year, so keeping up with all these changes takes a lot of time.
Read Kenny's Article: Relocation - A Good Option?
This may seem like a lot of work just to get started as a truck driver, but I promise it is worth it. Trucking jobs are not easy to find, and they are even harder to keep. If you are committed and willing to put the time in, you will be able to find a job for sure! So now that we got the basics out of the way, what should you do when looking for truck driving jobs? Here are some tricks that might help:
Sign Up at Companies You Know - Do this at least three months before you plan on leaving your current job. This gives you plenty of time to check out a few jobs and start networking. If you know somebody at a company, call them and ask if they will let you set up an appointment before applying; this gives them the option to interview you face to face.
Keep Track of Your Applications - You don't want forget something important or miss out on the opportunity to get your foot in the door. It can take months to apply to all the companies in your area before they consider hiring you. You can't be sure if you'll be getting call backs from these companies or not, so it's important to keep track of this. You can get a spreadsheet and put all the information down for each application that you send out. That way, you will know if you need to keep at it or if you should try somewhere else.
Have Multiple Applications Out - Since there are thousands upon thousands of truck drivers in the market, having multiples applications out there is bound to get you a job eventually (if they even have any jobs available), but it's better than not having any applications out there at all! Keep your options open as much as possible.
Conclusion
Just remember to keep a positive attitude, take your training seriously and always be on time. Be the truck driver that your company will hire again, and be the one they recommend to friends and family! This can't happen unless you work hard for it. Good luck!
Well I would say get familiar with the transportation industry, but then again that is kind of silly for me to say because you're trying to learn how to become a truck driver aren't you? So instead of trying to get familiar with another industry I would suggest staying in your own industry. I've worked in Restaurants, Retail and Trucking so far in my life so I don't really have any other industries' experience under my belt.