When You Graduate From Truck Drivers School, Isn't It Time To Go Solo?
When You Graduate From Truck Drivers School, Isn't It Time To Go Solo?
Blog Article
If you're ready to get into the trucking industry you probably have a lot of questions. Here are a few questions you should ask so you can make an informed decision. Asking these questions will keep you from making a poor decision and getting a Class A license that's worthless to prospective employers.
As I stated earlier, in 1992 I became an over-the-road truck driver. In the fall of that year, my father passed away. When you're driving down the road in a big truck, you have the opportunity to do lots of thinking. One day, as I recall, my JD Truck Training Centre was out in the great northwest, Montana to be exact. Thinking of my past, my dad, and where I was, I started to create a poem. I call it This Great Land Of Ours.
Before changing a lane take another look to make sure the car that has passed doesn't have a trailer hooked-up to the back of it. There were a few times when I saw that the car was cleared for me to move over so I did a double check and saw that they had a trailer tagging along.
Professional truck drivers are required to obtain a CDL - a commercial copyright in order to maintain truck driver jobs. To get a CDL, you Lr licence must take a test at your local DMV, which consists of a written portion and a driving portion. Though schooling is not required, it is highly recommended you attend a Truck driving school before you take the test so you can receive proper training to help you pass.
For example Chicago is a big city to get through. From 6:00 am in the morning to about 8:00 pm at night you will have a lot of traffic. 3:00 pm rush hour begins and doesn't settle down until 8:00 pm; most big cities are like this. If you are going to be going through at rush hour you're best bet is to wait at a truck stop for a few hours and take a nap.
Becoming a good HR Truck Licence driver, especially over the road or regional, requires far more knowledge than most people outside the industry would ever begin to imagine. Every state has its own set of rules, regulations, and procedures. Go from New York to Los Angeles and you will cross through about a dozen states. That's a dozen different sets of rules.
The parallel parks and alley dock are not easy things to do, especially with an 18-wheeler, when you have no experience. So if you're attending trucking school in a state that has maneuver requirements, expect to spend a lot of time in the yard practicing.
You must be able to pass a physical exam and a drug test given by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This is to ensure you have no physical conditions (or substance abuse) that will interfere with the safe handling of a commercial truck. During your employment, you will also be subject to random drug testing. You must also pass the physical exam every two years while employed as a truck driver.