On any given road on any given day, there are always a few trucks driving around, terrifying fellow drivers with their large vehicles that carry tons of unknown cargo that could fly out of the doors at any given moment. With the millions of different kinds of products that society needs, people are needed to transport the products from the place of manufacturing to the destination.

Job Description

The career of a truck driver involves more than just transporting goods. They usually also unload the trucks, in addition to being reliable for what happens to the cargo. They also must perform inspections on their vehicles to ensure that they are fit for the travel of long distances.

Average Salary

A truck driver’s salary varies from company to company, but it goes along a pay scale between $30,000 and $50,000. Also included in the salary is a payment per mile, which entitles the driver to get a certain amount of money per mile driven. There are many factors that are included in the salary for a truck driver, which include the type of company the trucker works for, and the location of the company.

Company

The type of company that the trucker works for is the biggest salary factor. Truckers who work for large companies such as Coca Cola will make more money than a lesser known company.  In addition, working for a company that is strictly for providing other companies with truck drivers will change the amount of money that is earned. They may earn more or less per mile than truckers who work for business with their own fleet of drivers.

Geographic Location

Location of the business is also a great factor. Although truckers spend most of their time traveling across the country, they still have homes, and the geographic location of those homes has an effect on salary. Living in a large city such as Chicago where the cost of living is high will have a higher earned salary. This is because the economy in the city is more stimulated, and therefore the city has to compensate its citizens with a higher salary so that they can actually afford to live in the city.

With the increasing demand for truck drivers, it may be in your best interest to want to become one. The job involves not only driving large vehicles with tons of weight on them, but also planning out routes and delivering product in a timely fashion. Truck drivers need to be able to stay awake for long hours, and have a clean driving record. If a candidate for a job has a DUI or DWI or too many traffic violations, he is usually immediately not considered for the position. The path to becoming a truck driver is essentially a four-part process.

1)      Know the Industry

It’s important to understand everything that is involved with being a truck driver. There are many risks associated with this position, such as fatal accidents. These drivers are on the road for multiple hours at a time and are prone to fatigue. If fatigue sets in, the driver is in danger of falling asleep behind the wall, causing an accident. In addition, they need to understand the rules of the road, especially when it comes to rules about truck drivers. If there are certain aspects about the job that you cannot handle, then the job may not be the right one for you.

2)      CDL License

Obtaining a CDL license is necessary before becoming a truck driver. A CDL is a commercial driver’s license, which allows you to drive any combination of vehicles that weigh over 26,000 pounds. The written portion of the exam must be passed before getting the license, and a permit is given to you when this portion is complete. A driver’s manual can be found at a local DMV office. The full license is given to you when you pass the second part, which includes a physical driving test. In order to pass the second part, you must go to a truck driver school.

3)      Truck Driving School

You should pick out a few companies that you want to apply for, and pick a school that is accepted by all of them. School costs about $2,000-$3,000, and some companies will reimburse you for the payment. Attending the school will allow you to complete the second part of the license exam to get the actual license instead of just the permit. The exam must be taken every two years in order to maintain the license.

4)      Orientation and Hire

Once the company you apply for hires you, you will attend an orientation that last about four days. Once orientation is complete, a driver trainer will be assigned and you will take trips with this person, and this person will analyze your ability to operate the machinery on your own accord. Length of training depends on the company, but can last for up to eight weeks.

On any major highway or interstate, it’s inevitable to see at least ten alarmingly large semi trucks driving down the road. It’s more common than not to want pass them and get as far away from them as possible; the doors in the back of the truck look as if they could open at any given moment and spill the heavy contents right on top of the unfortunate car behind them. Truck drivers have many responsibilities, including driving safely for long hours while transporting tons of cargo.

Planning

Although it is the job title, driving trucks is only a small part of the job responsibilities for a truck driver. There is a lot of planning involved with being a truck driver. They have to plan their own routes, which isn’t easy. They have to make sure that they get to their destination in the specific time frame allotted for the transport. In addition, they must be sure that the route that they choose allows trucks on the roads. They must also be wary of traffic, roadblocks, and be able to understand the rules of the road, especially when it comes to rules involving trucks.

Truck Inspection

Before embarking on the trip, they must perform an inspection of their truck and count their inventory to ensure that the truck will be working properly and that the entire recorded inventory is accounted for. For the vehicle inspection, fluid levels, breaks, lights and windshield wipers are all examined to make sure that maximum safety is reached. When the driver comes back from the destination, he must report anything that went awry during the trip, such as any damages to the truck or any service problems.

Inventory Responsibilities

Truck drivers are also responsible for the inventory that they are transporting. There are designated truck weigh-in stations every so often on major highways and interstates. For companies such as FedEx or UPS that include delivering packages, the driver is responsible for making sure that the package is delivered to the customer. Sometimes, a signature is required to obtain before the driver leaves the customer’s home. At other times, the package can be left on the doorstep. These drivers usually only travel locally and short distances and sometimes have a specific route they follow on a daily basis.

Other companies that have their truckers drive long distances to distribution facilities sometimes have other people unload the truck once it arrives. Other times, the trucker also has the responsibility of unloading the truck. Regardless of who unloads the truck, the driver is liable for any missing goods, and must report everything when he gets back from the trip.

The job of a truck driver is a lot more involved than most people can imagine or give credit for. It involves driving long distances and fatigue often happens. It involves extensive planning, reporting, and checking the truck and its inventory. It requires the ability for heavy lifting and the ability to maneuver a large truck with tons of weight on it.