Trucking career overview
If you are interested in the exciting fast-paced world of trucking you are in the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss what someone can do in the trucking industry. As well as how to get started in the trucking industry.
Is Trucking a Good Career Choice?
The trucking industry is one of the most important parts of the economy today. It moves 80% of America’s goods. The two main carriers that participate in this are truckers and dispatchers. Since trucking has a lot of moving parts it is a good career choice for everyone.
What does a Truck Driver do?
A truck driver’s job is to pick freight up and deliver it safely to a customer on time. The freight can vary from household goods to big construction equipment. Common duties for all truckers include:
- Doing a pre-trip inspection on the vehicle.
- Ensure paperwork is correct on for the load.
- drive safely on the road.
- Deliver the load on time to the customer.
What does a Dispatcher do?
The dispatcher’s main job is to take orders from the customer and assign the loads to the drivers. They also are responsible for helping drivers with their issues such as needing help on the road. Skills a good dispatcher needs is excellent communication skills as well as organizational skills. These are vital skills not only to get the loads from the customers but also to make a plan for their drivers to deliver them on time.
What skills should a truck driver have?
There are 4 main skills a driver should learn to become efficient in their career.
- Driving Skills- Driving skills are the first thing every driver learns when getting their CDL license. some of the basic skills include backing up to a dock, driving in city environments, and highway driving.
- Navigation- Truckers need to be able to read a map/ GPS to find the most efficient way to get to their destination. They also need to use their navigation skills to find a truck stop at the end of their day.
- Time Management- Drivers need to use time management to get to their destinations on time. They also need to manage their time well to be able to stop at a truck stop.
- Communication skills – Drivers need to have good communication skills not only to get good loads from the dispatcher but to get extra perks from shippers and receivers. The shippers or receivers might give you some perks like getting them loaded and unloaded faster as well let you park overnight.
How much does a truck driver make a week?
The average company truck driver makes $1,400 a week. This is because they can work up to 70 hours a week before they have to take their 34-hour break. In my opinion, the long hours are worth the pay and lifestyle.
How long are truck drivers usually gone?
Drivers can expect to be gone for 2-3 weeks as an over-the-road driver (OTR) and then be home for a week. Regional drivers have a better chance of being home more often. These drivers can be home several nights a week and on the weekends. Finally, there are local jobs that allow that allow a driver to be home every day. In conclusion, a driver has a choice on how long they want to be out on the road.
How do I get into the Trucking Industry?
The trucking industry is one of the easiest industries to get into. A person can get into a truck as little as 3 weeks. Here are the 4 steps to get you there:
- Decide what part of the industry to be in. OTR, regional, local.
- Go to a CDL driving school to earn your CDL
- Join a trucking company and get a year’s experience.
- Stay with your company or branch off to another.
What is the hardest part of Trucking?
When starting out trucking everything you do will be challenging and new. After about a year of driving most things get easier and become a routine. A few things do stay hard throughout your trucking career. An example of something hard is when you get home time it’s only for a day or two a week. It’s not much time to hang out with friends, play with kids, and do household duties. Another example of something hard is the stress of driving in all road conditions. One day it could be sunny with good roads and the next blizzarding with ice-covered roads. Overall trucking is like every career there are good things and bad things.