Become a Truck Driver

Truck drivers are a constant presence on the Nation’s highways and interstates. They deliver everything from automobiles to canned food. Firms of all kinds rely on trucks to pick up and deliver goods because no other form of transportation can deliver goods door-to-door. Even though many goods travel at least part of their journey by ship, train, or airplane, almost everything is carried by trucks at some point.

What do truck drivers do?

Truck drivers generally pick up and deliver merchandise to specified areas. They carry various items including anything from cars to food and everything in between.

They also inspect the trucks to make sure that the brakes, windshield wipers, and lights are working and that a fire extinguisher, flares, and other safety equipment are aboard and in working order. Before leaving the terminal or warehouse, truck drivers check the fuel level and oil in their trucks. Drivers make sure their cargo is secure and adjust the mirrors so that both sides of the truck are visible from the driver’s seat. Drivers report equipment that is inoperable, missing, or loaded improperly to the dispatcher.

Main responsibilities of truckers include:

• Inspecting vehicles
• Maintaining trucks condition
• Keeping merchandise records
• Logging miles and locations
• Counting inventory
• Reporting mechanical problems
• Reading maps

Truck drivers perform emergency repairs like changing tires, installing fuses and putting on tire chains. Truck drivers must use and maintain trucking tools and equipment commonly found on commercial vehicles, such as devices for weighing and measuring.

Education & Training

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required to drive large trucks and a regular driver’s license is required to drive all other trucks. Training for the CDL is offered by many private and public vocational-technical schools.