Truck drivers are strong and independent people with those back home waiting for their safe return. Trucking is not for everyone, so you must know the lifestyle of trucking before even thinking about going over the road for weeks on end.
Can you take weeks away from your family? Are you willing to miss school functions, weddings, funerals, anniversaries, special dates that matter to your heart? Can you handle not knowing where you’ll be one day from the next as dispatch will be exactly that. Don’t expect to have a nine to five schedule a job as a truck driver will not be that.
There are those days that being a truck driver can be the greatest day you experience and then there are those days you’ll be kicking yourself wondering why did you enter into the trucking world? Needless to say, being a truck driver is stressful and there will be those days you feel alone.
Tips on finding the right trucking job
Whether you’re brand new to the trucking industry or whether you’ve been driving for years, you really should take a moment to read this information. With so many open positions available right now, you can afford to be choosy if your truck drivers license (CDL) is clean and clear. The key to a successful truck driving job search is to take your time while researching your opportunities. And that’s exactly what our first tip is about.
Know what you want now and long-term
Before you start interviewing, think about the type of truck driving job you want. There’s more to driving a truck than simply getting behind the wheel. Do you want long hauls? Short hauls? Do you want to be involved in the pick up and delivery of your loads? Are you interested in an owner/operator opportunity? Now or in the future, do you think there’s a chance you’d like to move into management?
Research the truck driving company
Once you know what it is you’re looking for from a truck driving job, find trucking companies offering those opportunities and then research those companies. Some issues you might want to investigate include how long the company has been in business, where it’s headquartered, whether or not it has a specialization, and whether or not it’s been involved in any types of lawsuits and if so, why?
Much research on trucking companies can be done easily online either from the company’s website or through online trucking message boards. Remember not everyone will have a positive outlook on every trucking company, some experience things that quite honestly would not matter to you, as the bottom line is the dollar and keeping that truck rolling.
One thing you need to consider is if you don’t currently have your CDL (Commercial Drivers License) does the company have student reimbursement plans or what are the qualifications you must have to be a student at the trucking companies own schooling. Are you locked into driving for the carrier for a certain amount of time and what are the results if you leave the carrier before that time?
Put together a resume
Yes, a resume! There are a lot of open truck driving jobs so you might think this step is unnecessary. But there are also a lot of people applying for these positions. A resume that highlights the qualities employers are looking for will help you stand out from the crowd and may get you more pay and better benefits. Plus it may help open the doors to positions involving more responsibility such as safety or fleet management at a trucking firm.
Some areas to highlight on your resume include: a safe driving record an on-time delivery record specialized training you’ve completed such as hazmat customer service skills you’ve acquired by delivering to homes or businesses inventory/warehousing knowledge special equipment experience computer skills physical capabilities and familiarity with trucking regulations, both at the state level and the federal. Turnover in the trucking industry is high so if you’ve got a history of not jumping from job to job, you’ll definitely want to stress this in your resume as well.
Talk to others
If possible, take to some drivers who work for the trucking company you’re considering. In doing so, you’ll get a better feel for the company. But be sure to talk to several people just in case one of the drivers has a grudge against the company and is biased. If you’re comfortable on the Internet, there are all sorts of truck driving forums and bulletin boards where you’ll find plenty of truckers willing to answer your questions, too. Truck stops also great places to go to get the “inside scoop" on your truck driving questions.
After the research
Before you make any final decisions, make sure you discuss them all with your family. Trucking is not a “me" job it is a “we" job, the demands placed not only you the driver are overwhelming at times, but so are the demands of a trucking family, having to cope with every day details and crisis’ without the one they love.
Remember, only you can choose the trucking job that fits what you are looking for. Not every truck carrier is the same, each will have their good points and their bad points, and the choice is yours.
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