What you need to know before embarking on a trucking career!
If you are just getting started in the trucking industry and looking for ways to move up, get more jobs, and enjoy the process more it can be difficult to get advice. Here are some helpful tips for breaking into the trucking industry for rookie truckers.
Learn the Ropes First
Just like learning to drive cars, learning to drive trucks involves a lot of training and time spent learning the ropes. Enroll in a trucking class and learn about the proper ways to handle any situations that might arise in addition to regular everyday driving. If you aren’t able to handle the rig properly and deal with the differences in setup, you won’t be able to get anywhere in the trucking industry.
While the training is demanding, it should only last about a month. You will learn valuable tips like how to do pre-trip inspections and log your trips. Hands-on training will also be part of your rookie trucker training. Once your trucking course concludes, you will need to take an exam to prove that you absorbed the material properly. After the exam and driving test, you will receive your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and be able to drive vehicles weighing 26,001 lbs. or 10,001 lbs. with a trailer.
Finding a Job
Once you learn the ropes, it’s time to find a job that suits your new skillset. The trucking industry is incredibly diverse so you have many different options available. You could apply for daytime trucking jobs like working with FedEx or do long haul trucking for another company. Almost every industry and business uses truckers to get their goods from one place to another, so be prepared to do research and try out different jobs until you find something that’s perfect for you.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for All of Your Trucking Needs
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.
Tags: new truckers, trucking industry