Descriptions of Trucking Jobs

Nearly every item bought and sold in the United States is, at some point, transported by road from factories to warehouses to wholesale and retail outlets. Trucking is highly regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Trucks may be subject to search or inspection by customs officers and immigration services. So men and women in all trucking jobs must drive responsibly, observe safety precautions, regularly inspect their trucks and keep detailed logs of their travels.

Heavy Trucking

Heavy trucking means the use of trucks or tractor trailers that can deliver or pick up 11.6 or more tons of cargo, typically products, live animals, liquids or gases. A majority of heavy trucking is done over long distances for several days or weeks at a time. Heavy-truck drivers often work in pairs; one drives while the other sleeps or rests so the truck can be on the road continuously. Many heavy-truck drivers follow set routes that they repeat regularly; others change routes each time they hit the road.

Delivery trucking

Delivery truck drivers use a truck or van that accommodates weights of less that 11.6 tons. They may haul small amounts of large items, such as furniture or appliances for delivery, or a large amount of smaller items, such as flowers. Light trucking can be completed in one day and does not require overnight stays. On a typical day, a delivery trucker may make one stop or many stops and help with loading and unloading. If the cargo is large or heavy enough, a delivery driver may work with a partner. Delivery truckers frequently work overtime and weekends or holidays, depending on the needs of their company.

Sales Trucking

Some truckers do more than simply deliver freight; they may perform sales or customer service at the stops on their routes. Some truckers take goods to sell directly to customers from their trucks. These drivers may have sales goals or quotas in addition to their driving responsibilities. Others help stock shelves, remove unsold inventory from stores, take customer orders and return goods to a warehouse or factory. Sales truckers typically work alone along local routes, which may be called the trucker's territory.

Education

Many truck drivers begin their careers by enrolling in driver's education programs at trade schools, career institutes or community colleges. The programs begin in a classroom where students learn about highway law and safety as well as the parts and functions of a truck. These courses progress to driving time on closed courses then to streets and highways. Prospective truckers should investigate the credentials of a school to ensure that it is approved by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). Programs with PTDI approval meet industry and government standards. On-the-job training usually includes riding along with a seasoned driver to learn routes and company policies.

Licensure

To drive a truck designed to carry 26,000 pounds or more requires a specialized commercial driver's license (CDL); so does transportation of hazardous materials. Laws differ from state to state governing license requirements for heavy or light trucking and have additional requirements to carry flammable or hazardous materials. In general, prospective truckers must have clean driving records, receive a satisfactory score on a written test, and pass a driving test with a state examiner in the truck. The federal government requires that truckers who travel over state lines must be 21 or older, pass regular health checkups and random drug and alcohol tests. The government also places limitations on how many consecutive hours a trucker may drive. Many trucking companies have standards and policies higher than those from the state and federal government.