CDL Truck Driver Jobs | Truck Driving Jobs | Delivery Driver Jobs
Delivery Driver Jobs – What is the Job of a CDL Truck Driver? What does a Local Truck Driving Job Involve?
Truck driving jobs are an essential part of Americas infrastructure, delivering everything from diapers to refrigerated meats. Just about every kind of consumer and business good imaginable is delivered to stores or distribution centers by truckers, and truck drivers can frequently be seen on the nation’s highways.
Before leaving to pick up a load at a warehouse, a truck driver will checked the brakes, lights, fuel level, and oil in their trucks, making sure that their heavy vehicle is in good working order. Truck drivers will also make sure that the cargo is secured and adjust mirrors to make sure that they can see both sides of the road.
The U.S. Dept of Transportation requires that truck driver jobs keep logs regarding the condition of the truck and any collisions that may occur. CDL truck drivers operate vehicles that are over 13 tons, and the goods that they will transport include motor vehicles, livestock, and other large materials. Most tractor trailer drivers transport goods from city to city, often using two drivers on very long truck runs.
The sleeper runs can last for days or weeks depending on the distance that must be traveled, and sleeper runs will usually involve only stopping to refuel the truck, to obtain food, and to load or unload a portion of the trucking cargo.
Some trucker jobs may involve transporting goods from one city to another on a regular basis, whereas other truckers will have to travel on more sporadic runs and will not have regular trucking routes. Long distance truck drivers will spend most of their day driving with occasional stops in order to unload their cargo.
Light truck drivers are responsible for operating vans and trucks that deliver merchandise and packages within a smaller radius. A USPS or UPS truck driver delivering packages would be an example of a delivery services truck, and these delivery driver jobs will usually start out by loading merchandise at a central shipping hub and then following a prescribed route in order to empty their trucking load.
Truck driver responsibilities can vary depending on their individual assignments, the type of truck that they are operating, and the routes that they travel, and some local truck drivers are responsible for regular deliveries within a community. An example of a local truck driver would be a wholesale bakery worker who delivers and stocks bread in a grocery store. Wholesale delivery workers must keep track of grocery stock and recommend changes in a store’s lineup if a product is not selling.
Most trucking jobs now use global positioning systems so that they can be tracked by the trucking contractor, which allows their employer to track their process. In addition, satellite links allow CDL drivers to obtain weather reports and directions if they are lost.
Working Conditions for CDL Trucker Jobs – How is the Working Environment for Truck Driver Work?
Most CDL driving jobs are fairly stress free, and truck cabs are now ergonomically designed and have comfortable seating. Even with these changes, truck driving for many hours at a time can be tiring, and road fatigue frequently occurs.
The United States Department of Transportation has restrictions on truck driver traveling, with no long distance driver permitted to drive over 14 hours in a day. A truck driver may also not be permitted to drive if they have already driven 60 hours in the past seven days.
Most truck drivers will work the maximum amount of hours possible in order to get products to their destination as fast as possible, and CDL truck drivers will frequently work holidays and nights in order to avoid any delays in traffic.
Local truck drivers will usually work 50 hours a week, and their hours will usually involve the early morning and the late night, in order to restock stores with vendor specific product. Local trucking jobs will require lifting and carrying in order to restock store shelves.
Truck Driver Training – How to Become a Truck Driver – How to Receive Your Truck Driving Training
CDL truck driver training will result in the receipt of a commercial drivers license, which is necessary to operate heavy vehicles or those vehicles with over 16 passengers. Completing a CDL program will not guarantee employment, but the Professional Truck Driver Institute offers driver training courses that will meet Federal standards and increase employment opportunities for truck drivers.
Truck driving training usually only lasts for a couple days, and most CDL drivers are already expected to have their commercial driver’s license.
CDL Truck Driving Requirements – How to Become a CDL Truck Driver
Any truck driver carrying a load over 26,000 pounds will need a commercial driver’s license, and additional state and Federal rules must be followed when operating heavy vehicles. Those truck drivers transporting hazardous materials must obtain a background check and fingerprinting from the Transportation Security Administration. In order to qualify for a commercial driver’s license, a truck driver must have a clean record and pass a written test, in addition to a practical commercial truck safety test.
Unlicensed truck drivers must be assisted by an experienced CDL driver until they receive their CDL license. Some states require that truck drivers be leased 21 years of age, while in others it is sufficient to be 18 years old. Qualifications that a truck driver should have include 20/40 vision, excellent hearing, and good peripheral vision. Truck drivers may also have to be tested for alcohol or drug abuse on a regular basis, which is often given by the truck driving company.
Other skills that truck drivers should have include being strong in order to lift heavy cargo, and being able to get along well with customers, in addition to being able to work with little supervision.
Advancement opportunities for truck drivers are fairly limited, although some long-term truck drivers may choose to become independent truckers and go into business for themselves. Independent truck drivers should take courses in accounting and business in order to make sure that they will cover their expenses.
Truck Driving Employment – What is a Truck Driver Job?
Over the next decade, truck driver employment should grow by about 8%, which about matches the growth of the American population over that time period, a growth of over 250,000 jobs. Job opportunities for truck driver careers should be favorable overall, but the strength of the economy will dictate their work.
In an economic recession, truck drivers may receive less jobs and independent truck drivers are the most susceptible to going out of business in a harsh economic climate.
CDL Truck Driver Salary Pay Scale – How Much Do Truck Drivers Jobs Earn?
In 2006, truck drivers and tractor trailer drivers jobs had median hourly earnings of $16.85, with those in freight trucking earning $18.38, and those working for trade contractors earning less at $14.94.
Delivery truck drivers and light services truck drivers had hourly earnings of $12.17 in the same year, with courier jobs having the highest rate of pay its $17.80, and those working for automotive parts stores having the lowest rate of pay $8.38.
Those truck drivers working in sales for grocery wholesalers and laundry services, in addition to restaurants, had hourly median earnings of $9.99, with those in laundry services and dry cleaning earning the most at $14.81, and those working for fast food restaurants earning the least at $7.02.
Most local truck drivers are paid by the hour, while most long distance truck drivers are paid by the mile. Some truck drivers may be paid a percentage of the profit of each truck load, while sales workers may receive commissions based on their sales.
A number of truck drivers are members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, in addition to other is being represented by the unions that run the plants or manufacturing companies for which they work.
Comments are off for this post