Driving a truck across the country can be an exciting job that lets you travel to places that you might never have gone to before in your life. The number of jobs available in the heavy and tractor-trailer industry alone is growing rapidly. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the industry as a whole expects to add 192,600 jobs between 2012 and 2022 (an average annual increase of 11%). This is good news for those looking to start a second career or begin their first one. Here is how you can become a tractor-trailer driver.
Commercial Learner's Permit
The requirements for a CDL can vary by the states, but the minimum requirements you will usually have to meet include: a clean driving record, a high school diploma, and attending a truck driving school. The first step to getting your license is to obtain a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) in the state where you reside. Each state has its own CLP manual that you should study and get to know.
CDL License
Once you have met all the state's requirements for a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), you will also have to meet the requirements set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA (a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation) will check your driving record - they will go back 10 years. You should make sure your record is acceptable before you apply to become a licensed tractor-trailer driver or all your hard work could become null and void. You must pass a DOT physical in order to receive a DOT medical card that will allow you to a drive tractor-trailer on public roads. You will also be expected to pass written, driving, and inspection tests to show you know how to maintain a safe tractor-trailer, that you know how to drive one, and you also know the rules you have to follow when operating a tractor-trailer on the open road.
Gain Experience
The better jobs and opportunities usually go to those who have proven that they have the ability to handle a tractor-trailer on the open road. A good way to gain experience is to contact a local temporary employment agencies that specializes in finding CDL drivers for companies. These agencies typically work with a lot of local and national companies that may not require any experience beyond the actually training you have done to get your CDL license. The more assignments you get, the more experience you will have to qualify for better paying jobs in the industry.
You can become a tractor-trailer driver in a matter of a few months if you start today. Speak with experts like Montu Staffing Solutions for more information.
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