FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR:

Becoming A Truck Driver has crossed the minds of millions of people all over this country at one time or another. Almost everyone has wondered if life on the open road would suit them better than the ordinary day to day lives they have always known. 

In 2006, the U.S. trucking industry as a whole employed 3.4 million drivers. A major problem for the long-haul trucking industry is that a large percentage of these drivers are aging, and are expected to retire. Very few new hires are expected in the near future, resulting in a driver shortage. Currently, within the long-haul sector, there is an estimated shortage of 20,000 drivers. That shortage is expected to increase to 111,000 by 2014.

Truck Driving Career and Job description

America’s highways and interstates act as constant hosts to the nation’s truck drivers, whose cargo includes everything from large motor vehicles to small cans of food. Trucks provide the only means of door-to-door delivery and pickup for all types of goods-producing companies. Although many goods often journey by ship, train and airplane, almost all goods experience at least some time on a truck before they reach consumers.

Truck drivers perform a general inspection of their vehicle before leaving their terminal or warehouse. This includes checking the truck’s fuel and oil levels, and verifying the proper working condition of brakes, windshield wipers, lights, fire extinguishers, flares and other equipment necessary for safe travel. Drivers adjust their mirrors appropriately and ensure that their cargo is securely in place. Any discrepancies, including missing, inoperable or improperly loaded equipment are reported to the dispatcher.

During their journey, drivers must be aware of any potential hazards. Because truck drivers sit higher than most other drivers, they are able to see further down the road, thus allowing them to more easily monitor road conditions and select lanes that allow for a consistent speed.

Delivery times vary with different types of merchandise and destinations. Local drivers may follow a consistent, daily route, while deliveries made by intercity and interstate drivers may take longer and vary from day to day. Such job aspects as vehicle size, cargo type and trip duration vary from one truck driver to another.

Truck drivers—particularly those who travel long distances—are experiencing changing working conditions with the advent of new technologies. Many trucks are now linked to company headquarters by global positioning systems (GPS) and satellites. Trucks drivers now receive important information regarding such matters as weather conditions, driving directions and troubleshooting in a matter of seconds, regardless of their location. Drivers and dispatchers can easily communicate with each other about delivery schedules and mechanical difficulties. Dispatchers are also able to monitor a truck’s location, engine performance and fuel consumption through satellite linkups. Drivers also frequently use computerized inventory tacking devices. This allows producers, warehouses and customers to constantly monitor their product’s location, thus maintaining high levels of cost effectiveness and service quality.

Persons who operate vans or trucks with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) are called Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers. These drivers transport products such as automobiles, livestock and other liquid, loose or packaged materials. These drivers frequently travel intercity and long distance routes. For especially long routes, employers often utilize two drivers who alternate between driving the vehicle and sleeping in a small room behind the cab. These two-driver trips are called “sleeper” runs, and may be days or even weeks long, with stops occurring only for loading and unloading products, and for food and fuel.

Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers may perform regular runs, consistently transporting freight to the same city, or they may have schedules that vary daily with the needs of their employer.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires that truck drivers—at the end of each run or shift—make a full report of their vehicle’s condition, the circumstances of any accidents and the nature of the trip. Federal regulations also require employers to randomly test on-duty drivers for drug and alcohol use.

Although long-distance and tractor-trailer drivers spend most of their working time driving, they may also unload or load cargo upon destination arrival. This is particularly true for drivers who haul specialty cargo, because they are frequently the only person at a given location who is certified to handle the materials and/or familiar with loading and unloading procedures. For instance, drivers who transport automobiles between manufacturers and dealerships are generally responsible for loading and unloading the vehicles. Long-distance moving van drivers often hire local workers to help load and unload heavy furniture.

Persons who operate vans or trucks with a capacity less than 26,000 pounds GVW are called Light or delivery services truck drivers. These drivers perform package and merchandise pickup and delivery within a defined region. Their work may involve short “turnarounds,” in which drivers deliver a shipment to a neighboring city, pick up a new loaded vehicle and drive it back to their headquarters all in one day. Electronic delivery tracking systems are sometimes used by these companies to track the location of packages and merchandise. Light or delivery services truck drivers normally unload their shipments for their clients. If there is a particularly heavy load or busy delivery schedule, drivers may have assistants. Items for delivery are often loaded into the truck by material handlers before a driver arrives at work, thus expediting the delivery process. Customers pay drivers the balance due on any cash-on-delivery merchandise, and sign receipts when they receive their goods. Drivers turn in all money and receipts collected—as well as a report of deliveries made and any vehicle mechanical problems—at the end of each working day.

In some cases, Local truck drivers may act as sales representatives and provide other customer services. These drivers are driver/sales workers—also known as route drivers—and they are primarily responsible for delivering their company’s products within a specific area or route. Route drivers sell a wide assortment of goods, including restaurant takeout meals and other food products. They also provide delivery and pickup services for laundries and other similar businesses. Route drivers’ success relies heavily on their ability to provide courteous customer service, especially when responding to customer requests and complaints. Some route drivers are additionally responsible for taking orders and collecting payments.

Driver/sales workers’ duties depend largely on the policies of their specific employer, the particular industry in which they work and the extent to which they are directly involved in sales. The majority of route drivers deliver products to businesses and stores that make wholesale purchases. For instance, a driver/sales worker may deliver wholesale bakery items to a grocery store and arrange those items on the store’s display shelves. Buy carefully monitoring which specific products are selling, driver/sales workers are able to approximate how much of each product should be stocked. They may also make recommendations to the store’s manager about future orders and new products. Driver/sales workers are often employed by laundries that rent such items as towels, work clothes and linens to businesses. In addition to making regular visits to the renting companies in order to replace dirty laundry, these drivers may also seek new clients in companies located on their route.

Having completed their route, driver/sales workers prepare for their next delivery by ordering items according to product sales trends, customer requests and weather conditions.

As trucks have become better equipped with comfortable seats, efficient ventilation and ergonomically-designed cabs, the physical demands involved with truck driving have decreased. But in spite of these improvements in basic driver comforts, the long driving hours, physical work of unloading cargo and the demands associated with making numerous deliveries can be quite wearisome. Local truck drivers are generally able to return home each evening, whereas long-distance drivers frequently cannot. In fact, long-distance truck drivers may spend most of the year away from home if they both own and operate their vehicle.

Fortunately, long-distance drivers have experienced increased efficiency and decreased stress levels with the advent of design improvements in new trucks. Amenities such as televisions, refrigerators and beds have made many new trucks comfortable homes-away-from-home for long-distance drivers.

In accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, truck drivers involved in long-distance, interstate commerce may not work more than 60 hours in any 7 day period, and must rest at least 10 hours for every 11 driving hours. Because drivers often receive compensation according to either miles traveled or hours driven, many choose to work the maximum allowable hours. As such, long-distance drivers may encounter fatigue, boredom and loneliness. In order to avoid heavy traffic and make faster deliveries, drivers often work at night, on holidays and on weekends.

Local truck drivers often work in excess of 50 hours each week. Drivers who deliver food products to bakeries and grocery stores normally work long shifts that begin either early in the morning or late at night. The majority of drivers follow regular routes, but some have route that change daily. A large percentage of local drivers—and especially driver/sales workers—are responsible for their own loading and unloading needs. Such drivers must be able to do a significant amount of walking, lifting and carrying on a day-to-day basis.

What about the future of the trucking business?

The trucking industry has enjoyed nearly three decades of steady growth as our country has continued to streamline its product distribution systems. The other major transportation options for manufacturers either end at the coastlines or simply do not provide the timely and targeted reach that trucking provides. The major trucking companies are growing as the smaller ones struggle to compete. The Trucking Companies that we work with are all growing and have never had driver layoffs occur in their past.  

What kind of pay can a truck driver expect to make?

There are several different categories of truck drivers: Local, Regional, Dedicated and Long Haul. Average first year SALARY OF UP TO $34,000 plus excellent benefits and retirement plans!  

What is involved in training to drive a tractor-trailer?

This training is followed by your future employer providing behind-the-wheel on-the-job training.

How does a truck driver know what to do and where to go?

These days, as I'm sure you know, everything is computerized.  Eighteen wheelers are no exception.   MOST trucks are equipped with a QUALCOMM™ Satellite System.  OR some other type of satellite system to enable trucking companies to track their trucks to within three blocks anywhere in the country!  These trucks now are highly sophisticated.  So it goes without saying that the new dispatching methods have indeed followed. 

 STATISTICS AND INFORMATION SOURCE:
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND THE GEORGIA DOT