3 Simple Steps to Become a Truck Driver
The profession of a truck driver is not just a job, but rather a style and way of life. There are both pluses and minuses. Today, everyone can become a truck driver and there is nothing difficult about it. Let’s say that your pros outweighed your cons, and you decided to become a driver of an international cargo transportation company.
The question arises – how to start? We have described three simple steps towards your dream. Let’s discuss them in detail.
3 Steps to Become a Truck Driver
It seems that the profession of a truck driver is a pretty good job: you can travel around the country and the world, and the salary seems to be higher than the average. In fact, everything is not quite simple, and this job turns out to be not so carefree at all. The path from beginner to a truck driver can be divided into three main stages:
1. Training in a driving school
Studying in the truck driving school takes from several weeks to several months. In theory classes, you will study the traffic rules and important features of truck driving. For example, how to correctly calculate the turning radius and in what cases it is possible to deviate from the traffic rules (otherwise, for example, you simply will not get where you need). Students will learn about the maximum permissible speed, towing procedure, legal dangers and fines that await the owners of trucks, and so on. The practical exercises are standard: parallel parking, U-turn, starting off on an incline, etc.
2. Passing an exam
CDL is the license that allows a person to become a truck driver in the USA. For this purpose, you need to have a regular American driver’s license. You should go to the local DMV office and express your desire to receive a CDL.
The theoretical part of the exam includes more than 200 questions. After a person has passed the theory, he will be given a paper that he passed. The permit gives the right to undergo training at a driving school for truckers. A person studies at a driving school, and then takes an exam and receives a CDL. If you listen carefully to what they say and remember, then any person can pass. The practical exam usually includes parallel parking, flat backing, and half an hour driving around town. All trucks typically have an automatic transmission.
3. Finding a job
First, you need to figure out what are the options for working as a truck driver. And there are, as usual, only several options here:
- Employees with no experience are hired by large companies, but there are many restrictions and fines applied;
- Work as a contractor. Here things are already more complicated. In addition to the fact that you need to have your own truck, you still have to deal with the search for suppliers and carry out all the organizational and administrative work;
- Create your own company, where you will be the manager, and other truckers will deliver the goods.
Good luck!