Truck Driver Training and Job Qualifications

Trucks are a major means of door-to-door delivery of goods from small boxes, bakery products to large motor vehicles. Other modes of transport used are the trains, ships and airplanes. However even these goods have some amount of transportation by trucks involved. The truck drivers would be working for long hours starting from morning or even any time in the night or even in shifts. They may be traveling short distances daily or even day-to-day longer interstate trips also.

Job Qualifications

The federal state regulations have set certain standard and qualifications for the truck drivers also. A driver's license issued by the state in which he resides is a must. A Commercial Driver's License issued by the resident state is needed when trucks like tractor-trailers or large sized straight trucks, which are designed to transport 26,000 or more pounds of cargo.

To obtain a CDL the individuals should establish their ability to drive the commercial sized vehicle and successful clear a written test on the rules and regulations. Licensed drivers must accompany all the trainee drivers until they get their own CDL. Those drivers who name is recorded in a national database for driving violations will be denied a CDL.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requires the drivers to be 21 years of age and undergo a physical examination once every 2 years. Other physical requirements include good hearing ability, at least a 20/40 vision with glasses and 70-degree field of vision in each eye. They should not be colorblind. Moreover they should be able to read English necessary to read road signs. They should be able communicate with the law enforcement officers and other people in English. It is useful, as they need to make reports regularly. Additionally the drivers must not be convicted or felony, drug abuse, drunken driving or a hit and run case causing injury or death.

The firms hiring these drivers sometimes have higher standards set with age being minimum 22 years, being able to lift heavy objects and with an experience of three to five years. These firms set incentives to hire less risky drivers as they driving are fuel-efficient and with less liability costs to the company.

Truck Driver Training

Driver's training courses are good methods of preparation of individuals for such jobs. High school courses in driver training and automotive mechanics can be useful. Many vocational technical schools offer tractor-trailer driver training courses. They learn to maneuver on crowded streets and highway traffics. They are also instructed about inspecting trucks and freight for compliance with state and local and federal regulations. The prospective drivers should check the acceptability of the course with the local trucking companies before enrolling.

Some states require drivers to complete a basic course before being issued a CDL. Employers also provide informal training by instructions from experienced drivers. They may also ride with the experienced drivers before being assigned any duties. One or two days of classroom sessions involving instruction on general duties, loading of trucks, policies of the company and making reports and records. The drivers/sales workers are also trained on the types of products they will be handling to make the job effective. Those handling hazardous material or operate specialized trucks receive additional training on those areas.

If they have prior experience like driving in the Armed forces it can be an advantage. Some individuals also start of as helper, driving part of day and carrying out loading and unloading of freight.