Author: Administrator

If you are considering attending a Tucson CDL school, you may be wondering about what you can expect from your life as a trucker. For those workers seeking competitive pay and great benefits, truck driving is a fantastic career choice. When you have decided that truck driving is the career for you, you should be sure to attend a truck driving academy near you. Here is a look at what you can expect from life as a trucker.

Truck Drivers Log Long Hours on the Road

One aspect of truck driving life that you will need to prepare for is spending long hours on the road. For long haul truckers, it is easy to rack up hundreds or even thousands of miles during each delivery. If you have always dreamed of exploring the different parts of the United States, becoming a long haul trucker may be the ideal career for you.

Truck Driving Companies Offer Different Pay Structures

When you are embarking on a career as a new truck driver, you should be sure to investigate the pay structures that are offered by different companies. While some companies pay per mile driven, others offer salaries. You should be sure to find a job with a pay structure that is suited for your needs.

Truck Driving Offers Many Unique Perks

There are many fantastic benefits to working as a truck driver. For example, when you start a new truck driving job, you may find that you make strong friendships out on the road. Additionally, you will have a flexible working schedule that can be tailored to your preferences.

At HDS Truck Driving Institute, we are thrilled to offer top rated CDL education in the Tucson area. If you are thinking of becoming a Tucson truck driver, be sure to contact our school. For more information about our courses and job placement program, give us a call at (877) 295-2141.

When you are planning a career as a commercial truck driver, it is important to make sure that you are prepared to pass the CDL exam. Getting your CDL is the first step towards becoming eligible for an exciting career in truck driving. A Tucson CDL school can provide you with the tips and skills you need to pass the CDL test and become a smart and safe truck driver. To help you prepare for your first long haul journey, here is a look at some safe strategies for staying awake on the road.

Get Plenty of Sleep

One of the most important ways that you can make sure that you are able to stay alert while you are driving is to make sure that you get plenty of sleep at night. By sleeping for 6-8 hours, you will allow your brain and body to fully recharge. It is a good idea to make sure that you time your shifts with plenty of sleep time in between.

Take Strategic Rest Breaks

Along with getting plenty of sleep, it is also important to take strategic rest breaks during your journey. Every 5 or so hours, you may want to pull off to a rest area and stretch your legs or eat a snack. Short rest breaks can go a long way towards increasing your alertness.

Eat Healthful Meals

When you are trying to improve your alertness on the road, it is also a good idea to make sure that you are eating healthful meals. For example, snacking on trail mix or other high protein snacks can help you remain alert during longer drives.

When you are getting ready for your CDL exam, be sure to contact HDS Truck Driving Institute. Our experienced instructors will help you make sure that you are fully prepared to pass your CDL test. To learn more about our enrollment options, give us a call at (877) 295-2141.

Distracted driving is one of the biggest road hazards facing commercial drivers and motorists alike. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 26% of all motor vehicle crashed are linked to distracted driving. Reducing distracted driving, then, has the potential to prevent countless accidents and fatalities in the United States each year. You’ll learn the skills and knowledge needed to obtain your Class A CDL and become a professional truck driver by enrolling in truck driving school, but the commitment to reducing distracted driving is up to you. Here are some tips that can help reduce this dangerous driving behavior.

Use Hands-Free Technology

There are a large number of distracted driving solutions available that can help you prevent talking, texting, emailing, and surfing the web while driving. Hands-free headsets, for example, allow you to send and receive phone calls without taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road. There are also text-to-speech apps that can read text messages to you and allow you to respond by talking.

Get Adequate Rest

Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as distracted driving, especially when you’re too tired to realize that you’re looking at your phone, playing with the radio, or engaging in any other type of distracted driving behavior. Make sure you get plenty of sleep before hitting the road, and if you feel drowsy while driving pull over and rest or get something to eat and drink before continuing on to your next stop.   

Remember Your Friends and Family

Another way to help yourself overcome distracted driving behaviors is to remember your loved ones back home. As a truck driver, your responsibility to your loved ones is to drive as safely as possible so you return home. Think of your friends and family and then think if it’s still worth it to send that text or answer that phone call.

HDS Truck Driving Institute is committed to producing the safest and most capable drivers to fill truck driving positions around the country. To learn more about our truck driving school in Tucson, call us toll-free at (877) 205-2141 or contact us online.

According to data from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the American Trucking Association (ATA), the rate of truck-involved fatalities in the United States in declining. This is welcome news for anyone interested in becoming a truck driver as it means the industry as a whole is safer than it’s ever been. The biggest factor in trucking safety is well-trained drivers behind the wheel, which is why anyone interested in a driving career is urged to enroll in a professional truck driving school. But that’s just part of the equation. The new landscape of the industry has also been shaped by recent advances in trucking safety, including:

Electronic Logging Device Mandate

The ATA cites the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s recent mandate requiring the use of electronic logging devices by commercial vehicles as a historic step forward for the industry as a whole. The ELD mandate will make the trucking industry safer for drivers and motorists alike as it will help prevent fatigued and overworked drivers from operating on America’s roads.

ESC Mandate

Another federal mandate comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with regards to electronic stability control systems. Starting in 2017, the NHTSA will require that ESC systems be installed on all large trucks. The ATA reports that such a mandate could prevent more than 1,700 crashes annually. Many fleets have already begun utilizing this technology and the passing of this new mandate will speed up industry-wide adoption of this life-saving technology.

Road Infrastructure Improvements

The improving condition of America’s roads is another reason for the increasing safety of the trucking industry. Roads designed to minimize bottlenecks and ensure better traffic flow reduce hazards and obstacles that can pose a threat to commercial drivers and fellow motorists. Road improvements also shorten travel times and lower costs for carriers and owner/operators.

If you want to be a safe and confident truck driver, HDS Truck Driving Institute can help. Our truck driving school in Tucson is a nationally-recognized truck driver training program. Call us toll-free at (877) 205-2141 or contact us online to learn more about our truck driving programs.

According to reports, retail prices for Class Eight sleeper tractors increased by 17 percent in 2011. The spike then, which can still be felt by motor carriers and owner/operators today, was largely in response to new EPA mandates and federal “engine surcharges” that averaged between $4,000 and $5,000 depending on the engine manufacturer and model. If you’re just thinking about enrolling in truck driving school, these numbers might not mean much to you now, but if your plan is to own your own commercial truck after completing truck driver training you should know how Class Eight truck costs are affecting the industry as a whole.

EPA Mandates

As EPA fuel economy mandates have gone into effect, truck manufacturers and buyers have felt the effect on their bottom line. Although it’s true that these EPA mandates have made heavy-duty commercial trucks cleaner and more fuel efficient, they have also increased the purchase, maintenance, and repair costs associated with the industry’s Class Eight trucks.

Added Truck Costs

In addition to the added expense of upgrading commercial truck engines to meet new EPA fuel economy mandates, there are other requirements of the EPA’s “Smartway Partnership Program” that have added costs to trucks. For example, the addition of low-rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic side fairings/cab extenders have resulted in escalating truck costs each year.

Freight Rates

Partially in response to the added economic pressures of the new EPA mandates, the commercial trucking industry as a whole has incrementally raised freight costs to help recoup some of the money maintaining an EPA-compliant fleet. As carriers and owner/operators start to break even thanks to lower fuel costs, higher rates will eventually mean more profits for the entire industry.

HDS Truck Driving Institute offers a Professional Truck Driver Program that can prepare you to succeed in the commercial trucking industry. Classes start every Monday and include two months of on-the-job training to ensure you’re a confident and capable driver by the time you hit the road on your own. To learn more about our truck driving school in Tucson, call us toll-free at (877) 205-2141.  

Being a truck driver is a lot like being your own boss, at least when you’re on out on the open road. But when you drive for a trucking company, your success (and ultimately your career) depends on a team of support personnel working behind the scenes to make sure all of the logistical and administrative aspects of a job go smoothly. Enrolling in truck driving school will certainly make you a better truck driver, but knowing about the support personnel before you start your career will give you a leg up and help you hit the ground running after you graduate from a CDL school in Tucson.

Makeup of the Support Team

There are a lot of different positions that make up the support team at a trucking operation. Office managers, dispatchers, and mechanics are most commonly thought of, but in fact anyone who has a role in the success of a trucking company is considered as support personnel.

Good Relationships for a Good Career

Building good relationships with the support personnel at your company can have a tremendously positive impact on your success as a driver. The support personnel will have a big say in the routes you run, the order in which your truck will be serviced, and many other things that are out of your control but nonetheless impact your ability to be an effective and efficient driver.

Conflict with Support Personnel

In the same way that good relationships with the support team can enhance your career, conflict with the support team can have a negative effect. If you are experiencing conflict with any member of the support team, whether it’s a higher up in the office or a mechanic in the truck bay, try to resolve the conflict as quickly as possible to minimize the impact on your career.
If you want to learn more about the inner workings of a trucking company and how to succeed as a professional driver, enroll in the professional truck driver program at HDS Truck Driving Institute of Tucson. This six month class will give you all the skills and knowledge needed to be a capable and confident truck driver. Call us toll-free at (877) 205-2141 to learn more about our school and our CDL programs.

One of the most important topics you’ll cover in truck driving school is truck maintenance. Taking care of your semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle is important for many reasons, including your safety on the road as well as how well your truck handles and performs. When it comes to truck maintenance, one of the most overlooked aspects is regular tire rotations. Although the frequency of tire rotations will depend on a number of different factors, including how often you drive and the weight of your truck and trailer, here are some of the top reasons to make sure you keep up with this important truck maintenance service.

Ensure Maximum Traction

Commercial truck tires wear unevenly depending on their position. For example, the rear tires may wear down faster than the front tires due to the extra weight of the trailer at the hitch point. Rotating the tires will help to evenly distribute wear across all the tires, which will ensure maximum traction on the road.

Prolong Tire Life

Another benefit of rotating commercial truck tires is that it can help extend the life of all tires on a truck. Unless you drive for a company that covers all truck maintenance and repair costs, having to buy commercial truck tires on your own can set you back thousands of dollars. By extending the life of your tires, you can extend the life in between tire purchases and save yourself a big chunk of money over your trucking career.

Catch Tire Damage Early

Bringing your truck in for regular tire rotations will give your mechanic more opportunities to closely inspect your tires for any signs of wear and tear that can be troublesome. The earlier you can catch and replace a bad tire, the safer you’ll be on the road.
HDS Truck Driving Institute can give you all the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful truck driver. Our faculty is comprised of professional drivers with decades of combined driving experience who can share tips and insights that will greatly benefit your career. To learn more about our truck driving school in Tucson, call us toll-free at (877) 205-2141.