Truckers play an essential role in the transportation industry. According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), 72.5% of our nation’s freight travels via semi-truck. As a trucker, you don’t necessarily need to know all of the ins and outs of logistics beyond your immediate role. However, it’s helpful to have a general idea of how … Continue reading “How Freight Transport Works”
Earning your commercial driver’s license (CDL) gives you the opportunity to begin a rewarding career in the trucking industry. After completing the process, you hopefully feel a sense of accomplishment and are excited for this new chapter in your life. At the same time, you may be wondering what the next steps are and what … Continue reading “What Happens After Truck Driving School”
A typical passenger vehicle driver may not think twice about low bridges, but for semi-truck drivers, these are serious potential hazards. Low-clearance accidents are collisions where a truck, bus, recreational vehicle (RV), or other large vehicle makes contact with the top of a bridge, power lines, or other structure that does not provide enough vertical … Continue reading “The Risks of Low Bridges”
After you earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL), there is a wide range of potential careers that you can choose to pursue. You’ll likely start out driving a standard semi-truck, but as you gain experience, you can consider more specialized types of trucking. One example is wide load trucking, also known as oversize trucking. Truckers … Continue reading “All About Wide Load Trucking”
A good trucker is dedicated to their profession, but dedicated trucking doesn’t actually have anything to do with this type of dedication. Instead, it is a specific type of job within the trucking industry. Also known as contract or primary freight, dedicated trucking involves hauling goods or materials for a specific client as opposed to … Continue reading “What is Dedicated Trucking?”
One of the theory instruction topics that trucking school programs must cover under the latest entry-level driver training (ELDT) guidelines is space management, as well as the related concept of speed management. Both of these are essential for staying safe on the road, so it’s important that you fully understand them. Simply put, space management … Continue reading “What Does Space Management Mean?”
Safety is essential for anyone on the road, but commercial drivers need to be even more aware due to the larger size of their vehicles and the greater amount of time they spend on the road. One of the situations which you’ll need to know how to safely navigate as a professional driver is trucking … Continue reading “3 Tips for Trucking at Night”
Preparing your own food is one of the best ways to save money and eat healthier as a truck driver. Although there are some unique challenges involved in cooking in a semi-truck, there are definitely ways to get creative and make a variety of meals in your truck. Having small appliances on board is one … Continue reading “Appliances for Cooking in a Semi-Truck”
In order to earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL), you will need to pass a written exam as well as a skills test. Preparing to take the CDL test can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips for preparing to take the CDL exam 1. Attend Truck Driving School The … Continue reading “Tips for CDL Test Prep”
A commercial driver’s license (CDL) allows you to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Some offenses can disqualify you from holding a CDL for a certain length of time. Before you start your trucking career, it’s important to be aware of these CDL disqualifications. Lifetime Disqualification Anyone who uses a CMV to commit a felony … Continue reading “CDL Disqualifications to Know”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets requirements for the training of entry-level drivers. This means anyone who is getting their Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the first time, upgrading from a Class B to a Class A, or earning certain endorsements for the first time. Their requirements include completing a training … Continue reading “All About the New ELDT Requirements”
Starting a new career is likely to make anyone a bit nervous. Even if you’ve done well throughout your commercial driver’s license (CDL) training, it can be daunting to hit the road on your own. Your first year as a new truck driver is an opportunity to hone the skills you’ve developed during trucking school … Continue reading “Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid as a New Truck Driver”
