Truck Driver Career

The transportation industry has developed quite a lot in quite a short time and this development has picked up speed over the past few years. This industry is a very lucrative and a very productive one. There are a lot of jobs available in the transportation industry today and most of these jobs have quite a good salary. One of the prime jobs in the transportation industry is a career in truck driving. A truck driving career is a career which is generating a lot of interest at the moment and this interest looks set to grow. There is quite some responsibility associated with the job and punctuality is placed at a premium with a truck driver career.

Something as interesting as a truck driver career is being offered to a lot of people and there are a lot of people who are interested in following such a career. A truck driving career is a very interesting one. The job has a lot of adventure and traveling associated with it and people who enjoy driving and traveling all over should take up this job. There are many trucking companies which run programs to train people in a truck driving career. Most of these companies start with a basic program which starts with basic company truck driver training instructions and gives information on the various types of trucks which are on the road.

A truck driver needs a special cdl license and has to undergo extensive training both in simulated conditions as well as on road conditions. A truck driver career is quite an interesting path to follow as the individual gets to travel quite a bit and gets to meet a lot of people. The pay and the benefits associated with a truck driving job are also quite good and this job is definitely made for the adventurous at heart.

Owner Operator Trucking Jobs

As one of the professions, Owner operator truck driving has been on rise. Moreover, Thousands of people have benefited from this opportunity. Truck driver jobs, apart from having offered security, aid you in having climbed the success ladder easily. Nearly 70% of goods move through trucks all through the US. Several businessmen go on to have depended on trucks to facilitate supply of equipments, materials, and the other resources. The need for owner operator truck drivers is increasing day by day. You would definitely not repent after having entered this profession.

Anybody interested in becoming an owner operator truck driver can find excellent owner operator jobs. As such, there isn’t any specific degree required for getting in to this profession. You, however, are required of having passed out from renowned driving school, wherein you can hone of driving skills, so as to develop concern about road safety as well as driving rules. After having passed driving test, a ‘Commercial Driver’s License’ would be obtained, which would enable you of having driven through nation, that too, in truck.

Having acquired the job of a driver isn’t all that difficult. The driving school would guide you with regards to the same. There’re recruiting sites exclusively launched for truck drivers. They aid you in identifying and applying to the topmost companies. Handsome salary, along with numerous benefits is offered to truck drivers. These benefits are inclusive of health, bonus, retirement schemes, and family insurance.

Now, if you can derive enormous benefits just by being truck driver, imagine the amount of money earned by you by being an owner-operator! At times, truck driver goes to drive truck belonging to some other person. If you, however, happen to own the truck, it can be leased to one of the top trucking companies, thereby increasing your income with regards to owner operator trucking as well.

Truck Driving Companies

Truck Driving Companies

To become a successful truck driver, you should have a knowledge of the different trucking companies. Some of these best trucking companies can be found below.

USF Glen Moore

USF Glen Moore can be referred to as one amongst the premium truckload leaders in US. It makes provisions for a wide spectrum of services. There are around 700 ‘power units’ of USF Glen Moore and around 2500 trailers aiding customers all through the nation. USF Glen Moore goes to offer great benefits, competitive pay, retirement plan, etc. which a truck driver normally expects. Note that USF Glen Moore presents truck driver jobs to experienced driver, new driver, company driver, and owner operators. Hence, you have a place here, irrespective of your status.

Swift Transportation

Swift Transportation can be described as the biggest truckload carrier all over the US. It is involved in having hauled freight for manufacturers, retailers, paper producers, department stores, brewers, etc. Swift Transportation presents truck driving jobs to inexperienced as well as experienced drivers. Benefits, great pay, and financial stability- what else would you want? Swift Transportation acts as a carrier with regards to companies like Quaker Oats, Wal-Mart, FedEx, Ryder Logistics, Target, Rite Aid, Lowe’s, and Dollar Tree.

Schneider National, Inc.

Schneider National, Inc. can be described as one of the leading providers of logistics services and transportation, thereby having improved living standards worldwide. They’re, in reality, the biggest truckload carriers of the nation. Schneider goes on to serve > 2/3 rd of FORTUNE 500 companies. The company’s logistics solutions and transportation is inclusive of dedicated, one-day, bulk, expedited, intermodal, western regional freight brokerage and transportation management, along with ocean/air freight forwarding, transloading & distribution, customs house brokerage, freight audit & payment, supply chain advisory services, and supply chain management. It’s headquartered here, i.e. in Green Bay. For more information Best trucking companies

Owner operator a more rewarding life

When you become an owner operator, you can experience more freedom from supervision than a company driver experiences.
You’re able to manage your hours better and more profitable. You can take time off when you need it. But those freedoms
don’t come without a big trade off, that being the need to be financially responsible and self disciplined. The challenge’s are
sometimes great, but the rewards for those who are successful, are greater yet.

Whats your motivation for wanting to be an owner operator? If you answer to make more money, have a more rewarding life,
and to work hard, you will have a good chance at obtaining success. To be a successful owner operator you must be driven
by financial rewards for your hard work, time and investment. Is it a good time to become a owner operator? Consider the Long term
outlook of the trucking industry, the tighter regulations and restrictions on the truck driver’s health and safety, the new hours and
of service regulations (HOS). All these factors contribute to a industry wide shortage of experienced, safe and reliable drivers.
to look further down the road, you can expect that driver supply will continue to be very weak as the truck driver work force ages
and a lot of truck drivers retire. There is a very strong competition for truck drivers from all the major carriers.

Before you jump into becoming a owner operator take your time and prepare yourself.

This is good news for owner operator and company truck driver pay. Most all the best trucking companies have introduced major
pay raises in the last year, and are expected to continue in the immediate future as demand for truck drivers remains high. Even
better news for the truck driver is the increased revenue realized by the owner operator. Most owner operator’s income has averaged
somewhere between a 20 percent to 30 percent higher income in recent years than that of the company driver .

THE OWNER OPERATOR STEPS TO SUCCESS: Truck drivers who become owner operators should already realize the need to run a lot of
miles while still driving safely and legally. But there are other qualities that you must have or develop that are important, also.

YOUR BUSINESS PLAN:. You have to develop your own business plan and develop a regular truck maintenance program. You have to plan
both for the hard times when it’s tough to find a truck load and for the times truck load available are good. You have to set
strict goals for where you want your trucking company business to go. If you don’t take control of your business then you will not
realize the financial reward’s available to you from owning your own truck.

DEPENDABILITY AND RELIABILITY: Your main goal should be the need to provide good customer service for the shipper or carrier you
are hauling for. Being dependable means you will get the highest paying loads that you need to get the revenue you want.

DESIRE AND MOTIVATION: Unless you have a strong desire to earn money, the advantage of being an owner operator will not mean much
when that truck payment is due. And this means making yourself ready to accept available truck loads and being wise in choosing the loads that will make the most money and not leave you in a place that is
hard to get a load out of.

THE DESIRE AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN: continually seek to obtain good knowledge. Always be asking questions to obtain good advice.
No matter how experienced you are, there are always others who you can learn because they have a different perspective or different
experiences and points of view. If your not open to new information, you might be slamming the door to a successful business.

KNOWING YOURSELF: Part of being a successful owner operator (or any business owner)is knowing what your limitations are and
learning to overcome them. Knowing the areas where you lack experience and either work hard to gain the knowledge or seek help from
a mentor. Capitalize on your strong points and strive to overcome your weaknesses.

DOING YOUR OWN MAINTENANCE: You don’t necessarily not have to be a mechanic (but it sure helps)do the major work on your truck,
but it is a necessity to understand how a truck’s systems and components work. Just keep in mind that every dollar you save by
doing simple maintenance yourself is another dollar that your right to your bottom line.

BUYING OR LEASING YOUR TRUCK: The decision to purchase or lease your own truck is a huge one, that requires careful
research. If you are not experienced to trucking, consider getting at least a year or more of driving experience ensure that you can
be a safe and productive driver. Another consideration, before making the leap to an owner operator, is to talk to other
owner operators about their past experiences and what they would do differently if they had to do it all over, keeping in mind that
their individual opinions shouldn’t overly influence your decision. Most of the successful owner operators start modestly and manage
well. Until they learn the ropes of owning your own truck and managing your expenses both business and personal. As you build your
trucking business, you should be able to afford some extras every now and then, as well as save for your future.
By treating the opportunity of being a owner operator and managing your business instead of just driving down the road, you should
be able to put more money in your pocket and be a successful owner operator. With that also comes the responsibility for much more,
such as bookkeeping, taxes, and financial goals. Obtaining a good accountant can provide the guidance you will require.

Company truck driver questions for recruiters

Do your homework well! Turnover
in this industry is very high – due to many things. Recruiters sometimes say
what they think you want to hear. Even good recruiters think things happen a
certain way at their company but the dispatch department shows otherwise.
Drivers can easily become restless with a company – bored even – and fall for
another company’s new, shiny trucks without finding out about the critical
things, like home time, pay, etc. Next thing they know, they’re unhappy there,
too. It’s a revolving door. You will build credibility by staying with a carrier
a respectable amount of time. This is especially critical when first entering
the industry. If you become a job jumper within the first year, already having
changed jobs once or twice, future employers will probably think twice. Doing
good research before changing jobs will better ensure a good match with a new
company. Ask drivers of a company you’re considering. Ask as many as you can –
they’ll give you a great deal of information. You can do a lot of research on a
company through the Internet as well.

Most important, be careful about
allowing your expectations to get too high! There is no such thing as the
perfect job! Not in any industry! Put some thought towards what is important to
you… what your priorities are. Some things that you’d “like to have” will have
to go by the wayside.

The “Priorities”
most drivers concentrate on:

*Pay
*Home Time
*Benefits
*Equipment

A great deal depends on how hard you
are to satisfy but it’s reasonable to say that you can usually some 2 of the
above priorities pretty well and the other two may “suffer”. For instance, if
high pay and good home time are the things that matter most, you probably won’t
drive as fancy of a truck and the benefits may be decent but not outstanding. If
you want to drive a very fancy truck and get good home time, you will probably
have to sacrifice in the area of pay and benefits. The point being – the perfect
job – where all of the above are completely to your satisfaction is just not out
there. Again, it all depends on how high you set your standards. Satisfy what
matters most to you and be ready to “give” a bit in other places. This is NOT to
say that you should take a second rate position! Just Do Your Homework!

It is not advised that you ask a
recruiter every single question on the list. Identify your priorities and find
the questions that address them. Your priorities today will probably change
later but at this point in time, do the best you can to decide what they are.

Sooner or later, no matter who you
work for, you are bound to become angry and/or frustrated. This is especially
true if it is your first truck driving job and you have nothing to compare it
to. Since you know you’ll most likely feel this way at some time, when it does
happen, don’t make a rash decision about changing trucking companies!

DOTJobHistory.com Commercial Drivers On-Line Access to their Employment History

DOTjobhistory has introduced a service that allows professional drivers to obtain a copy of their past five years’ employers according to Federal Government Department of Treasury records. The past employers are reported even if the employer is not listed on the “DAC Report,” is not a trucking company or has gone out of business.

The report lists employer name, address and earnings from each employer by year. Drivers must authorize the release of their information and results are typically available for review the same or next business day. Drivers may only obtain their own information and the information belongs to them—it is not provided to any other entity.

Commercial drivers are required by law to list past employers when applying for commercial driving jobs and these past employers are checked by prospective employers. An inaccurate employment application—such as a missing employer—can be the difference in getting a driving job.

The fee for the service is a one-time charge of $109 and, if authorized by the driver, includes the state Motor Vehicle Report (driving record), USIS “DAC Report,” Infraction/Misdemeanor/Felony Record Scan and Social Security Number/Identity Authentication Report—the information obtained by potential employers. DOTJobHistory also provides on-line tools at no additional charge that allows drivers to dispute information on their record. Using DOTJobHistory partners, drivers may share their driving record, “DAC Report” employment history and other information with potential employers on-line if they are seeking immediate employment.

“If drivers are looking for a new job, we allow them to quickly obtain their information, review it for accuracy and then use it to get the job they want,” said Derek Hinton, President of DOTJobHistory. “Even when a driver obtains his “DAC Report,” various employers are usually missing. The goal of this service is to empower proactive drivers so that they can prove experience and accurately complete job applications so they recoup their investment—and more—within the first weeks of employment.”

The service is tax deductible as a business expense and drivers can register for the service at www.dotjobhistory.com.

For more information contact DOTJobHistory.

Truck Driver new hours of service rules

No truck driver shall drive:
More than 11 hours, following 10 hours off duty
Pass the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty.
After 60 hours on-duty in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days.

34-Hour Restart

truck drivers may restart a 7/8 day consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off-duty. This is a brand new provision, there has never before been a way to “restart” the 70 hour clock. They finally came up with something that was beneficial for the driver.

What frustrates me the most is that we have a bunch of non-drivers making comments, suggestions and criticisms of everything concerning HOS. They study scientific data and draw conclusions that drivers mostly laugh at. For example: “It’s incredible,” said Jeff Burns, a Kansas City attorney and board member of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways. “We’ve got literally decades of science that say the risk of an accident goes up dramatically after eight hours on the road.” I’ve really had quite enough of non-drivers’ input into problems they have never personally dealt with. Why not study the effects of sitting on docks all day and/or night? Apparently that does not make an interesting study. They’ve poured “literally decades” of time into the study of driving, but not three minutes into dock abuse.

Better yet, why not spend some time and money studying how to better educate the motoring public? When I see statistics that say 70+% of car drivers are at fault in crashes with trucks, it seems extremely beneficial to do so! That, however, would detract from the issue the “safety advocates” love to keep at the forefront: killer trucks, killer truckers.

On Duty Time:

The Plight of a trucker; on duty time. We donate hundreds, even thousands of hours every year to inefficient and poorly run shippers and receivers. No one cares how many hours we waste away, bored to death on docks. Dock time is UNPAID for most of us; they want us to haul freight, to stock grocery stores, to bring clothes and electronics, but we must perform the majority of our job functions for FREE? Do they do Their jobs for free? Do they leave friends and family for days and weeks at a time simply because they want to see America’s economy running strong? NO. Expecting a trucker to do so is ridiculous.

If I sound angry it’s because I am! And that’s an understatement. I didn’t expect the government would acknowledge our on-duty dilemma, but now I know for a fact that they will not. Industry will not, either. Who will?

The OOIDA (Owner Operator Independent Driver Association) puts it this way, “Federal officials have done little more than shuffle the deck chairs,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA’s executive vice president. “The real issue is unproductive and unpaid time truckers are forced to ‘donate,’ which actually contributes to fatigue. The feds didn’t address the heart of the matter, which is the tremendous loss of productivity that actually works against goals the government wants to achieve.”

In another quote, they say: “Not until truck drivers are no longer regularly pressured to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines, and they are no longer forced to perform uncompensated work for as many as 33 to 44 hours per week, will we see a significant reduction in fatigue issues.”

Can you make good money as an OTR truck driver?

This is aimed towards the Over the Road (OTR) driver who is paid on mileage pay. Most OTR drivers are paid on mileage pay, or “Per Mile”. Below are some things you might or “will” encounter as an over the road company driver.

Whats the rule of thumb for driver pay scale?

Drivers are usually paid in the following ways:

Mileage(The largest majority are paid this way)
A trucking company pays a certain amount per mile traveled, with some exceptions, The majority of company over the road drivers are paid this way.

A Percentage of what the load pays. This type is more common with company flatbed drivers, heavy haul and with Owner Operators.

Salaried or Hourly drivers are typically local drivers and those who run a specific, set route every day.

.By the Load This type of pay is seen often with aggretate haulers.

Understanding Mileage Pay…
As stated before, most OTR drivers are paid by mileage pay or, “per mile” pay. Which can run anywhere from .28¢ for the inexperienced driver to upwards of .50¢ for the very experienced. Usually on a scale of something line:
Experience level:
0 to 1 years .28¢
1 to 2 years .32¢
2 to 3 years .34¢
3 to 4 years .38¢
5 plus years .42¢
These will vary from trucking company to trucking company.
Seems simple enough huh? you drive the miles and get paid for them, right? Usually NOT!
Because mileage pay generally paid by three types, those being:
ROUTE miles and HUB miles and zip code to zip code miles.
Route miles are what a computer program says the distance is between Point A & point B.
Hub miles are the true & actual miles that the truck traveled to get from Point A to Point B.
Zip code to Zip code miles are the most uncommon and generally the least profitable.
There can be a big difference between Route miles & Hub miles.
Often, there’s a considerable difference. There are several computer software programs out there that trucking companies use to compute routes & miles. The most common ones being:

PC Miler
Rand McNally MileMaker
Household Mover’s Guide
With PC Miler and Rand McNally It’s been my experience that most of the time, there’s about 5-8% difference between the “paid miles” and the true miles and with the Household Movers Guide it’s higher 8% – 13%+.

What does this mean to you? This means that you are going to drive a certain number of miles for FREE, yes, for FREE. Doesn’t seem right, does it? Well I isn’t!! but that’s the way it is.
5% may not seem like much and it doesn’t seem like much when you’re running the load either. Take a 500 mile trip for example , 5% of 500 miles is only 25 miles extra. But if your making 3,000 miles a week then your driving 150 miles for free! or 600 miles a month or 7200 miles a year all for Free!!

You can do things to keep your “free” miles down. Good trip planning is at the top of the list. Add up the miles of a trip before you get started and compare your route to what the paid miles are going to be. In many cases, though, you will not be able to avoid extra miles.

There are some additional ways to earn money.

You may be able to supplement your main income with some of the following, depending on what your trucking company offers.

Loading/unloading pay: Do some of your own and make the money that the company would pay the lumper.

Bonuses: With most companies you can make some decent money with high mileage and fuel MPG bonuses. But there are a lot of trucking companies that have devious way’s of screwing you out of them also. Make sure you have a good understanding of the bonus structure and have it in writing.

Idle time, Idling use’s about one gallon for every hour which will reduce your MPG and out of route miles will also have a big effect because they figure your MPG on route miles and not hub miles.

Referral pay: Most mid to large trucking companies will pay you if you refer a new driver to the company. Conditions are usually that this bonus doesn’t pay until the driver has been employed at the company 90 days.