Getting a CDL license is an investment of time and money that can lead to a long-term career. Before you can earn your CDL and start driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), there are several safety requirements that must be met, including some about a driver’s vision.
There will be long days, construction traffic, inconsiderate drivers, and other obstacles. The most successful professional truck drivers take all of it in stride and are trucking companies’ preferred drivers.
What do truck drivers listen to while on the road? The radio for sure, both terrestrial and satellite. They also listen (and talk with) other truckers via CB radio. But what about a trucking podcast? Do truck drivers even listen to podcasts? And if so, what podcasts do truckers listen to?
In order to become a truck driver, you’ll need to get a CDL by successfully passing the CDL test. Each state manages its own CDL test based on the driver’s manual, which is created by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). These tests assess your skills and knowledge regarding general truck driving knowledge, air brakes if you’ll be driving a vehicle with air brakes, and combination vehicles.
Driver orientation is the first step toward becoming a driver with a trucking company. It’s for those who want to become company drivers and will be a combination of you and the company (e.g., the driver success manager, recruiter, etc.) getting to know each other, driver training on company procedures, completing paperwork, and passing a driving test.
One of the big decisions you will need to make after getting your Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is what type of load you want to haul. You see dry van, reefer, and tanker most often, but there are good reasons to consider flatbed truck driving for a career.
Many options become available to you as a commercial truck driver once you receive your Class A CDL. Leading carriers offer perks like sign-on bonuses, good pay, and plenty of benefits. You can choose the company route and drive for OTR, regional, or local trucking firms.
There’s no age limit for truck driving jobs. In the list of pros and cons of truck driving, this is a pro, especially because the trucking industry currently has a driver shortage and trucking companies need more people to choose this profession.
Failing CDL truck driving school is not a topic we want to address, but it is one we need to address. Not all new drivers pass the test, get their commercial driver’s license, and move on to a truck driving career. There are several reasons why that happens.
Whether you’re just starting out or have been driving for a while, you may be looking for ways to diversify your skills and advance your career as a CDL driver in the trucking industry. Driving a refrigerated truck is one way to accomplish this and that’s why this whole post is focused there. Here are five top reasons you and your career might benefit from learning how to drive a reefer truck.
