All Things Trucking - Truck Driving Schools, Truck Driver Training, and Trucking Jobs

I am sure most of you have heard about the state of our economy. And, I am sure that many of you will be impacted in some way or another.

You may be wondering, is now a good time to think about truck driving schools?

That will definitely depend on your current employment situation, but generally, right now is definitely a great time to attend trucking school.

While the financial markets are in limbo, the trucking economy still looks fairly solid. Trucking companies are still filling their truck driving jobs, and we haven't seen much of a slowdown from the carriers.

So, if you are thinking about a new trucking career, it is a good time to hit one of the country's quality truck driving schools.

In addition, we highly recommend carrier sponsored trucking schools at this time. Otherwise, if you don't have $3000 - $6000 in cash, you will need to get a loan. And, right now is not the best time to rely on getting a loan. Banks have REALLY tightened their standards as a result of not having the capital to lend. By attending a carrier sponsored trucking school, you won't have to worry about the whole lending process. 

If you need some guidance, let us know. 

Who creates the revenue for trucking companies? Is it the CEO and executive managment? Is it the operations folks - driver managers, fleet managers, planners, and CSRs? What about the sales people or the mechanics?

While all of these functions are important and necessary to a healthy trucking company - they are NOT the main source of revenue for the company.

IT IS THE TRUCK DRIVER -

The driver is the only employee/contractor that directly creates revenue for the trucking companies. Without the companys' truck driving jobs and the truck drivers that fill those jobs, the company will cease to exist.

Now, I am not explaining this concept in order to puff up the egos of all you truck drivers. In fact, here's the reason I am writing about this:

Truck driving jobs are crucial to each trucking company. By and large, the company with the highest quality truck drivers will generate the best profit margins. And here's the key - the trucking companies know this!

That is why they have hiring criteria that may be more strict than the mandated DOT hiring regulations. Trucking companies want to fill their truck driving jobs with people who are willing to work hard and work safe. Now, it doesn't always happen in the ideal way.

Sometimes, a great driver will go to work for a company that just doesn't understand how important the driver is to the company.

And, sometimes a great company will hire a driver that just doesn't understand how to be a great truck driver and isn't willing to learn.

But, all that being said, truck driving jobs are the jobs that drive revenue into each trucking company. It is an essential job to the companies AND the economy.

Just a quick thought.

I wonder how many people in the United States understand how vital the truck drivers are to this economy? I wonder if they realize how important the people are who fill the country's truck driving jobs?

You can bet one thing - if the food doesn't show up on the shelves, they will notice. If the gasoline doesn't make it to the gas stations, they will notice.

So, what am I trying to say?

Simply put - it doesn't really matter how many people know how important our truck drivers are. As long as the RIGHT people know. As long as AMERICA'S TRUCK DRIVER knows. There's nothing wrong with being the country's silent backbone. In fact, it makes the job all that much more admirable.

Our country needs as many good drivers as we can find, and if you are a member of this economy's backbone, THANK YOU.

Most people don't know about it, but there is a war happening right here in America.

Trucking companies fight every single day for the most qualified truck drivers. Not only do they fight for those high quality, safe, experienced drivers. They also battle it out for the qualified entry level truck drivers. They compete for the student looking for one of the quality truck driving schools.

Truck driving jobs are at a premium and it is only going to become moreso (see Truck Driving Jobs - An Industry Update).

What does this mean for the American truck driver?

It means this -

• Experienced Drivers - If you maintain a safe driving record, a great attitude, and a strong work ethic, every company in the country will want you to fill their truck driving jobs. Trucking jobs will ALWAYS be available to those of you who do this.
• Students & Trainees - Your past record MATTERS. Trucking companies, even with their extreme need for truck drivers, will not hire anyone and everyone. So, make sure you keep your driving record reasonably clean as well as your criminal record (see --Basic Qualifications). You will be highly sought after to fill one of the many truck driving jobs.

So, there are two big winners in this war - the qualified truck drivers - experienced truck drivers and the qualified students/trainees - AND the trucking company who hires the qualified driver to fill one of their truck driving jobs.

Many of you who are new and/or interested in starting a trucking career, may be wondering what happens after you graduate from truck driving school (cdl school).

It is fair to say that once you have graduated from one of the country's truck driving schools, you have just SCRATCHED the surface of what trucking is all about. Truck driving schools are focused on helping you get your CDL. But, they aren't great at getting you ready for the truck driving jobs you will be presented with.

That is where the trucking companies step in. Now, remember, not all trucking companies hire trucking school graduates. But, the ones that do have their own truck driver training programs. They usually last between 4-6 weeks and these programs are aimed at helping the new truck driver become a good truck driver. And, it should be mentioned that some companies are better at this than others.

Here is what you can expect with a truck driver training program:

• You will be trained by a driver with at least 6 months of over the road experience.
• Many times a trainer will have more experience than this, but most trucking companies require a minimum of 6 months experience in order to become a truck driver trainer.
• Not all trainers are created equal. Some are fantastic while others are just plain lazy. Be flexible, but if you feel your trainer is a complete joke, request a new one.
• You will learn a lot.
• You will learn how to use the in cab computer system, how to deal with the paperwork, how to log in the real world, and how to deal with the day-to-day dealings of a truck driver. There will be some things that you may not have expected, just as with any job. Some you will like and some you will not like.
• One of the most important pieces of information you will learn is how to properly deal with operations. If you are able to earn the trust and confidence of the folks in the terminals, you will find yourself making a lot of money and loving your job. The people in operations will make sure the best drivers are getting taken care of. They understand that the best drivers are the people making the company profitable.
• There is a learning curve.
• Be patient with yourself and maintain a good attitude. Everything isn't going to be easy at first. But, you will learn it all eventually.
• For the first week or two, your trainer will do much of the difficult driving. He will assess your skill level and adjust accordingly. Then, once you prove yourself to be ready, he will hand the wheel over more often.

Once you are complete with your truck driver training program, you still won't know it all. There will still be a lot to learn. So, do everything you can to learn the craft of professional truck driving. If you do, you will make a ton of money and earn a ton of respect from your colleagues.

That's a good question, right?

Many drivers say that they got into trucking so they can have a job where their boss isn't hovering over their shoulder. They say that truck driving jobs will give them the freedom they want.

Is this a reality? Can trucking driving jobs provide freedom from the hassles of working in an office.

The short answer - YES>

But, that doesn't mean that you won't be managed closely. Trucking companies have a lot invested in their business, and because of how much money it costs them the run their business, it doesn't take too many mistakes to lose money on any given load. So, the driver managers and fleet managers do their best move the freight in a productive way.

While you are on the road, you won't have a boss looking over your shoulder. But, you will have a manager making sure you are going to be ontime while still being safe. At times, this may rub you the wrong way - and truth be told, some of the driver managers aren't the best.

So, while truck driving jobs offer a nice level of freedom from the mundane office life, you can expect that you will experience a certain level of management to ensure that the company is profitable.

So, make the best of it. Keep a solid attitude and do your best to learn the entire business of trucking.

We have covered which types of truck driving schools are available and the benefits of each. And, truth be told, as long as you attend a reputable trucking school, you will receive the proper education in terms of trucking school.

But, right now, it seems that the trend is leaning towards carrier sponsored truck driving schools. Trucking companies with their own schools are reporting higher enrollments than ever. You may ask why:

1. Financing - Trucking companies have the capital to help the student finance their education. In other words, most trucking companies will not charge interest, will not require a hefty down payment, and will guarantee reimbursement in return for loyalty. Simply put, company sponsored truck driving schools enable a student to get what amounts to free truck driving school. Truck companies make their money hauling freight, not training trucking students.

2. Real World Training - Trucking companies have a huge amount of interest in having well-trained, safe truck drivers. So, when filling their truck driving jobs, they do their best to train quality drivers. They aren't just trying to push you through in order to get your tuition.

3. Guaranteed Job - Carrier sponsored truck driving schools aren't going to send you through their school on their dime just for fun. They will make sure you are qualified before sending you to school (assuming the applicant is completely truthful).

There are times that company sponsored truck driving schools are not right for an applicant, but it is rare.

If you are looking for a carrier sponsored truck driving school, fill out our quick app.

It's no big secret that the trucking industry has suffered due to the high fuel prices and the soft freight market. But, what does that mean to the driver and/or potential driver?

Before analyzing the impact on truck driving jobs, let's spend a minute on an overview.

Six months ago, most trucking companies were scrambling to earn a dollar. They were dumping capacity (trucks) and trying to cut down on fuel costs. The reason they did this was -

1. With the slumping econonmy the shippers aren't producing and shipping as many goods as they did a year ago. So, rather than have the cost of a bunch of idle trucks, they sold them.
2. The out-of-control fuel prices (usually a trucking company's second largest operating expense) were draining their profits.

In the past 12 months, over 3,000 trucking companies have gone out of business. Most of them were very small trucking companies, but not all. In addition, over 147,000 trucks were taken off the road, many of them being sold to foreign countries.

What does this mean to someone looking for a truck driving school? And, what does this mean to someone interested in truck driving schools? NOT MUCH!

Huh? Yep, not much. Even with a slumping economy, trucking companies still need to hire truck drivers. The truck driver shortage has not disappeared at all. In fact, when the economy turns, the truck driver shortage will be more apparent than ever. Good, solid truck drivers will be in high demand for years to come.

The other good news is this - analysts are beginning to upgrade their perspectives on the trucking industry. Many feel that the end of this year and into next year will be strong for truck companies.

So, if you have your CDL, smart move. If you want your CDL, smart move. Remember, EVERYTHING touches a truck - it is a good industry to be in.

Based out of Chattanooga, TN, US Xpress has a good reputation with experienced truck drivers AND inexperienced truck drivers. They are well known for their automatic transmissions and they have a strong presence in the eastern half of the United States.

Pay Structure -

US Xpress truck driving jobs pay on a sliding scale. They don't really load their pay on the front end or the back end. Instead, they even it out across all experience levels. For the current pay scale, go ahead and contact us.

Career Path -

US Xpress offers a solid career path. They have solo and team OTR, regional, dedicated, O/O, and training opportunities. You will most likely find something that will meet your needs.

Home Time -

The US Xpress home time policy is based on which division you run in. Their over-the-road drivers are home every other weekend while their regional drivers are out for 10 days and home for 2 days.

Benefits -

US Xpress offers full benefits. The cost for their health benefits will depend on your family size and which plan you select (standard or premium). Weekly costs can range from $13 to $158. They also offer vision and dental at very competitive prices.

Equipment -

US Xpress runs several makes and models - Volvo, Kenworth, and Peterbuilt, to name a few. They are all equipped with double bunk condos, the Eaton Vorad collision warning system, and Cummins and Detriot engines. US Xpress also utilizes automatic transmissions. Their trucks are model year 2005 or newer.

Summary -

There is little question that US Xpress is a great place to work. Most of the drivers we speak with have great things to say about US Xpress. They offer a full variety of opportunities in the trucking industry. Their pay package is extremely competitive and their freight is 98% no touch. They have a pet policy, a rider policy, referral bonuses, and guaranteed home time for Christmas.

Give us a shout if you would like more detail about the US Xpress truck driving jobs.

When choosing from the many available truck driving jobs, there are several factors each truck driver will need to consider. Many factors are unique to each individual driver. But, there are general criteria that every truck driver naturally considers.

So, in order to help you begin to decide which company to drive for, we will review several of the nation's top trucking companies. We realize that there are a lot of options out there and cannot possibly review all of the trucking companies. Instead, we will select those companies that seem to draw the most attention from the trucking industry. We will NOT review trucking companies that we consider poor options for those looking for truck driving jobs. We realize that every company has strengths and weaknesses. We also realize that one driver may love a certain trucking company while another driver may have a different opinion. But, in general, each company has an overall way of operating, and we will review the companies based on their overall contribution to the trucking industry - specifically in terms of the truck driving jobs and opportunities they offer.

The different elements of truck driving jobs we will review are:

Pay structure - Trucking companies have different philosophies when it comes to their CDL pay structure. Almost all trucking companies pay by the mile. Some trucking companies choose to compete on the front end - meaning they load their pay scale for those drivers with 0 - 6 months of experience, the entry level tier. So, you can expect big raises early and often. Then the raises will taper down as your truck driving experience level increases. You will still make more as you gain more driving experience, but the pay increases won't come as often and as dramatically.

Other companies choose to attract and reward truck drivers with experience. These trucking companies will pay a fairly competitive rate to the entry level truck driver, but the strong pay increases come after 6 months to a year of experience or more.

Some truck driving jobs will pay on a sliding scale. A sliding scale means that the less mileage the load requires, the more CPM (cents-per-mile) you will make on the load. This is meant to reward drivers for hauling loads with a short length of haul. Other truck driving jobs will pay a flat rate no matter how long the length of haul is.

Career path opportunities - A solid career path is a huge factor for those who are looking to have a long and successful trucking career. After getting your CDL, you want to avoid working for a company that only offers one type of career path - over-the-road. Over - the - road is the BEST way to start your trucking career, but truck driving jobs offer so many different options and you want to be able to take advantage of those opportunities.

A good solid career path will look similar to this, in no particular order:

Over - the - road > Trainer > Regional/local opportunities > Dedicated Opportunities > Owner Operator opportunities > Office opportunities

Home time policy - Home time is without question, an important consideration when choosing from the many truck driving jobs. Choosing to be a Class A CDL driver is choosing to be away from home for 2 - 3 weeks at a time - at least for the first 6 - 8 months of your career. Then, you will find other trucking opportunities come your way. But, some companies emphasize getting their drivers home when promised while others choose to be a little more "flexible" with their policies.

Benefits - The trucking companies we will review offer good benefits with their truck driving jobs. We will summarize what you can expect to pay if you choose to take advantage of the benefits packages offered.

Equipment - Truck driving jobs require that you spend a lot of time in your truck. So, as your home away from home, you will want to have good equipment. Some companies offer assigned equipment, while others do not. Some trucking companies rotate their old trucks out of the fleet every 3 years while others choose to hold on to the trucks a little longer.

Summary - we will offer a summary of each company's truck driving opportunities. We will indicate whether the company is a good place for entry level truck drivers or better suited for the veteran.

Truck driving jobs come in all sorts of varieties. But, the most important decision each driver faces is the choice of carrier. Choosing a company that will allow you to grow and advance in your trucking career in a way that you feel comfortable with will be the single most important ingredient to your enjoyment in trucking. Everything else is in your hands - your work ethic, your professionalism, your adherence to company policies, and your interaction with operations and customers.

We hope you will find the information useful and we look forward to any feedback you may have. Also, let us know if you are curious about a certain trucking company. We will let you know if we plan to review their truck driving jobs and their opportunities.

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