Your career training    resource.

Career Explorer: Your Career. Your Way.

Job descriptions: Transportation & trucking

Do you envision yourself on the open road? Does traveling appeal to you? Then consider enrolling in trucking school.

CDL training can open the door to a variety of employment opportunities. You may work for a transportation company or become an independent contractor. Truck drivers are very important to the U.S. shipping system and are a constant presence on our nation’s interstates and highways. Companies of all sorts rely heavily upon trucks to deliver their goods.

Before departure, truckers are expected to check fluid levels on their rigs. They also inspect the trucks to ensure all the equipment is in working order. Drivers are expected to report equipment that is inoperable, missing or loaded improperly to the company dispatcher. Once on the road, drivers must be alert so that they can avoid accidents.

The duration of runs varies with the type of cargo being transported. Local drivers may provide daily service and have specified routes, while other drivers make long, interstate deliveries. A driver’s responsibilities and assignments may change according to vehicle size and the type of loads being transported. On particularly long runs that last days or weeks, truckers often travel with a partner. One individual is expected to drive while the other person rests in a sleeper compartment in the back of the cab.

Technology is changing the way truck drivers operate. Satellites and the Global Positioning System (GPS) connect many trucks with their company headquarters. Important information such as weather reports, directions, mechanical issues and delivery schedules can be easily communicated through these technologies.

Although truck drivers spend the majority of their time behind the wheel, many also have to load or unload their cargo. This is very common amongst drivers who haul specialty cargo because they may be the only one at the destination who is certified to handle the materials.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for truckers are expected to be favorable due to the demand for experienced drivers and the numerous job openings available in the transportation industry. Truck driving schools are located throughout the United States. Contact one of our featured institutions for more information!