Over the past ten years, our society has continued shifting towards the digital age. E-books and online newspapers are proof that our society is slowly moving away from the age of pencil and paper. The truck driving industry is no exception to this digital evolution. Modern products such as GPS have greatly enhanced the industry for truck drivers. Truck driver recruiting is the area in which the impact of the Internet is most evident. While recruitment used to be done through newspaper classifieds and door-to-door sales pitches, recruiters are now turning to the Internet to find new drivers. Truck driver recruiters are using three main online methods in an attempt to recruit new drivers: banner advertising, application databases, and company web sites.

Banner advertising refers to the large banners found at the top, bottom, and side of most web sites. These banners are designed by a company wishing to advertise, and then placed on relevant web sites with high traffic. The responsibility of the truck driver recruiter is to use banner advertising as effectively as possible within the limits of the budget. This requires the recruiter to design or have a banner created, research and identify relevant sites with high traffic, and then negotiate with the owners of the web sites the price of running the banner ad campaign.

The second method that a recruiter can use to find potential truck drivers online is creating a database of applications. By using this method, recruiters can build an extensive file of drivers that are available for hire. This allows the company to instantly hire new drivers when positions become available. The recruiter is responsible for setting up the database. They recruiter should be the person to create the application itself, which requires determining what questions are most important to ask a potential driver. The recruiter is also responsible for managing and organizing the applications once they are received.

A database of applications can work well in conjunction with a company web site. Most recruiters create a company web site to provide potential drivers with details and information about the company. The recruiter should create a site that is simple and easy to use, but provides enough information to address all the questions a potential driver might have. Topics such as salary, working hours, company procedures, and equipment information are all examples of important information that should be included on the web site. By combining a banner ad campaign, an application database, and a company web site, a recruiter can use the Internet to effectively find potential truck drivers.

In order for a person to obtain a CDL (commercial driver license) there are several requirements which need to be met. First of all one must show that they are fully capable of safely handling and drive a commercial size truck and while in training a trainee has to be accompanied by a licensed driver at all times until they receive their own. Thereafter exams have to be passed on rules and regulations. A CDL license can not be obtained in any state if your driver license has been revoked or suspended in another.

Most state regulations set their minimum age at 18 years of age for drivers who operate within the state’s boundaries while the age for interstate driving has been set for 21 years old and at this point one must be able to pass a physical examination. It is required that in order to obtain a CDL one must have at least a 70 degree field of vision in each eye and also a 20/40 corrected or uncorrected, nor can one be colorblind. Hearing must also be good and one has to be able to hear a whisper from a distance of at least 5 feet away, with or without hearing aid.

Other things that are required in order to obtain a CDL license is that a driver must have good blood pressure and have normal use of arms and legs. Any use of controlled substances must be prescribed by a medical doctor and according to Federal regulations all drivers will be tested for alcohol and drug use prior to employment and these regulations also call for random testing while on duty. People suffering from diabetes which is insulin controlled as well as people with epilepsy may not be able to get a CDL.

Although these are the minimum federal standards for requiring a CDL license, which are often lower than standards required by private institutions, many companies have their own rules and the minimum age for a CDL is set at 22 years of age. Companies also often demand that their truckers have to be able to do heavy lifting and in many7 cases they want people who already have 3-5 years experience. Having graduated from high school is often a plus when being hired and receiving your CDL training through a big company.

Most people who have just completed their CDL training do get regular drivers positions almost immediately while a few will get substitute positions, filling in for drivers who are on leave or are sick. Eventually these will get assigned their own routes as these become available. In the beginning not all new drivers will be put behind the wheel of a big truck but rather given light truck until they prove themselves capable of handling heavy tractor trailers by demonstrating good driving skills.

Each day thousands of trucks are to be found on America’s highways, transporting cargo ranging from automobiles to food. Although many goods are transported by train, ship or airplane, almost all of these will still be transported part of the way by trucks. A truck driver’s job is to provide the only means of door to door delivery and pick up for companies and as consumer demands are growing so is the need for truck drivers.

When deciding to take a truck driver job you need to know that not all jobs require you to drive cross country and be away from home all the time. Just as many local drivers are needed to transport cargo around the city or state something which will allow you to spend time at home although delivery times may vary depending on the merchandise. Local truck drivers generally follow a daily consistent schedule while these may vary from day to day if driving long distance.

By taking a truck driver job there are also some other responsibilities that falls upon you besides driving back and forth, loading and unloading. According to the US Department of Transportation all truck drivers are required to make a full report on the condition of the vehicle after each shift or run. Reports need to be made regarding the circumstances of any type of accident you may have been involved in and the nature of the trip. You will also have to make a general inspection of your vehicle before leaving your terminal or a warehouse.

Local truck drivers are also at times called sales workers because their responsibilities are more than just drivers. They may collect payments, take new orders, arrange the goods in the store, and act as sales representatives as well as providing a variety of other services. These truck drivers’ duties depend largely on the policies of their employer, the particular industry in which they work and to the extent in which they are directly involved in sales.

When it comes to advancements within the truck driving business opportunities are generally limited to achieving routes with better schedules and better working conditions along with better pay. If someone drives locally they can get promoted to a long distance truck driver job especially if already working for a company that already has long distance routes. Other truck drivers reach positions such as managers, dispatchers and delivery planners, just to name a few. Experienced truckers also go into business for themselves by buying their own trucks.

Within the trucking industry there are many different types of truck drivers needed for all types of trucks. Right now the most needed truck drivers are those able and qualified to drive tank trucks. Tank trucks are vehicles used to transport liquid and gaseous cargo over roads and highways. Their storage tanks may be detachable from the truck itself or they may be permanent. Driving a tank truck require more training than diving a regular truck.

Back a few years ago more than 5000 tank trucks were parked because tank truck fleets could not find enough qualified drivers. It is estimated that a minimum of 50 000 tank truck drivers will be needed within the next 6 years just to keep up with current levels of driver attrition in the tank truck industry. The shortage of drivers may even become larger if new changes that are proposed are adopted as written.

One of the main reasons for the shortage of tank truck drivers is due to retirement. Many of the best drivers are aging out of the industry and there are several factors contributing to it being difficult to recruit new tank truck drivers. Some of the factors as with all trucking is the fact that a driver has to spend too much time away from home, truckers often feel that their delivery schedules are unrealistic. In times of low unemployment people feel that they have plenty of options with fewer headaches.

At one point tank truck drivers walked away from their jobs because they felt their wages was not adequately compensated for the amount of skills and knowledge it took to operate such a rig in a safe, professional manner. Drivers also felt that their working conditions were unacceptable, with unnecessary delays at pick up or delivery points. There was also no flexibility in trip scheduling and some felt they were being “worked to death”.

Although many of theses issues are being dealt with but there are still some requirements which prevent many from seeking tank truck driver jobs. Most tank truck companies has set a minimum age limit for drivers to 23-25 years old and in addition to this many fleets require 3 to 5 years of truck driving experience before hiring someone to drive a tank truck. By this time most truck drivers have found the place and company they want to stay with, their pay is good and they have some years of seniority within the company.

For people with some years of trucking experience that perhaps walked away from the trucking industry and now want to get back in, tank truck jobs are plentiful and although there is always room for improvement, the tank truck industry are doing what they can in order to improve working conditions for their truck drivers.

If you are tired of your current job and looking for some new and exiting employment opportunities, then becoming a truck driver may be just what you are looking for. Within the trucking industry the unemployment rate is very low. As a matter of fact the need for truck drivers are increasing every year and the employment opportunities within this field are plentiful and without truck drivers this country would literally come to a stand still.

Most people do not realize that 78% of what they consume have at one time or another been handled by a truck and there is today over 3 million truck drivers in this country. This just goes to show the importance of truck drivers, not only the big rigs that are seen along our highways every day but also the smaller trucks making deliveries across towns and cities daily. When taking this alone into consideration it is obviously the importance truck drivers have in today’s society.

Being employed as a truck driver does not necessarily mean that you are hauling goods all over the country although this is what most people associate truck driving with. Imagine your city without public transportation. That’s right, bus drivers are also considered truck drivers and are required a commercial license in order to drive the bus you ride every day. Many people who travel also count on buses to take them across country to their destination. Tourism also relies heavily on busses to take people on tours.

Then there is the group of truck drivers that each and every day transports the most precious cargo of all in this country, the school bus drivers. Every day millions of children are boarding school busses and depending on them to get them safe to their destination. Although these are not required to obtain a heavy truck license they do need to obtain a CDL and go through training in order to be able to drive these vehicles.

There are only three groups of truck drivers who are exempt from having to obtain a CDL in their line of work. Farmers transporting equipment to and from their farms do not need to have a commercial license as long as the truck is 40 000 pounds or less. Fire fighters and law enforcement personnel driving emergency vehicles are also exempt providing they have completed the Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention Program (EVAP) and carry a card to prove this.

As you can see there are many employment opportunities within the trucking industry besides the jobs which are commonly associated with truck driving. Like in any other industry some jobs may disappear with technology but also many new employment areas will develop. The trucking industry is fast growing and so is the need for new employers.

Having decided on a career as a Professional truck driver you should know, before enrolling in truck driving school, that there are several different types of truck drivers. Although you will be made aware of this during your training you may come to realize you have enrolled in the wrong program for what type of truck you would like to drive. Any type of truck driver has its own advantages as well as disadvantages and it is important to know about this beforehand.When most people think of truck drivers they have a picture in their mind of all the hundreds of truckers seen daily along America’s highways and interstates. These are called long distance divers or long hauls. Drivers of these type trucks do at times take trips which bring then back home the same day but for the most parts drivers of heavy trucks do stay on the road for long periods of time, something which is not suitable for everyone. Local drivers on the other hand, has more frequent stops during the day, interact more with clients and are able to go home after their shift.

Tow truck drivers are much needed not only within the trucking industry but also in many other areas of employment. A tow truck is a vehicle used to carry disabled motor vehicles of the road after a breakdown or collision. They are also used to impound vehicles which are illegally parked on public roads or private property. Tow trucks are at times called wreckers and there are 3 commonly used types of tow trucks.A hook and chain tow truck is one commonly used when hauling vehicles away after accidents. This tow truck is also known as a sling because a chain is looped around the vehicles body or axle. The reason it is not used as much for breakdowns is because it may damage the bumper of the car it is towing although it is often used for cars with steel bumpers or if it is missing one or two of the front or back tires.

The wheel –lift is basically an upgraded version of the above mentioned tow truck. It has a large metal yoke that can be fitted under the rear or front tires to cradle them. In order for the car to be pulled it is hoisted clear of the ground by a hydraulic hoist. The tow truck most seen it probably the flatbed also known as a rollback. The back of this type tow truck has a bed that can be inclined and lowered to the ground allowing a car to get on it by its own power or be dragged onto it by a winch.

Tow truck drivers are often employed by private businesses although there are many tow truck drivers who are working for other institutions like the road authority who controls certain stretches of highways. There are also other businesses that do employ tow truck drivers for the sole purpose of towing their own vehicles. For example, the various bus companies, police and fire department, all of these own and operate large fleets of vehicles and therefore own their own tow trucks driven by their drivers.

As far as a special license for driving a tow truck, there is none but you do need to have current valid license without any restrictions on it plus a clean record. What you need in addition to become a tow truck driver is a certificate from the TTA. In order to be approved there are several criteria that has to be met. These can vary some from state to state but as long as you can meet the requirements there are nothing standing in your way when applying for a tow truck job.

The truck driving industry is a rapidly growing field. The need for goods shipped across the nation keeps growing. As the consumer economy grows, the truck driving industry will grow at an equal or greater rate. Along with this growth, there are many new opportunities for employment. There are four main areas of employment within the truck driving industry: drivers, owner operators, mechanics, and recruiters.

Drivers
Truck drivers are the core of the industry. Truck drivers are responsible for delivering goods ranging from building supplies to electronics all across the country. Along with delivering goods, drivers are responsible for the care of their trucks and keeping other drivers on the roads safe. Before leaving the warehouse, drivers must check their fuel, inspect their vehicle, and check to make sure they’re carrying a proper cargo load. Once on the road, it is important for truck drivers to be attentive and alert at all times. This can become a difficult task due to the strenuous distances and schedules that truck drivers endure. To become a truck driver, it is necessary to obtain a commercial driver’s license, which requires a clean driving record and then passing a written and driving test.

Owner Operator
An owner operator is the boss of his/her truck driving business. The owner operator is normally someone who started out as a truck driver, and worked up the power ladder to the position of the owner operator. The owner operator owns the truck(s) of the truck driving industry. Therefore, the owner operator is concerned with the management side of the industry, such as finances, payroll, and securing products to ship. There are no specific requirements to become an owner operator, but a keen sense of the trucking industry and financial stability are almost always characteristics of owner operators.

Mechanics
Although the truck driver is capable of performing many simple maintenance tasks on the trucks, a mechanic is essential when bigger problems arise. Whether its an issue with the engine or hydraulics, mechanics must be able to identify and solve all problems that arise with the trucks. When a truck breaks down on the highway, it is normally the mechanic’s duty to go and aid the driver in fixing the truck. Obviously, anyone interested in this job needs to be familiar with every aspect of big trucks, along with being physically capable of performing labor.

Recruiters
Recruiters are responsible for finding new drivers for the company. They employ many methods to accomplish this goal. Classified ads and door to door visits were the most popular recruiting techniques for many years. However, with the technological advances that have taken placed over the last decade, recruiters are now turning to the Internet to find new drivers. Recruiters can advertise on websites, create a database for potential driver applications, or create a company website that provides potential employees with detailed information about the company’s policies, wages, etc. Therefore, it is important to be able to use the Internet effectively if you’re planning on becoming a recruiter. A successful recruiter is defined as someone who is able to find new drivers as they are needed, and is also able to consistently promote the company with a positive image.