Last Updated: March 3rd, 2022 by
Truck drivers play a critical role in the economy by driving items from one location to another. Some operate within the same state while others go coast-to-coast just to send food items, supplies, and much more. If you want to know how to become a truck driver, this guide is for you!
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to follow this career path. Firstly, we’ll look at what the job is like, what it takes to get there, and the rewards you can expect once you’re in the role.
Let’s get started.
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Job Description
Before we discuss how to become a truck driver, let’s take a brief look at this job’s description.
The job of a truck driver is nothing like your average 9-to-5. Instead, this unique role requires you to work independently, spending most of your time alone driving long distances. Your job might keep you within your state or a particular region. Others will take you inter-state and even cross-country.
Before, during, and after your drive, you’re also responsible for inspecting and monitoring your trailer. Firstly, the vehicle you drive will be carrying lots of valuable cargo that must be locked up safely. Besides that, driving long distances also puts a lot of demand on its mechanical parts.
Ongoing maintenance is also a critical part of your job. You have to keep your trailer in the best shape possible to not break down and delay your trips. For the same reason, you must also fix any problems you find while they’re small before they become a more significant issue while you’re on the road.
Lastly, whenever you arrive at a pickup or dropoff point, you must inspect and secure all your cargo. That includes using the correct straps and making sure that none of it moves while your trailer is moving. By doing that, you keep your vehicle balanced and prevent accidents from happening.
Read More: How to Become a Truck Dispatcher. Not sure if truck driving is for you? Learn what it takes to keep the nation moving.
What Does an Average Day for a Truck Driver Look Like?
The average day can be quite challenging both physically and mentally. Plus, you’ll spend long periods on the road, which can make it quite difficult for people with families.
So, as you explore how to become a truck driver, it’s also crucial to understand that an average day for you will look like this:
Early Preparations
If you’re wanting to learn how to become a truck driver, you should know that a trucker’s day starts quite early, especially since you’re likely to have a long day on the road ahead of you.
Firstly, you must prepare all of the supplies you’ll need for the day. That includes personal supplies (e.g. food, water, toiletries, etc.) and supplies for your truck (e.g. fuel).
Once your vehicle is ready, you can plan what routes you’ll take to arrive at your destination. Again, proper planning is essential to ensure that you get there on time. It’s also to ensure that you only take roads that accommodate heavy vehicles like yours.
Picking Up and Dropping Off
When your truck is ready, it’s time to pick up or drop off the trailer you’ll be hauling to the destination. Here, it’s essential to understand that the trailer won’t always be packed full of cargo.
Sometimes, drivers like you are asked to transport empty trailers that will only be loaded once at the destination.
Still, all of it is part of the job. Whether the trailer is full or empty, your responsibility is to haul it to wherever it needs to be.
Loading and Unloading
You’ll have to load and unload cargo at every stop along the journey.
Depending on the type of cargo that you’re moving, you might have to load and unload it yourself. Or, some locations might have workers who will worry about those tasks instead.
Whatever the case, your responsibility is to oversee these tasks and ensure the cargo is secured for safety reasons.
For example, unsecured cargo could shift while you’re taking a turn out on the highway. You could lose control of the vehicle and get into a terrible road accident when that happens.
Besides that, you must also ensure loading and unloading goes smoothly to avoid any damage to the trailer or your truck.
On the Road
Most of your day will be spent on the road, where you must follow all laws and regulations that apply to heavy vehicles like yours. But, at the same time, you’ll be navigating your way to the destination following the most efficient routes possible.
Efficient driving is crucial because you must deliver the trailer and its cargo on time. Any delays could cost you a penalty and result in you earning less.
No matter how far your destination might be, some laws stop you from driving too long.
For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has stringent rules on how long you should drive before you must take a break. They state that you can only drive a maximum of 11 hours on the road when transporting cargo.
Parking and Post-Trip Responsibilities
Many of your work trips will likely last overnight, especially with the compulsory limit on driving hours mentioned above. So when the day ends, and you must stop, you’ll need to find a good place to park your truck and trailer.
Then, you can also sort out any paperwork and other post-trip responsibilities, like:
- Truck, trailer, and cargo inspections
- Preparing shipping documentation
- Taking a break and sleeping, as required by the FMCSA
How to Become a Truck Driver: Process
The process for how to become a truck driver is pretty straightforward. So, you and other truckers you meet on the road will likely have gone through the same steps.
Unlike other career paths, learning how to become a truck driver focuses more on hands-on training than classroom learning.
Here’s what that process will look like for you:
1. Get a High School Diploma or Equivalent
Most employers only require you to have a High School Diploma or something equivalent. There’s no expectation of a higher academic qualification like a college degree.
This is a great path to consider if you’re wondering how to become a truck driver and want to jump into the workforce.
2. Join a Truck Driving School
Plenty of drivers choose to sign up for training courses offered by truck driving schools. In most cases, these are standalone schools that only teach the skills needed for truck driving.
You can also find the same courses offered by community colleges in some parts.
Through these courses, you’ll learn everything you need to know about trucks and other heavy vehicles. But, more importantly, they’ll teach you to drive them in different situations like on highways and on busy streets.
These courses usually last 3-6 months and will award you with a certificate once you’re finished.
3. Get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
If you want to learn how to become a truck driver full time, you’ll also need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) if your driving takes you cross-country.
All long-haul drivers require a CDL, though the requirements can differ from state to state. So, you’ll need to refer to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see what conditions apply to you.
4. On-the-Job Training
You’ll receive on-the-job training that your employer will provide to you. This process typically takes a few weeks as they assign a senior driver to mentor you through the process.
The training also helps you understand the standard procedures you’ll follow to transport whatever type of cargo they usually handle.
5. Specialize (Additional Training and Certification)
Some types of cargo require drivers who have specialized training or certification. You can also choose to specialize in niche areas of trucking like hauling hazardous materials or waste and hauling oversized cargo.
Read More: Temp Service Jobs. If learning how to become a truck driver doesn’t seem like a good fit, these flexible careers might be.
Are You Suited for a Truck Driver Career? Skills, Credentials, Tools and Technology
Learning how to become a truck driver goes beyond just learning how to operate a truck.
Besides that, you must also have or be willing to develop the necessary abilities and proficiencies, like:
Personality and Skills
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) points out that you should have excellent hand-eye coordination, physical health, and visual abilities for this line of work.
Driving a truck requires you to maneuver both the truck and the trailer it’s hauling. That’s why hand-eye coordination plays a crucial role, as it allows you to move the truck in and out of tight spaces.
Besides that, long hours on the road can be quite taxing on your body. Therefore, having and maintaining good physical health will make your job much more manageable.
Lastly, having good visual abilities also helps you spot dangers while driving and react in time to prevent a nasty accident on the road.
Credentials and Proficiencies
According to O*NET Online, you must be proficient in truck mechanics, transportation, and public safety for this type of work.
As you learn how to become a truck driver, you’ll slowly start to see the truck as an extension of yourself. So, having a deep understanding of truck mechanics is crucial. That’s especially true when you need to perform minor repairs on the road without access to a mechanic.
Besides that, understanding transportation also gives you a big-picture understanding of how your work fits into the larger scheme of things.
Lastly, understanding public safety allows you to do your work in the safest way possible while minimizing the risk to other people.
How Does a Truck Driver Find Work?
After learning how to become a truck driver, you must then learn how to find work as one.
To make your job search as efficient as possible, focus your applications on companies in industries that hire truckers the most.
According to the BLS, industries that hire the most truckers include:
- Truck transportation companies
- Wholesale merchant companies
- Warehousing and storage companies
Check your local area for those companies, then browse their website for current job openings. You can also contact them directly and submit your resume for current or future openings.
What’s the Average Salary of a Truck Driver?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), truckers earn an average of $48,710 a year, which may or may not be a make or break deal for those wondering how to become a truck driver.
The top 90th percentile of truck drivers has an average salary of $69,480, while the bottom 10th percentile earns $30,660 instead.
The BLS also finds that the 5 states where truckers earn the most on average are:
- Alaska ($59,700 a year)
- District of Columbia ($55,360 a year)
- New York ($55,280 a year)
- Wyoming ($54,990 a year)
- North Dakota ($54,550 a year)
As a trucker, you have plenty of strategies to increase your earning potential. Two methods you can use are:
- Choose a higher-paying industry: Plenty of different industries require truck drivers, and some pay more than others. The BLS points out that the top 3 highest-paying industries for people in this line of work are:
- The movie industry
- The electric power industry
- Other pipeline transportation (e.g. gas, water, etc.)
- Specialize: You can also choose to specialize in one or more niches like moving oversized loads, driving on ice roads, and even moving hazardous materials. By specializing, you’ll make yourself stand out among other drivers.
Truck Driver Job Growth
If you’re still curious as to how to become a truck driver, you’ll be glad to know that the outlook for this career is stable.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that this sector will grow by 6% between 2020 and 2030. They consider that to be a growth rate that’s ‘as fast as average’ compared to other parts of the economy.
Top 3 Similar Occupations
As you learn how to become a truck driver from this guide, you might find that some parts of the job appeal to you while others don’t.
You can also consider similar occupations like:
1. Local Delivery Truck Driver
As a delivery truck driver, working involves moving items within a smaller area, like your town or city. You’ll deliver packages to offices and homes, and you’ll be done by the end of the day. Unlike truck driving, there’s little overnight work involved.
2. Passenger Vehicle Drivers
If you prefer to drive people instead of cargo, you can also work as a passenger vehicle driver instead. Buses, for example, transport people within a city, region, or even cross-country.
3. Water Transportation Workers
Some people prefer being on the water instead of on the road. If that’s the case, you should know that cargo moves over water between cities, states, and even countries.
Read More: Automotive Jobs. Not sure if learning how to become a truck driver is right for you? Explore various automotive jobs and what it takes to begin your career.
Professional Associations
American Trucking Associations (ATA)
Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
The National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC)
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)
Top Truck Driving Schools
Still want to learn how to become a truck driver? Here are the top truck driving schools:
Sunny Truck Driving School, New York
California Truck Driving Academy, California