Tired of your same old routine? Interested in seeing the world and taking pictures from a different vantage point? If so, becoming a trucker might be for you. Of course, it is not as simple as hopping into the first eighteen-wheeler you see and hitting the open road. You need to overcome some challenges before you’re ready for this job.

Licenses and Permits

The first challenge is dealing with your government. In the United States, you will need to pass a physical exam to make sure you are physically fit to drive. You need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) from your state or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

You can’t get one of these licenses until you have passed a written test on safety regulations, including rules on vehicle inspections, driving with loads, and communicating with other drivers. Some states may require additional training or experience before issuing their license; most require drug screening to ensure that you are free from drugs that might impair your driving ability.

Getting work

If you are starting out, you will need to learn different ways of finding shipping work. You can start by finding truck loads of shipping work on various boards.

Tip 1: Know what you’re doing

Before becoming a truck driver, you must know how to drive a commercial vehicle. Suppose are already familiar with this, great! If not, attend a school or take an online course in commercial driving. You’ll need both knowledge and skill if you want to be successful in the long term.

Tip 2: Get to know your vehicle

Once you pass the test, you will be qualified to drive a commercial vehicle. But before you drive out of the testing center, your local DMV will give you a handbook on safety, including information on how to operate the truck and handle emergencies. Study this material and ask the instructor questions if there’s anything you don’t understand.

Tip 3: Take it one step at a time

When starting out in this career, take things one step at a time. That means asking more experienced drivers for advice and not getting behind the wheel until you’re confident of what you’re doing. The last thing that you want is to make mistakes in your very first week on the job.

Safe Driving

Once you’re on the road, remember that safety is your number one priority. Always wear your seatbelt and drive with care. If anything happens, call for help immediately; if there are any other drivers nearby, get their names and phone numbers so you can report to the company later. If a police officer asks for your license, registration, or other documents offered by operating a commercial vehicle, be respectful and cooperate with them.

This is just a sample of the challenges you have to master if you want to become a truck driver. Look over these before you start your career, and use them as a checklist every time you get behind the wheel.

This is a fantastic way to impress potential employers (and make money in the process), and it will give you the experience you need. You can become a professional, trusted driver by understanding the issues above. If safety is your highest concern, then this job might be right for you.

Jane