Employment as a Truck Driver Truck drivers transport everything from milk to automobiles for varying lengths of time and hours of the day. In general, truck drivers are responsible for: Picking up their cargo or "load" from a factory or company loading terminal Inspecting their truck for safety Making sure cargo does not shift during travel Driving cautiously to prevent accidents Completing forms and reports to document what cargo they carry, the condition of their truck and a log of their trip Because drivers often deal directly with the company's customers, they must get along well with people. For jobs as driver-sales workers, employers request the ability to speak well, a neat appearance, self-confidence, initiative, and tact. Employers also look for responsible, self-motivated individuals able to work with little supervision. Each truck driver's responsibilities and work environment will vary, depending on: Size of truck—light (XX tons or less) or trailer Type of cargo—route delivery (e.g., deliver many items to different locations) or transporting one item to one destination Distance traveled Local or short "turnaournds" drivers deliver shipments to nearby sites, pick up another loaded trailer and return to their home on the same day. Local truck drivers may load or unload merchandise at the customer's place of business. Sometimes route drivers have helpers to assist with moving cargo. Example A local route truck driver generally pickup up and deliver goods (e.g., packages) for a particular company (e.g., UPS or Federal Express) to customers, obtain signed receipts and payment merchandise, turn in receipts, money, records of deliveries made, and report any mechanical problems on their trucks. Long distance or long haul drivers have longer runs between many cites that can last a week or more. Longer runs may involve two drivers who "tag team" while driving the load. The federal government requires that long-distance truck drivers complete a report at the end of their trip or shift, which details the condition of the truck and the circumstances of any accidents. Long-distance truck drivers spend most of their working time behind the wheel but may also be required to load or unload their cargo after arriving at the final destination. Example An auto-transport truck driver drives and positions cars on the trailers and head ramps and removes them at the dealerships. A moving van truck driver may pick up or deliver furniture or hire local workers to help them. Work Environment—Truck drivers work in shifts at varying times of the day. They spend a lot of time seated. Some drivers, such as route drivers, frequently leave the truck to deliver merchandise to customers and interact with them to obtain payment and encourage them to continue or increase their business with the drivers' company. Long distance truck drivers travel for extended periods of time (such as 12-hour shifts) alone or with another "tag-team" driver. Many enjoy a sense of freedom you can't get from more traditional jobs. POTENTIAL Employers—Once you have completed training as a truck driver, you will be qualified to work with a variety of employers Trucking companies employ about a third of all truck drivers in the U.S. Another 30 percent work for companies engaged in wholesale or retail trade, such as auto parts stores, oil companies, lumber yards, or distributors of food and grocery products. The remaining truck drivers are distributed across many industries including, construction, manufacturing, and services. Self-Employment as a Truck Driver—Owner-operator truck drivers are truckers who run their own trucking business and contract their services out to other companies or individuals. Less than 1 out of 10 truck drivers are self-employed. Of these, a significant number are owner-operators who either serve a variety of businesses independently or lease their services and trucks to a trucking company. For more information about how to become an owner-operator truck driver visit: Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association 311 R. D. Mize Rd. Grain Valley, MO 64029 (800) 444-5791 or (816) 229-5791 webmaster@ooida.com Layover.com for answers to frequently asked questions about self-employment as a truck driver, articles, and other truck driver business management resources. Union Membership Many truck drivers are members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Some truck drivers employed by companies outside the trucking industry are members of unions representing the plant workers of the companies for which they work. < Truck Driver Table of Contents   Next Topic: Career Ladder > Data Sources: Women truck drivers U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Handbook U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration Women at Work's "Careers in Transportation: A Counselor's Guide to the Best Jobs"     | Home | Contact | Search/Sitemap | User Guides | Events | Internet Guide | Email Lists | Copyright © 1998, Wider Opportunities for Women, All Rights Reserved.