Trucks and truck drivers are a constant presence on US highways and interstates. A person on even the shortest drive is likely to pass by a truck or two transporting goods, and even merchandise that travels by ship, train, or airplane travels on a truck for some phase of the journey to the customer. Because trucks are such a major part of industry, truck driving jobs are important positions and good paying jobs.
Truck drivers have many responsibilities. Before leaving the terminal or warehouse, truck drivers make routine checks of their vehicles, checking fuel and oil levels. They inspect the tires, brakes, and windshield wipers, and make sure that all safety equipment is loaded and functional. They report any problems to the dispatcher, who keeps track of all of these small details. Once they start driving, truck drivers must be constantly alert. They can see quite a long distance along the highway because they sit higher than most other vehicles. This puts them in a position of power on the road, as well as heightened responsibility.
Delivery requirements vary according to the type of merchandise, the driving assignment, and the final destination. Local drivers provide daily service along a specific route, while other drivers must make intercity and interstate deliveries based on specific orders. The driver's responsibilities and salary change based on the time spent on the road, the type of product transported, and vehicle size.
New technologies are revolutionizing the way that truck drivers work. Long distance truck drivers now have satellites and global positioning systems (GPS) to link them with company headquarters. Information, directions, and weather reports can be delivered to the truck instantly no matter where it is. Company headquarters can track the truck's location, fuel consumption, and engine performance. Inventory tracking equipment is now computerized, allowing the producer, warehouse, and customer to all check in on the products on the road. New technology is making truck driving an easier job, as seats become more comfortable, trucks have better ventilation, and cabs are better designed.
Some routes are very, very long, and these usually employ heavy truck or tractor-trailer drivers. On the longest routes, companies will hire two drivers for sleeper runs. Sleeper runs can last from days to weeks and the truck only stops for fuel, food, loading and unloading. The drivers switch off driving and sleeping in the truck.
Truck driving can be a demanding job. Some self-employed long-distance truck drivers who own and operate their own trucks spend most of the year away from home. The government restricts long distance drivers to no more than 60 hours a week as well as requiring 10 hours rest for every 11 hours driving. Many drivers work very close to this max time permitted because they are compensated according to the number of miles or hours they've put in. The difficulty of truck driving is well compensated, which makes it a popular job. In 2002, there were 3.2 million truck drivers.
Many trucking operations have higher standards than the Federal minimum requirements. Drivers are often required to be at least 22 years old, able to lift heavy objects, and have 3-5 years driving experience. Companies want to hire good drivers who work efficiently and cost less to insure. They like drivers who have enrolled in driver-training courses. New drivers might begin on small straight trucks and graduate to larger trucks and finally to tractor-trailers. A few truck drivers advance high enough to become dispatchers, managers, or traffic workers.
Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers earned an average of $16 per hour in 2002. The highest 10% of this group earned more than $24 an hour. Driving a truck is a great career with lots of room for promotion and advancement. After moving all the way up the chain of promotion within a company, truck drivers often strike out on their own and open successful transport businesses.
Air Liquide is a major international company and is also a private carrier. This means it maintains its own truck fleet and hires truck drivers. Because Air Liquide is such successful company, driving jobs with Air Liquide are stable, well supported positions. Solo Air Liquide drivers can expect to be home 80-90% of the time and make between $50,000 and $70,000 a year depending on the type of run and work performance. Air Liquide provides benefits like medical and life insurance, performance benefits, ample vacation time, flexible spending accounts, and quarterly profit sharing. As Air Liquide grows and succeeds, so do each of its employees! If you are interested in a truck driving job, you should apply here to drive for Air Liquide. Find out more about Air Liquide!
![]() Google News Updated : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:50:04 GMT McCain, Obama discuss possible Treasury secretary picks - Reuters
Reuters - NASHVILLE, Oct 7 (Reuters) - US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both mentioned investor Warren Buffett as a possible pick for Treasury secretary on Tuesday but both spoke in only general terms about the qualities they would seek ... McCain, Obama agree that Buffett could lead US treasury (Extra) A Strong eBay, A Strong Government Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:06:13 GMT Tehran confirms seizure of aircraft - Financial Times
Financial Times - By Thomas Escritt in Budapest and Najmeh Bozorgmehr in,Tehran Iran yesterday revealed that it had forced a Hungarian-crewed transport aircraft to land after it strayed into the Islamic republic's airspace at the end of last month. Iran Withdraws Claim on US Plane US Military: Tense Encounters With Iran Occur Almost Daily Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:08:03 GMT ACORN office in Vegas raided in voter-fraud probe - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada authorities seized records Tuesday from a group they accused of submitting fraudulent voter-registration forms - including for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys. Non-Profit Raided In Voter Fraud Probe ACORN Nevada Office Raided Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:01:25 GMT Nashville Knockout: What To Watch For - Washington Post
Washington Post - Riggers lift scaffolding into place in front of the Curb Events event site at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, as preparations continue for Tuesday's presidential debate. WRAPUP 5-Obama, McCain battle over taxes, economy Presidential debate: minute by minute Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:08:13 GMT With Outlook Dim, Bernanke Says Fed May Act on Rates - New York Times
New York Times - By DAVID STOUT and EDMUND L. ANDREWS WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, said on Tuesday that the turmoil in the financial markets had increased the risk to overall growth and that federal regulators would have to be vigilant to ... Video: Bernanke signals possible rate cut Bernanke hints at possible interest rate cut Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:40:38 GMT Uneasy calm in Bangkok after day of deadly riots - Reuters
Reuters - BANGKOK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - An uneasy calm settled over the Thai capital on Wednesday after the worst street violence in 16 years the day before, when two people died and nearly 400 were injured in clashes between police and anti-government protesters. Video: Raw Video: Tear Gas Fired at Thai Protestors Two dead as Thai troops battle protesters Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:18:31 GMT Study Shows Weak Circumcision/HIV Benefit for Gay/Bisexual Men - WebMD
WebMD - By Daniel J. DeNoon Oct. 7, 2008 -- Circumcision offers little HIV protection to gay/bisexual men -- overall. But it might cut HIV risk in predominantly insertive partners. Circumcision HIV impact doubted AIDS Benefits of Circumcision Are Limited, Study Finds Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:24:47 GMT Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... The old adages: "It's not what you know, but who... Read More Mention "outsourcing" to a programmer and you may as well... Read More When we lose our jobs, no matter the reason, we... Read More The champagne corks have been popping to celebrate your promotion.... Read More Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are... Read More There are few things more frustrating for a headhunter than... Read More Are you searching for a job? Here are some tips... Read More Inherent within the human spirit is a desire for fulfillment,... Read More It takes between seven and seventeen seconds for a person... Read More You've been through an employer's interview process successfully and have... Read More Employers and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes for every position... Read More It Is Up To YouSo, you want to get promoted.... Read More Being dissatisfied with your job is a cycle, a very... Read More An Employment Screening OutlinePolicy DevelopmentA policy of Factual Employment Screening;... Read More Your personal appearance is a critical component of that all-important... Read More This article is based on the following book:How... Read More (Des Moines, Iowa - February 2, 2005) Behaving appropriately during... Read More Unemployment is depressing: financial pressures stress you out, looking for... Read More The subject is constantly in the news and may decide... Read More Want to break into the petite modeling industry but wondering... Read More Your resume (or curriculum vitae), combined with the cover letter,... Read More The best cover letters are 'one-page wonders.' Why? Because they... Read More Sometime last summer I decided to host a pity party... Read More At every talk I give, I ask the audience to... Read More All Presidential candidates (before and after) make all kinds of... Read More
Adsense
websites
Working as a Knowledge Worker in the Information Age
How I Joined the Outsourcing Revolution
Losing Your Job Without Losing Yourself
So You Want A Promotion - What Do You Need To Do To Get the Champagne Corks Popping?
How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview
Getting Started: 5 Things You Need to Decide When You Get Started with a Job Search
Using Journal to Support Your Job Search
Are You Living Your Career Dreams?
Job Interviews: What to Wear
Negotiate Better Job Offers with This Twelve-Point Checklist
Resumes Arent Important - They are Everything When it Comes to Getting an Interview
How To Get Promoted - Take Control Of Your Destiny!
Dissatisfied With Your job? Stop Trying To Go It Alone!
Factual Employment Screening Part 2
Job Interviews: Plan Your Appearance to Make a Great First Impression
Book Summary: How to Work with Just About Anyone
Make A Lasting Impression With Interview Etiquette
Job Hunting Tips: Staying Active
Vocational Experts 7 Proposals to Solve the Unemployment Problem
Do You Have What it Takes to be a Successful Petite Model?
10 Tips For Writing A Winning Resume
How To Write The Perfect Cover Letter: Be Brief--And Be Gone!
Whiners Need Not Apply
Have Enough Money to Change Careers - Five Key Steps
Prepare for YOUR Future now --
In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are... Read More
Many years ago searching for a federal job was a... Read More
The New Year is a great time to analyze your... Read More
Our lives are tranquil and smooth so seldom, it seems.... Read More
Interning is about more than earning money during summer break.... Read More
1. Select the right type of recruitment partnerDetermine whether you... Read More
An epidemic of white-collar financial crime has resulted in the... Read More
Looking for a new job, whether it is with a... Read More
Chuck was the best of the twenty-four candidates. Still, he... Read More
Mystery shopping is an excellent way to make extra money.... Read More
Have you ever tried to contact a past employer only... Read More
Do you dislike making decisions and avoid the challenge whenever... Read More
There is one little practice that is vital to generating... Read More
What makes for a rich career? It is more than... Read More
You can learn a lot about how to do something... Read More
Today, everyone is looking for the secret to business success.... Read More
Moving into a new job always involves some degree of... Read More
Is your current or most recent job truly what you... Read More
The evolution of technology is changing the traditional methods for... Read More
Strange jobs? How do we define that? Years ago I... Read More
Are you in this situation? You and your boss just... Read More
My experience working with thousands of leaders world wide for... Read More
1. Do you REALLY know what you want?2. Do you... Read More
Family is the driving force of our lives. You need... Read More
Do these things Include your full name - don't... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |