Trucking landed among the 10 careers spotlighted in the 2016 CareerCast.com Jobs Rated report on Most Dangerous Jobs . In the days since, a new column on the Department of Labor's blog underscores the hazards of working on the roadways. Per the DoL: Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers also have the highest number of nonfatal injuries and illnesses that require days off from work across all occupations (a total of 55,710 in 2014). They rank 6th among the top occupations with highest incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work, after police officers and sheriffs, ...
Obtaining a job as a truck driver can be an extremely rewarding experience, whether you want to improve your current job or simply wish to try something new. Likely, you are interested in the opportunity to work an independent job. There are many ways to establish a successful career in the trucking industry. First, you should consider the lifestyle, requiring you to spend many days, or even weeks away from home. Will the salary be sufficient to support your family, and how will they cope with your absence. How To Break Into the Trucking Industry There are many ways that ...
Steady hiring in the trucking industry has lifted jobs to numbers near pre-recession heights. Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the February 2015 gain of almost 3,000 new hires brings trucking to a total of 1.45 million employed workers. Return from the doldrums of the recession has been consistent from month to month since 2010, save occasional dips. Trucking's employment gains parallel hiring in construction and retail. That bodes well for prospects into the summer, as the spring and summer months typically lead to a bounce in construction employment. And, as retailers meet demand of traveling shoppers, another ...
Who wants to drive a truck for a living? Those who are seriously interested have to first ask themselves: “Am I aware of all that is needed to be successful at driving a truck?” Most people can be successful when driving a truck for a living, but they have to make sure that they do it for the right reasons. In addition, they need to be fully aware of what it will mean to them and their families. The majority of people driving a truck, as well as the ones who are considering this career right now, are doing it ...
Traveling about 55 miles per hour on a Nevada highway, the big rig's driver looked like The Thinker, with his elbow on the arm rest and his hand on his chin. No hands on the steering wheel, no feet on the pedals. Mark Alvick was in "highway pilot" mode, the wheel moving this way and that as if a ghost were at the helm. Daimler Trucks North America LLC says its "Inspiration" truck, the first self-driving semi-truck to be licensed to roll on public roads — in this case any highway or interstate in Nevada — is the future of ...
Careers in transport are diverse but as a truck driver, you are the backbone of the industry. Remember, the company needs to fill the position as much as you want the job! Using the following interviewing techniques will help you land the job. First, we’ll review the most important interview skills you need for any job opportunity. Then we’ll look at issues specific to truck driving interviews. Dress Professionally You’re marketing yourself as a “product” and the interviewer must decide whether to “buy.” For careers in transport and while you’re out on the road, you can pretty much dress as ...
If you’ve thought about a career in trucking, you’ve undoubtedly encountered advertisements offering free training to drivers who sign on with the company. For those without experience driving, or limited or out-of-date experience, the prospect of earning a CDL license without spending a dime — and a guaranteed job — sounds like an unbeatable deal. Before you commit yourself to training, though, it’s important to read the fine print . Otherwise, you might be surprised to learn that free doesn’t always mean free. CDL Training Options Most employers, regardless of industry, offer some type of on-the-job training. That usually means ...
A bill signed into law this autumn makes trucking career opportunities more accessible for active duty military. The Military Commercial Driver’s License Act of 2012 eases state restrictions on trucking licenses for servicemen and women, a gesture that should help alleviate two pinches on the job market. Service persons can apply experience gained driving military vehicles to the state requirements for licensing. The act also grants access to the transient military population holding residency in one state, but stationed in another. A release from the American Forces Press Service explains the benefits of the act. “Because they move frequently, service ...
Trucking job opportunities are expected to be in high demand, the result of cargo shipping needed in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy. Freight volumes rose 3.6% in November as a result of shipments into the Eastern states ravaged by the late October/early November “super-storm.” The DAT North American Freight Index reports the jump is the first from October to November since 1996. The increase in demand expedites the process for lesser experienced flatbed trucking jobs. TruckingUnlimited.com says both immediate and high volumes of need for flatbed shipments are prompting companies like Crst Malone to give newer drivers positions. Demand ...
Trucking closed out 2012 with 4,200 new jobs added, bringing the year’s total of new hires in the field to 67,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reports. New hires in the truck transportation subsector rebounded late in the year after dipping during the summer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports increased hiring every month since August. Christopher S. Rugaber of the Associated Press writes : “The stable hiring last month shows that employers didn't panic during the high-stakes talks between Congress and the White House over tax increases and spending cuts that weren't resolved until New Year's. That's an ...