Truck Driving An Introduction To Professional Trucking

What You Should Know Before You Go to Truck Driving School

Last updated 2022-01-10 | 4.7

- What a career as a professional truck driver actually entails
- minimum qualifications necessary to get started
- necessary skills and abilities
- common mistakes and how to avoid them
- common myths and misconceptions vs reality
- professionalism and what it means
- how to ask the right questions to the right people and filter the results realistically
- The main objective of this course is to give the student enough information to help decide whether or not a career in trucking is something they wish to continue researching or whether to stop considering becoming a truck driver and to pursue other opportunities instead. Too many people spend thousands of dollars and months of time only to eventually figure out that trucking was the wrong choice for them from day one. Unfortunately they did not have the information in this course and had to find out the hard
- expensive and painful way.
- Make an Informed decision on whether to continue researching trucking as a career - or decide that its's not right for you at this time in your life.

What you'll learn

What a career as a professional truck driver actually entails

minimum qualifications necessary to get started

necessary skills and abilities

common mistakes and how to avoid them

common myths and misconceptions vs reality

professionalism and what it means

how to ask the right questions to the right people and filter the results realistically

The main objective of this course is to give the student enough information to help decide whether or not a career in trucking is something they wish to continue researching or whether to stop considering becoming a truck driver and to pursue other opportunities instead. Too many people spend thousands of dollars and months of time only to eventually figure out that trucking was the wrong choice for them from day one. Unfortunately they did not have the information in this course and had to find out the hard

expensive and painful way.

Make an Informed decision on whether to continue researching trucking as a career - or decide that its's not right for you at this time in your life.

If you are taking the course for other interests you will have a better idea of what entry level truck drivers face and must deal with when getting started in the trucking industry.

* Requirements

* There are no prerequisites for this course - However there are many mandatory qualifications to become a professional truck driver in interstate commerce. You need to be over 21
* have an acceptable driving record
* and be able to pass both a medical exam for a DOT physical and a DOT pre employment drug test for starters and meet many other regulatory requirements as well as insurance company requirements and finally trucking company internal criteria as well - However ANYONE can take this course.
* This is a basic overview course designed for people looking to better understand the realities of entry level truck driving.

Description

Every year thousands of hopeful people enter the trucking industry excited to start their new careers as truck drivers. Every years thousands of broken disillusioned and angry people also leave the industry within their first few months.

Some barely make it even a few weeks!

This course is designed to give you a good idea of what to expect as a new entry level truck driver.

It is a no nonsense serious look at why so many people repeatedly fail in trucking so quickly - why this happens again and again - and more importantly what you can do to make sure it doesn't happen to YOU!

The hard cold truth is that very few of the people just starting out in trucking have anywhere near enough accurate, realistic and pertinent information to understand what it really is that they are about to get themselves into.

Neither do most family members or others who will also be affected in many different ways too by their loved one choosing a career in trucking. Everyone that is going to be affected needs to have an accurate expectation of what is coming and be prepared to deal with it properly as it happens.

This course is designed to help you do just that.

If you complete this course you will have a very good understanding of what a career in trucking is and what it is not. That way whatever you decide - you will be making an informed decision with eyes wide open.

If you complete this course you will be better prepared to begin a career as a professional truck driver if you decide that is the right path for you.

You will know how to continue your research and where to get the rest of the information you need to make important decisions that will help you begin to build a successful career in trucking and a better life for yourself and those you care most about.

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in the possibility of becoming a professional truck driver or working with truck drivers in other positions within or outside of the transportation industry.
For Example: If you are thinking about going to truck driving school, are interested in owning a trucking related business and want a better understanding of what truck drivers deal with in their careers so you can better provide your products and services to them, say for example as a freight broker, or a truck accessory dealer (Chrome Shop etc.)

Course content

5 sections • 46 lectures

The Job and Lifestyle of Trucking 11 lectures

Introduction to The Course and Section 1 Overview Preview 02:58

Realistic Pay Expectations Preview 05:01

Time Away From Home and Time At Home Preview 04:26

Other Reasons Why People Quit and How to Avoid Them Preview 03:52

How to Successfully Prepare For Your New Lifestyle Preview 04:04

Driver Qualifications Preview 06:47

Driver Qualifications

There are many limitations and specifications on requirements that limit who can qualify for a CDL and drive in interstate commerce.

The best place to get this information is directly from the source itself - the FMCSR's or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations - which is where you will find the individual requirements and interpretive guidelines as well.

Before you invest too much time and money toward getting a CDL and becoming a truck driver it would be a very good idea to carefully read and study these regulations and be sure you meet all requirements.

In years gone by I have met several drivers who somehow got into and graduated from truck driving schools (and had the debt to prove it) but who were not employable because they did not meet requirements.

One that comes to mind was an insulin dependent diabetic.

Another was a 20 year old a few months shy of his 21st birthday. For interstate commerce you must be 21 or older - NOT ALMOST 21 - in his case its was a minor irritation and he just had to wait a few months and do a refresher class at his school.

In the case of the diabetic - he was unable to start his new career and it was a devastating blow to his plans, not to mention a massive expense.

These are just two examples - there are may other potential issues.

Please read carefully through the regulations and be sure you meet all minimum requirements. If you have any doubts discuss your concerns with the doctor you select to do your DOT physical and with the truck driving school you are thinking of attending, and with any motor carrier you are looking at applying to as well.

Finally - if you still don't have the answer you need ask the FMCSA directly for clarification.

Initial Training Overview – Truck Driving School and Beyond Preview 13:47

Selecting Interviewing and Applying to Your First Trucking Company Preview 03:47

Trucking Company Road Training Preview 04:28

Equipment Types and Considerations Preview 02:26

Section 1 Summary Preview 03:25

Training Completion and Running Solo 13 lectures

Section 2 Overview Preview 01:17

Career Planning and Long Term Goals Preview 08:10

What to Expect During Truck Driving School Preview 09:10

Road Training With Your First Company Preview 03:30

Managing Your First Year After Training Preview 04:29

Developing Good Driving and Personal Habits Preview 02:39

Log Book Procedures and Trip Planning Preview 05:24

Tactics to Develop Practical Skills Faster Preview 04:10

How You Can Earn More As a Rolling Recruiter Preview 06:27

Effective Communication Skills Preview 06:21

Section 2 Summary – What We Covered… Preview 01:25

Section 2 Quiz

General Knowledge of Entry Level Trucking

Section 2 Quiz

Information and understanding what trucking is and what it isn't will help you make the decision to proceed or change course and find another career if trucking isn't the right career for you.

If it is the right path for you then having the right information will help you be able to have a much better start to your new career than most - and become more successful faster than otherwise possible!

Lets see what you have learned so far...

Living Better On The Road 10 lectures

Section 3 Overview Preview 02:02

The Job and The Lifestyle of Trucking Preview 03:17

Meal Planning – How to Save Money and Eat Better Preview 03:37

Exercise Techniques That Actually Work On and Off The Road Preview 07:36

Making Good use of your time Preview 02:52

Sleeping Considerations Preview 03:05

Stress Management and Recreation Preview 04:46

Setting Up Your Truck for Maximum Productivity and Comfort Preview 07:45

Section 3 Summary and Information Available to You in Course Resources Preview 00:41

Self Quiz Preview 01:02

Section 4 - Safety and Risk Management 11 lectures

Section 4 Overview Preview 04:49

Understanding the FMCSR’s Preview 11:02

Additional Risks You Need to Know About Preview 02:54

Broken Bodies and Destroyed Lives and What You Can Do Before It’s Too Late Preview 02:54

WARNING! This lecture and the following lecture may be upsetting to you. WARNING!

I am going to tell you about real events where people have been killed - and other events where people have been seriously injured and where property was destroyed or damaged. I have changed the names and locations and enough details to protect the innocent and the guilty involved - however these are all real life tragedies.

IF YOU EVEN THINK YOU MAY BE UPSET THEN SKIP This Lecture and also SKIP THE FOLLOWING LECTURE - The Dead Drivers Club !

The Dead Driver's Club - And What You Can Do to Avoid Becoming A Member Preview 19:43

Know Your Rights, Responsibilities and Risks Preview 02:54

Defensive Safe Driving Procedures and Considerations Preview 03:03

Summary of This Course - Key Points and Where You Can Get Additional Information Preview 03:28

Congratulations on Finishing This Course! Now It's Decision Time ... Preview 03:41

Call 3 Trucking Companies

Get some practice talking to recruiters and gathering information that you will need later in your decision making process. It is essential that you get the right information and to do that you need to ask the right questions and then document the information you get clearly without missing it up.

Getting The Big Picture and Setting Specific Goals

Truck Driving is as much of a Lifestyle as it is a job. Failure to grasp that distinction is a serious mistake that helps end many new careers before they get started good. Knowing what to do then actually doing it makes all the difference...