How do you become a professional driver?

How to Become a Professional Truck Driver

• Answer:

  Becoming a professional truck driver provides you with job security because there will always be items that need to be delivered, and trucks can reach nearly any destination. You will also begin with a relatively good starting salary. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professional truck drivers begin their careers with a starting salary of about $38,000. You'll also have the opportunity to travel the country from coast to coast. Apply to a truck driving school to get on track for your new career. Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You'll Need 4-6 Weeks of Training Instructions Research truck driving schools. They offer the education and training necessary to become a licensed professional truck driver. There are three types of truck driving schools: private schools, public schools (such as community colleges and vocational/technical schools) and commercial carrier training centers. The schools offer much better training than the commercial carriers, which are only interested in "cranking out" as many drivers as possible. Look for a school whose courses are certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute, which is the only organization that currently certifies truck driving courses. It is the courses, not the school, that are certified. This certification ensures that you will be getting top-quality training. Choose a truck driving training program and enroll. You can finish the necessary courses in weeks. The courses should take at least three weeks. The Professional Truck Driver Institute requires a minimum of 104 hours of classroom training, and a minimum of 44 hours of actual driving time for certification. At 40 hours per week, it should take a minimum of 3 1/2 weeks to finish a certified training program. Get your commercial driver's license. The truck driving school you attend is all the preparation you will need to get ready to take your state's CDL exams, both the written and the performance exam. This license will be your key to starting your career as a professional truck driver. Find a trucking company near you. Find companies on job websites or on television ads. Trucking companies are always looking for qualified drivers, which you will be after you finish truck driver school and earn your CDL. Tips & Warnings Tip: The more time you can get to learn and practice, the more successful you will become as a professional truck driver. Tip: Even with the longer programs, you could begin your new career in as little as four to six weeks. Warning: Some programs claim to offer "full training" in as little as 14 days. These programs are usually referred to as "CDL Mills." They are less interested in training you to become a truck driver, and more interested in making the most money by "training" the most students. Avoid these programs if you are seriously interested in becoming a professional truck driver.