Truck Driver Salary (2020) – Truck Driver Jobs

Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks having a total weight of 26,000 pounds or less for vehicle, passengers, and cargo. Delivery truck drivers usually transport merchandise from a distribution center to businesses and households. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes that sometimes span several states. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following: • Drive long distances • Report any incidents encountered on the road to a dispatcher • Follow all applicable traffic laws • Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers • Inspect their trailers before and after the trip and record any defects they find • Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations • Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate people • Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working order Most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers’ routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes. When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road restrictions that prohibit large trucks. Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip. Some drivers have one or two routes that they drive regularly, and other drivers take many different routes throughout the country. In addition, some drivers have routes that include Mexico or Canada. Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs to minimize downtime. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other drives. Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. Some heavy truck drivers who transport hazardous materials, such as chemical waste, must take special precautions when driving and may carry specialized safety equipment in case of an accident. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them. Some long-haul truck drivers, also called owner-operators, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work. Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically do the following: • Load and unload their cargo • Communicate with customers to determine pickup and delivery needs • Report any incidents they encounter on the road to a dispatcher Most drivers generally receive instructions to go to a delivery location at a particular time, and it is up to them to determine the best route. Other drivers have a regular daily or weekly delivery schedule. All drivers must understand an area’s street grid and know which roads allow trucks and which do not. The following examples are types of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers: Driver/sales workers are delivery drivers who also have sales responsibilities. They recommend new products to businesses and solicit new customers. These drivers may have a regular delivery route and be responsible for adding new clients located along their route. For example, they may make regular deliveries to a hardware store and encourage the store’s manager to offer a new product. Some driver/sales workers use their own vehicles to deliver goods to customers, such as takeout food, and accept payment for those goods. Freelance or independent driver/sales workers may use smartphone apps to find specific delivery jobs. Light truck drivers, often called pickup and delivery or P&D drivers, are the most common type of delivery driver. They drive small trucks or vans from distribution centers to delivery locations. Drivers make deliveries based on a set schedule. Some drivers stop at the distribution center once only, in the morning, and make many stops throughout the day. Others make multiple trips between the distribution center and delivery locations. Some drivers make deliveries from a retail location to customers. __________________________¬¬____________________________________________ In this video, Stephen Hack talks about Truck Driver statistics nationally and across the United States. “How much does a Truck Driver make?” and “How many jobs are there for Truck Drivers” are important questions for people trying to choose between different fields. Truck Drivers are well paid professionals that play a vital role in our society. Career Watch is a career driven Youtube channel devoted to informing people about career trends.