If you really enjoy driving and you have been toying with an idea of becoming a professional truck driver, you came to the right place. A career in truck driving is an excellent option for anyone who enjoys not only work flexibility but also a chance to make a decent income.
That being said, it’s important to mention that becoming a professional truck driver is not something you just apply for. Instead, you will need to meet certain requirements first, in order to be able to apply for the position. With that in mind, here are some of the requirements you will need to meet before choosing truck driving as your career path.
Proper education
In order to become a truck driver, you won’t need to obtain any type of formal education in terms of a college degree or anything similar. However, having a high school diploma is usually required. Instead, you will be required to obtain a certificate of completion from any type of truck driving school.
Since being able to operate and navigate a truck is quite different from driving your SUV, you will need to learn how to do it properly.
Also, keep in mind that many companies will offer training programs to newly-hired truck drivers that are specific to their company so you will also need to pass those. All in all, having a CDL is a good precursor for becoming a professional truck driver, but you will need to obtain a couple of additional certificates as well.
Record requirements
As a truck driver, you will most commonly be hired to transport goods for a third-party logistics company. Sometimes, those goods will be extremely valuable, and the logistics company will want to ensure they are safe and being handled properly.
So, it’s quite understandable why trucking companies will look into your records. Having a clean criminal record and a good driving record will certainly work in your favor.
More often than not, trucking companies will run a background check on their drivers to ensure that there’s nothing that can potentially interfere or raise flags. So, if you are hoping to become a professional truck driver make sure that your records are clean.
Physical requirements
Even though it may not seem so, truck driving can be quite challenging physically. Long hours spent sitting, irregular meal breaks and trying to stay focused for long periods of time can really take a toll on one’s health, both physically and mentally.
That’s why truck drivers are required to be of optimal general health. That’s why truck drivers are usually required to take a DOT physical, where medical professionals will test their sight, hearing and their overall health levels.
On top of that, do know that sometimes you will need to load and unload the cargo yourself, so make sure you don’t have any medical conditions that could be a potential concern. Finally, since you will be spending most of your workdays on your own, make sure your mental health won’t be compromised by this either.
Age restrictions
With everything previously mentioned, it really comes as no surprise that there are certain age-restrictions when it comes to becoming a truck driver. Simply put, according to DOT, anyone over the age of 18 can become a truck driver.
However, drivers that are under the age of 21 will be required to remain within the state when driving commercial load. On top of that, drivers under the age of 21 won’t be hired to transport any type of hazardous material. It also goes without saying that the majority of trucking companies retain the right to have their specific age requirements when hiring.
Additionally, it’s important to note that there are no age restrictions when it comes to the maximum age cap. However, even though you can’t be too old to become a truck driver, you still need to be physically able to do your job safely and properly. Since working as a truck driver requires endurance and stamina, among other things, you need to be honest with yourself and assess whether or not that’s right job for you.
Therefore, even though becoming a truck driver is not challenging, you will still need to obtain some additional certificates and meet some of these basic requirements. On top of that, do know that this job is not easy and it can potentially take a toll on both your physical and mental health, so keep that in mind as well. Contact us for more information or just fill out the application!
