Getting Started as a Truck Driver

This article was last updated Sunday, January 29, 2012

How do you Get Started as a Truck Driver?

It looks like the need for new truck drivers is huge and only going to increase over the coming years. Sounds like a great time to start a trucking carreer, but how do you get the necessary training to get started? The greatest problem is how to get started without any experience. If you already have experience and a CDL license, skip to the next section Finding Trucking Jobs. The rest of this section will concentrate on how to get started in the industry.

Breaking into the Trucking Industry without Driver Training
If you don't want or can't go to trucking school, you can try to work your way up by getting a job driving a small truck or van. Then move up to a step-van or small straight-truck. After awhile, try to get a job driving a small tractor-trailer. Keep trying to move up to bigger and bigger trucks. After a year or two, you will have the experience and training to get an over-the-road, long-haul driving job. However, bear in mind that this is the toughest way to break into truck driving.

Attending a Truck Driving School
The quicker and better route is to go to a truck driving school. As you look into driver training, check out the school's reputation and qualifications. Make sure the instructors have experience themselves as a truck driver and as a trainer. If you can afford it, don't pinch pennies here because graduating from a quality, accredited truck driving school can definitely give you a step up with the carriers and actually get you behind the wheel of a truck a lot faster.

If you can't afford to pay for trucking school yourself, there are still truck driver training possibilities available to you. Many of the best schools offer financial aid for aspiring truckers. Some of the trucking companies offer their own driver training program or may offer to pay for schooling under certain conditions. Keep in mind that you will have to work for that company for an agreed upon amount of time or until the traiing cost is recouped from your pay. If you can pay for the truck driver training yourself, you will have more job opportunities since you will not have to work for the company that provided the financial aid, but this can be a great way to get started and that is by far better than not doing anything at all.

Whichever way you decide to go, and it is highly reccomended that you attend an accredited driving school, make sure that you maintain a clean driving record. Traffic violations can disqualify you at many companies. Needless to say, a DUI conviction can disqualify you at almost any trucking company and may prevent you from getting your CDL.

To find trucking schools in your area, visit the trucking school sites by searching truck driving school, trucking schools or CDL school in any search engine. To find companies willing to pay for your training, check out the trucker job sites and note that you need training so that they will send your application only to companies that will accept no experience and/or provide or pay for training.