What A Load Of ... - Mike Dobson

Non-truckers often don't stop and think about the trucking industry and the many trucking companies that help keep the economy going. Without those big rigs hauling various loads, whether it is gasoline, office supplies or grocery items, this country would be at a stand still. Where do you think the gasoline you pump comes from? What about that package of diapers you are buying your child? How did they get on the shelves? The answer: a big truck delivers all of that and much more!

Let's talk about the various types of trucks that you might encounter on the roads. Each one is different because the loads of cargo are different. For example, the same truck that delivers your favorite ice cream brand to the grocery store will not be the same type of truck that delivers office supplies to the local discount store. By the same token, you will have a trucking company that might specialize in the delivery of one certain type of product over the other.

Possibly one of the most hair-raising trucks on the road today is the one that hauls vehicles. You know those car carriers where you just KNOW that one of those vehicles are going to come loose and fly off onto the hood of your car! Or how about the tanker trucks that haul fuel or other hazardous products like fertilizers and chemicals? Truckers who drive these types of trucks probably have nerves of steel. Not only do they have to worry about safety precautions for their own loads they are hauling, but they also have to keep an eye on some of the crazy drivers on the road and always be on the lookout for potential hazards.

Some trucking companies specifically handle household or office moving. Think of those families that sell their homes and move half way across the country. Truckers that handle that type of load not only have to be careful of these household items due to insurance issues but also have to have great customer service skills to handle these stressed out people making this move.

There are many other types of trucks on the roads today. Flatbed carriers, refrigerated trucks, dry van carriers and even those trucks that carry livestock. Non-truckers encounter some of these every day on the roads. We all should be cognizant of the fact that these trucking companies and truckers literally drive the economy. They have a tough load to carry and without them doing their jobs, we could not do our own.

Mike Dobson is the creator of the web's most comprehensive trucking resource. Learn about trucking jobs and trucking companies today.