Become A Commercial Truck Driver
By L. Charles Fernandez

If you enjoy life on the road, you can pursue a lucrative career as a truck driver. Believe it or not, it is now possible to earn as much as $100,000 a year driving a commercial rig. In fact, truck driving has become highly popular in the U.S.—more than three million Americans now drive trucks full-time. Still, even if you think driving a truck may be the field for you, you may not know what qualifications are needed in order to secure a high-paying job.

The academic requirements for driving a truck are minimal by today’s educational standards. You simply have to have a high school diploma or a GED. While it still may be possible to obtain a job without a diploma, the sheepskin certainly will give you an advantage when applying for a position.

It’s also important that you maintain a good driving record. If you have had too many speeding tickets or have been convicted of driving under the influence, you may have difficulty obtaining a job. A safe driving record shows that you are a responsible individual who can be entrusted with a large vehicle.

You must also obtain a commercial driver’s license in order to drive a truck of more than 26,000 pounds or a smaller truck that has hazardous materials on board. To obtain your commercial permit, you’ll need to demonstrate that you know the rules of the road and that you can maneuver a big rig. You’ll also need to pass the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations exam administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, you will have to pass vision and hearing tests. You should also be aware of the fact that you’ll have to pass periodic drug testing in order to secure a job and to keep it.

L. Charles Fernandez is the creator of the Six Figure Jobs Blog, a guide to finding six figure jobs in unlikely fields.

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