Category Archives: Advice and Opinions

Factors Affecting Job Placement In The Trucking Industry

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Tanya Bons

There are a lot of factors that will affect your ability to find job placement in the trucking industry. Not only the obvious ones like employment history, criminal history, and driving record, but also things like your physical health and credit scores. Let’s take a look at em…. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

4 Mistakes That Cause Students To Fail CDL Training & How They Can Be Prevented

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Driver Solutions

While the majority of students have success during their time at CDL training, there are others who come up short in their quest to become a professional truck driver. So, why do they fail? And how can it be prevented? Let’s take a look at the four most common mistakes and how to prevent them. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Passing The CDL Test, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Tanya Bons

Getting pre-hires is an important step when beginning your truck driving career. They can verify that companies are willing to hire you, and give you numerous choices when it comes to choosing the company you’d like to work for. Here we’ll go into detail about what a pre-hire is, and how to go about getting them. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Finding The Right Truck Driving Job, Trucking Company Orientation | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Sleep Apnea Witch Hunt

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Tanya Bons

Sleep apnea is the biggest buzz in the trucking industry right now. But is this justified? Or is it yet another money-making scheme for the insurance companies and medical industry? The statistics are fuzzy. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Current State of the Trucking Industry, The Economy and Politics, Trucker Health | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

5 Advantages of Company Sponsored CDL Programs vs. Private Truck Driving Schools

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Driver Solutions

There are a number of advantages to company-sponsored CDL training over private truck driving schools. Here we’ll talk a little bit about the differences between the two, and why you may find that company-sponsored training is the better way to go. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Choosing A Truck Driving School, Free CDL Training | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Driver Trainer’s Perspective: Some Helpful Tips And Observations For Student Drivers

Posted on November 14, 2011 by TruckerMike

Being a CDL instructor or a driver trainer is a very unique experience. I learned more about truck driving over the past 4 weeks than I have in the previous three years combined. It was an amazing learning experience for me. Here are some of the highlights I learned along the way. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CDL Testing Day From A Trainers Perspective

Posted on November 9, 2011 by TruckerMike

After four weeks on the road training my student, it was time to sit back nervously and watch as he attempted to take the CDL exam to get his license. My student and I were extremely nervous, and it didn’t go quite as well as we had hoped. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, Passing The CDL Test, Stories of the Road, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

OTR Training- Week 1: Patience and Perseverance

Posted on October 25, 2011 by lucky13

Becoming a solo truck driver is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, and I have done some hard things. CDL training will test you in so many ways, and it will go far beyond your ability to drive a truck. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Learning How To Back Up A Big Truck

Posted on October 20, 2011 by TruckerMike

Learning how to back up a big rig is no easy task, but a few basic tips and tricks can really speed up the process! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Passing The CDL Test, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Financing Options For Truck Driving School

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Tanya Bons

There are numerous options for funding your tuition to truck driving school and in this article Tonya Bons of Spirit CDL Training lists a whole slew of options including grants, student loans, tuition reimbursement, and many more. Continue reading →

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What’s A Tough Day Like In The Trucking World?

Posted on October 17, 2011 by JakeCat22

So what’s a tough day like in the life of a trucker? Well, if you survive it, it’s not as bad as it could have been. But let me tell ya, sometimes everything seems to go wrong! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road, truck driving lifestyle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My First Time Driving A Rig Through The Big Apple

Posted on October 14, 2011 by JakeCat22

I have only been on the road driving solo for a short time now and I had to go through New York City recently for the first time in a big rig – and what an adventure it was! Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, First Solo Months On The Road, Great Stories, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trying To Teach Proper Driver Forecasting

Posted on September 27, 2011 by TruckerMike

I’m about three weeks into being a CDL instructor now, working one on one on the road with my student. There’s a lot I can teach, but there’s a lot that can only come with experience. Forecasting what may happen next is one of the most important aspects of safe driving, and one of the toughest to teach a new driver. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, On The Road In Training, Safe Driving Tips, Stories of the Road, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Types of Trainers and How to Deal With Them

Posted on September 22, 2011 by TruckerMike

While I’ve only been a CDL instructor for about a week now, I’ve already noticed that my training techniques could easily go in several different directions. Here are some of the more common personalities and traits a trainer might have, and how to deal with them as a student or new driver. Continue reading →

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Working My Way Back Into The Trucking Industry

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Rhonda

In October 2009 I posted a story called “I Want Out Of Trucking As A Driver”. The story was written with a lot of emotion, so I’d like to take the time to reflect on that a bit, and discuss the challenges I’ve faced trying to get back into the trucking industry. Continue reading →

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Current State of the Trucking Industry, Great Stories, Women In Trucking | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment