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Congratulations! You made it through trucking school and are now on the final leg of your journey towards a rewarding career. Do not run out of steam just yet! The written portion of your CDL exam is crucial. Let's take a look at 5 must-know tips to pass your written CDL exam the first time.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to physically and mentally prepare for the written exam is to take practice exams. This will give you a feel for the real deal. Start out by taking the practice exams as "open book" tests. Work your way up to giving yourself a time limit. Finally, before the big day, take a practice exam as if it is the real thing without notes or help of any kind. This will help you to gauge how well you actually know the material.

Understand Instead of Memorize

Memorizing is an extremely useful tool, and will certainly help you to a certain extent on the written exam. However, the key to being fully prepared is to understand the material and not just memorize it. The reason for this is if you truly understand the material. No matter how the question is asked on the exam, you will arrive at the correct answer. If you only memorize the material, an alternate wording on the exam can very well throw you and lead to an incorrect answer.

Real World Applications

For concepts, you are having difficulty with, come up with real-world scenarios. By doing so, instead of just being words on a page or random facts, you can create an association between the information and how it applies to the real world. Real world applications make the information more relevant to your life.

Utilize Study Strategies

Do not be afraid to utilize study strategies for the material you struggle with. Common examples of study strategies include flashcards, songs, rhymes, a phrase, or just about anything else that you can create an association with that will help you remember and understand the material come test time.

Be Fresh and Alert

Last but not least, the night before the exam is not the night to stay up late watching a movie or hanging with your buddies. Go to bed at a decent hour and get a good night's sleep. Eat a filling breakfast on the morning of the exam. A good night's sleep and a good breakfast will ensure you are fresh and alert to take your exam.   There is no substitute for hard work and putting in the time to make your dreams come true. Following these 5 tips will ensure you are well prepared for your written CDL exam and on your way to a fulfilling career. Contact us today for more information on our CDL training program!

*This blog was originally written in 2015 and has been updated according to industry standards.

As we close in on the year 2019, we are looking ahead to see what the new year holds for the trucking industry. Overall, the trucking industry can expect the coming year to be very positive. Consumer demand is slated to grow modestly and there are plenty of job vacancies for people who want to go to school to get their CDL and get into driving careers. The positive outlook on the industry is believed to extend even beyond 2019 according to many experts.

Consumer Demand Continues to Climb

As we head into 2019, the overall consumer demand in the US is predicted to climb another 3-4% as the economy continues to recover from the 2008 financial crisis. Considering that about 70% of all consumer goods that travel throughout the US do so by truck, that means that there will be plenty of work for truck drivers. This promotes job security for those already in the industry and opportunities for those looking to join the industry.

There Are Trucking Jobs to Fill

The trucking industry has ~52,000 job vacancies throughout the US with more scheduled to become available throughout 2019. The vast amount of open jobs in the industry means that there are job opportunities for everyone no matter where you may live. Job security once you earn your CDL is strong. The trucking industry is growing at a rapid rate and needing more drivers than ever just to meet consumer demand.

Automatic Trucks Will Not Be Taking Jobs Away From Drivers Any Time Soon

Automatic trucks are not going to be a threat to truck driver's job security any time in the near future. While these trucks are being developed, they are only in their "infancy" stages of development. The first models are very unlikely to be able to drive themselves completely. Drivers will still have to do the more challenging maneuvers such as backing in and out of tight spaces or entering and exiting busy highways or interstates manually. It is likely to be a couple of generations or more of truck drivers that come and go before automatic trucks are even a remote possibility of being a reality. This means that drivers jobs are safe.

Truck Drivers are Bringing Home the Bacon

Truck drivers are in high demand and they generally have a fairly high standard of living. Most truck drivers will begin as OTR drivers that make an average of $45,000+ per year. This is comparable or higher than many other jobs that require a college education. In addition to a modest starting salary, most companies offer drivers a few weeks of paid vacation each year, complete health benefits, and retirement benefits as well. Many large truck carriers are also willing to help a driver pay back their student debt or loans. Some offer $100 to $400 per month, above and beyond their regular wages and compensation, to pay back debts.

Beginning a New Career

As the industry has many job vacancies and a steadily increasing consumer demand, now is a great time to get your CDL license. The New Year is a great time to get started in a great new career. For more information on starting classes and getting your CDL contact Advanced Career Institute for further assistance.

As we head into a new year, many experts are turning their attention to what one can expect from the welding industry as we move into 2019. Overall, the industry experts weighing in say that the upcoming year looks quite bright for those who are interested in training to become welders. Consumer demand is increasing at a modest rate and that means that the demand for welders will continue to grow. Pay and compensation have stayed quite high and the standard of living a welder can have is relatively competitive with many other professions of today.

A Look Into Welding's Future: 2019 and Beyond

As we ring in 2019, welders are making a median entry-level wage of about $40,000+ per year which averages out to about $19-20 per hour. The field is also accessible to most Americans as the requirements to begin the work is either a high school diploma or GED. Most welding jobs do not have previous work or experience requirements in order to be qualified to begin the job. As of 2016, there are about 404,800 welders working throughout the US. In 2019, the field is expected to grow at a steady rate of about 6%. This is about the average growth rates for most occupations in the US right now. That rate is anticipated to set the pace until at least 2026, which is for the foreseeable future. Ultimately, this means that the welding industry will add about 22,500 jobs between the years 2016 and 2026.

How Do I Get Into Welding As a Career?

Most welding programs, such as the one offered by the Advanced Career Institute, accept applicants directly out of high school or those who have received their GED (or equivalent) to apply to our program. Most programs can be completed within about 9 months from their start date and there are no previous requirements for experience in welding to be accepted into our program. Students who complete the ACI Welding Training program are able to meet the qualifications to join the American Welding Society (AWS). The AWS sets the standards for training for welders entering the industry and seeking employment in the welding field. ACI's program will qualify students for a variety of positions including horizontal, vertical, overhead, & 6G positions. This will prepare workers for a career in a variety of different areas of welding including welding for the purposes of agriculture, construction, structural metals manufacturing, machinery equipment repair/maintenance, and commercial purposes, just to name a few fields that students will be eligible to get work in.

A Positive Outlook

As the industry continues to grow at a modest rate, coming to the Advanced Career Institute can give students a head start to a great new career. Through Welding Training, students will earn their certification to join the American Welding Society (AWS) and get started in this lucrative field. Welding comes with competitive pay and full benefits. For more information on getting your American Welding Society (AWS) certification so that you can get a job in this excited, growing field, feel free to contact us Advanced Career Institute for further assistance!

As the temperatures plummet and winter sets in, many truck drivers are beginning to consider how they will prepare their truck so they can continue on working through the winter months. It's important that truck drivers are aware of how they can prepare their truck for winter to ensure they are able to handle anything the cold, frigid temperatures and ice, sleet, and snow throw at them. The following are 6 great tips to help keep truck drivers safe on the road and to help them travel safely even through the winter season's most treacherous stretches:

Keep Necessities on Hand

Should you break down on the side of the road, you should consider packing an emergency kit to help you through until someone can help you. A kit should include warm clothing and several blankets (in case you have to wait a while). Consider a supply of a couple gallons of fresh drinking water as well as portable snacks such as dried fruit, cereal bars, etc. to help keep you fed until someone can come to assist you.

Prepare An Emergency Supply Kit for Your Truck

Beyond clothes and food, other basic emergency supplies will help in the case you should break down while driving. Consider keeping extra jumper cables, flares (to help cars see you), extra flashlights, etc. in case you happen to need these items if you were to break down while on the road.

Give Your Truck an Extra Inspection

Checking over all the minor maintenance items that tend to go wrong with your truck before the winter starts can queue you if anything looks like it might be needing attention before the coldest weather arrives. Checking things like your batteries and filters and seeing if your tires need to be rotated or if your oil needs changed can help ensure that your vehicle is primed for winter. These basic steps can help you avoid a breakdown or lessen your chances of a breakdown out in the frigid cold if these things are up-to-date and in working order. Nothing is a guarantee but it's safer than not checking at all.

Check Your Antifreeze

Ensuring that you have the appropriate amount and mixture of antifreeze in your vehicle is vital when it comes to clearing windshields and windows in inclement weather. Be sure to check your antifreeze levels regularly as you use the fluid throughout the winter. Driving with ice or other precipitation particles on your windshield is not only dangerous to you but others as well. If you need to defrost till you can see move over to the side of the road and wait before driving with an obstructed view.

Have Your Breaks & Tire Traction Checked

Your breaks will need to be in their best shape in order to help you stop on snow-covered or icy roads. You will also need to ensure your tire traction is up to snuff in order to allow your vehicle to grip the road and keep you in your land during treacherous conditions.

Consider Snow Chains

Consider packing snow chains in your truck if your vehicle and the types of tires you have done well with them. Many companies will have policies on using snow chains and on when to use or not use them. Understand that appropriate conditions in which to use your snow chains for safety and which situations might be made more dangerous by snow chains rather than made safer.   These are a few great things to keep in mind when you are driving during the winter months. While you can't prepare for everything, ensuring you check over your truck each time you drive, you will ensure that you catch preventable breakdowns. In the case that rare breakdowns do happen in the cold weather, if you have emergency supplies on hand you will be prepared to wait it out until someone can come to your aid. For more information on keeping your truck safe and running smoothly as possible during the winter months, please feel free to contact us.

On Monday, November 26th, Advanced Career Instituted in the 73rd Annual Visalia Candy Cane Lane Parade. This was ACI's fifth straight year participating in the parade with their float. The Candy Cane Lane Parade was again a huge success this year with well over 30,000 people lining the Visalia streets and over 100 entries including local school’s marching bands, festive floats that have been created by local businesses and organizations. The theme of this year’s parade was “Through the Eye's of a Child” and ACI’s float certainly depicted a Toyland theme. ACI's float this year was designed by Alondra Valentin and students and staff at ACI. All worked hard like Santa’s elves in making sure the float finished in time for the annual parade. Advanced Career Institute's float sponsored Toys for Tots & Gifts for Seniors. This is the tenth year ACI has sponsored these causes. On Saturday, December 1st as well as Sunday, December 2nd, ACI will be having their 10th Annual Community Service event for the holidays. They will be collecting toys for young children as well as basic need gifts for less fortunate senior citizens. The annual event will take place at the A&W located at 2611 S Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA 93277. ACI will be collecting new unwrapped toys for children, in addition to new blankets, slippers, socks, basic need items for the elderly from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm both day. All gifts collected will be distributed in our local area only and not sent to other areas. Last year we were able to collect and distribute toys to several hundred children and basic need gifts for “shut in” senior citizens in our community. Individuals requesting gifts, know of a child or senior citizen in need, would like to donate, or volunteer their time can call (559) 651-1978 for more information. Advanced Career Institute would like to thank the community for continuing to support this event for the last ten years!

Thankful for You

This year, Advanced Career Institute has much to be thankful for. From our staff to our awesome instructors, we have had such an incredible year working with so many bright and intelligent men and women. To our current students and graduates, what a year we have had with you! We are so grateful to you for picking Advanced for your CDL Training and Welding School. Each one of you has such a special place in our hearts. You are the reason we get up and go to work each morning. We appreciate your confidence in us as a school and trusting us to be a part of reaching your career goals. We are excited to continue working with our new students and the students to come and helping them achieve their trucking and welding goals! From our own David Bither, "As a company, we are thankful for our entire ACI family (Students/Staff/Partners), who make our mission a reality each and every day.  Thanks to each of you for your hard work and effort.  We are truly blessed to provide an opportunity for individuals to better themselves.  This helps affect the individuals, their families, and our communities in a positive way.  To be a part of this journey and a small part of that ripple in the water is a true blessing.  Thank you to all who make this possible." We would love to help you get started with your CDL or welding training and make 2019 the year you begin a new career. If you are interested in getting started with ACI, contact us today. Again, from the entire Advanced Career Institute family, we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!