Trucking

Starting a new career is not the easiest thing in the world, whether you’re fresh out of high school or choosing a new occupation after several years in another job. If you’re choosing trucking as a career, unless you know people in the industry, you might have even more uncertainty. This guide will lead you through the process of becoming a truck driver, starting with helping you decide whether trucking is the preferred path for you, and continuing through earning a CDL and finding the endorsements right for you. Your Guide to Becoming a Truck Driver - Part 1: Is Truck Driving Right For Me? Before leaping right into any ol' CDL school, you should first consider whether it’s even the right choice for you. Do you have the right temperament to sit behind the wheel of a truck all day? Can you handle the physical demands? Trucking is without a doubt a physical profession that takes a toll on your body. The truck subjects you to constant shaking and vibrating. The work days can be exhausting. If the lifestyle of an over-the-road truck driver doesn’t appeal to you, or you don't think you could handle the mental demands of being away from home for extended periods of time, you still have options. Many national and local companies have local or regional routes which can get you home more often than OTR routes. There is also the option of working for a small, local hauling or trucking company. There are trade-offs, of course. While you may earn more money working as an OTR truck driver, you will be home less. Where as you could earn less at a smaller, local company, but be home nightly. Another factor to consider: if you are uncomfortable spending long periods of time alone, you may struggle as an OTR truck driver. Unless you are driving teams, truck drivers spend hours each day by themselves. If you get bored easily and need to be around people, you can still become a truck driver. Just know that you will have to search harder for companies that meet your needs. Luckily, the Career Services department works closely with many national and local trucking companies, and can help place you in a driving position you are comfortable with. Have we scared you away yet? Trucking seems like it would be a simple job, but talk to any trucker and you'll see it's definitely not. But, if you think you can handle the job, read on to the rest of this series. The next articles will help guide you through earning your CDL and finding employment as a truck driver. If you're ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry, the right training makes all the difference. Learn how ACI can help you reach your career goals! Fill out the form you see on this page, or give us a call at 1-877-649-9614. If you'd like more information on the Truck Driver CDL Training Programs available at Advanced Career Institute, please contact us or visit www.advanced.edu/programs Other Articles in This Series: Your Guide to Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver Part 2. Finding the Right School Part 3. CDL Training Part 4: CDL Endorsements

The Department of Transportation (DOT) inspection is one of the most important aspects truck driving safety. Knowing your truck is safe and sound and ready for action gives you peace of mind, but also is a reassurance to everyone else on the road that your truck is fit for duty. Inspections are conducted annually and are a comprehensive look at the truck both inside and out. They are subject to the strict regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can read those regulations here. All truck drivers should be interested and involved in the DOT Inspection. While the regulations state that the motor carrier is responsible for the maintenance of the truck, you should be aware that your neck is on the line if you don't pass the inspection. Do you trust the trucking company’s inspectors to find everything wrong with the truck? As the driver, no one knows the rig better than you. You'll be able to tell when there is a problem with the truck. You can tell by the feel of the truck whether the brakes are off, or many times by the sound of the truck whether there could be a problem with the motor. Be sure in the weeks and days leading up to the inspection that you are up front and vocal about any issues with the truck. Any small problem can cause issues with the inspection report. Make sure you are proactive—write down a list of issues so you don’t forget or overlook something. Remember that your truck is your livelihood. You and the truck form a symbiotic pair—two entities that rely on each other. The proper operation of the truck determines your safety and ability to make a living. If you're ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry, the right training makes all the difference. Learn how ACI can help you reach your career goals! Fill out the form you see on this page, or give us a call at 1-877-649-9614. If you'd like more information on the Training Programs available at Advanced Career Institute, please visit www.advanced.edu/programs

In a previous article about CDL Endorsements, we talked about what they are and what they mean for your career. During Part 4 of the series Your Guide to Becoming a Truck Driver, we will touch briefly on what having different endorsements can mean for your driving career. Additionally, please refer to this guide for a more in-depth look at CDL Endorsements.

What are CDL Endorsements?

Each of our CDL training programs guides students through their written permit exam, air-brake/pre-trip skills, and road exams at the local DMV to obtain a Class A CDL with endorsements. Endorsements could include: Air brakes, Combinations, Doubles-Triples, Tankers, and Hazardous Materials. Per Federal Regulations, additional criteria must be met to be approved for a Hazmat endorsement, meaning you must pass a written test and background check. While you will need to re-take a written test every two years to maintain your Hazmat endorsement, all other endorsements require an initial written test only.

Which Endorsements Should You Get?

With the opportunities that having many endorsements can bring, it may be a good idea for you to consider testing for each of them. The cost is minimal, and the exams are short and simple. Even the HAZMAT endorsement - which is the most difficult to obtain - is a relatively easy process. It’s smart to consider having all of the certifications possible for a number of reasons. First, you increase your employability – meaning you’ll be valuable to more companies! Second, you'll have more flexibility in your job. Third, changing careers will be pretty easy. For example, you would easily be able to switch from truck driver to bus driver. The down side to obtaining endorsements is simply that you are spending time and money up front. You may not use the endorsements right away, or at all. However, it's important to remember that employers will see you as a good job candidate because you took the extra time and made the effort to get endorsements. Ultimately, you are the one who has to decide which endorsements are right for you. If you need help, talk to your instructor to determine your best options. If you're ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry, the right training makes all the difference. Learn how ACI can help you reach your career goals! Fill out the form you see on this page, or give us a call at 1-877-649-9614. If you'd like more information on the Training Programs available at Advanced Career Institute, please visit www.advanced.edu/programs Other Articles in This Series: Your Guide to Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver Part 1: Is Truck Driving Right For Me? Part 2. Finding the Right School Part 3. CDL Training Part 4: CDL Endorsements

In Part 3 of our series on becoming a truck driver, you’ll learn about beginning CDL School. At this point, you've solidified your commitment to becoming a safe and successful truck driver. You've found the right CDL school, got all of your enrollment options figured out, and are anxiously awaiting your start date. This means it's time to get serious about your career training education. During grade school years as a kid, and into high school, many people develop a negative attitude about school. But after graduating, or receiving a GED, many people realize that going back to school means learning specific skills to use in a new career. This is exactly what you are doing by enrolling in a CDL training program.

The CDL Training Mindset

When you are first starting out, don’t underestimate the importance of your truck driving training. Don't overestimate your own skills either. Even if you feel like the material is easy, continue the program. Students who successfully complete their course of study will be awarded an appropriate diploma or certificate, and leave our institution with a quality education. To get to that point, you'll have to work hard to make sure you master the concepts and complete the course. To successfully complete a program students must complete 100% of the program requirements, measured in scheduled hours. Truck driving courses at ACI vary in length, depending on the program course. Refreshers courses are shorter, from 1-3 weeks in length, while other Class A training programs vary between 4-20 weeks.

What to Expect

Each transportation course consists of classroom, lab, range and on the road experience to ensure the best possible training. The driving portion is quite simply where you learn to drive the truck, under an instructor’s supervision. Even for seasoned drivers of commuter vehicles, driving a big truck can be a daunting and difficult experience. After all, maneuvering a big rig is quite a bit different than a normal car. The “written” portion of your truck driver training is the classroom work. In the classroom, students learn the rules and regulations associated with driving a truck. While this may not be as much “fun” as driving the truck, it is equally important.

The Benefits

Once the course is complete, students will have the basic knowledge and practical skills necessary to become a proficient entry-level truck driver. They will be prepared to obtain a Commercial Driver License by taking the CDL exam. But before we get into that, we want to give you the opportunity to take a deep breath before we consider another aspect of CDL training, which can have a big effect on your hire-ability: endorsements (which we talk about in Part 4 of this series!) If you're ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry, the right training makes all the difference. Learn how ACI can help you reach your career goals! Fill out the form you see on this page, or give us a call at 1-877-649-9614. If you'd like more information on the Truck Driver CDL Training Programs available at Advanced Career Institute, please contact us or visit www.advanced.edu/programs Other Articles in This Series: Your Guide to Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver Part 1: Is Truck Driving Right For Me? Part 2. Finding the Right School Part 4: CDL Endorsements

There are many truck drivers out there — more than 2 million at last count. So how do you tell the good ones from the not so good ones? It’s not too difficult, as it turns out. While all truck drivers have certain strengths and weaknesses, the best drivers all share certain traits. Once you learn these qualities, work on mastering them, and they will serve you as a trucker like nothing else. Here are the 4 traits we believe make a good truck driver:

Patience

Whether you’re sitting in traffic or waiting for your truck to be unloaded, staying cool under pressure is important. Losing your head in rush-hour traffic, or an otherwise inopportune time, can spell disaster for you - and possibly for others.

Time-Management Skills

Knowing how to spend your time out on the road is a necessity. Pre-planning your route and staying on schedule will get you to your destination and back on time. Be sure to plan out when you are going to make stops before beginning your trip. If you have good time management, employers will be stepping on themselves to hire you.

Discipline

Sticking to your schedule and being disciplined is key. Be professional about when you do (or don’t) make stops. Try to multitask on those stops. Additionally, being able to successfully maneuver around traffic accidents will keep you chugging toward your destination. This also works for staying in position when the truck is leaving.

Concentration

Being on the road means spending a lot of time driving. This isn’t always the most exciting activity in the world. If you want to thrive as a trucker, it’s important to maintain that control as you are driving, and keep your mind from wandering too much. Did we miss anything you think is an important trait to have a truck driver? What trait or quality sets you apart from others? Share your comments with us (and other drivers!) on our Facebook page! Ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry? The right training makes all the difference. Learn how our ACI training programs can help you reach your career goals!

You've put a lot of thought into it, and you’ve made your decision - you’re ready to begin trucking school. That's great! Now, your first step is choosing a CDL school. The number of schools to pick from depends on where you live. When you're looking at your options, there are different criteria to consider. The bottom line is you want attend a quality school that helps produce safe and successful truck drivers. Become the best driver you can be by taking your time and choosing the school that is best for you.

Setting Up an Appointment

One good way is meeting with a few schools in your area to learn more about them. At ACI, you'll first set up an appointment with one of our school Admissions Representatives who will answer any questions you have about enrollment and tuition assistance. You'll also receive a tour of any of our three campuses. Another way is to join in on the conversations on Facebook, and talk with students and graduates to learn about their ACI experience. Once you’ve chosen a school, you can begin the real work. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers to meet certain health and wellness standards in order to drive a truck. Most importantly, before you can pursue a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you must pass a medical exam. The Admissions Representatives at ACI can help you find the appropriate medical facility so you can get the required Driver’s DOT Medical Examination Card. They'll also go over the entire enrollment process, including finding and applying for appropriate student loans, or help you identify appropriate grants you can use.

Beginning the Enrollment Process

Keep in mind there are certain factors* that play a huge role in qualifying for CDL training. Students are required to complete a drug test with a negative result upon enrollment. They are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing in accordance with DOT regulations. Additionally, students are asked the following specific questions prior to enrollment in any of our CDL training programs:

• Do you have any moving violations or vehicular accident(s) in the last 3 years?
• Do you have any tickets pending?
• Have you ever had your drivers license suspended/revoked, or are there any restrictions on your license?
• Have you ever been convicted of a DWI, DUI, or careless driving?
• Do you have any Alcohol or Drug violations?

Truck driving is a job that requires trust. Employers cannot fully trust drivers who have a record of traffic infractions. Your reputation will precede you, so make sure you have a good one. So, take your time and look at your options to determine the school that's right for you. Doing a bit of research will go a long way in your career training.

Learn More About ACI

If you're ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry, the right training makes all the difference. Learn how ACI can help you reach your career goals! Fill out the form you see on this page, or give us a call at 1-877-649-9614. If you'd like more information on the Truck Driver CDL Training Programs available at Advanced Career Institute, please contact us or visit www.advanced.edu/programs *Advanced Career Institute is an Equal Opportunity Educational institution and does not discriminate in the recruitment and admission of students with respect to race, color, creed, sex, age, handicap, disability, national origin, or any other legally protected characteristic. Applicants should be aware, however, that there are U.S. Department of Transportation physical requirements that must be met for admission into any of our Transportation programs. More information can be obtained from the Admission’s department or by reviewing our School Catalog and Handbook here. Other Articles in This Series: Your Guide to Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver Part 1: Is Truck Driving Right For Me? Part 3. CDL Training Part 4: CDL Endorsements