CAREER TRAINING RESOURCES

Tire maintenance is vital because it can help improve fuel economy in your truck as well as reduce the possibility of roadside emergencies. Check out these 3 easy tips to keep your load running smooth and efficiently.

Take Advantage of Pre-Trip Inspection

Prior to beginning every route, truckers holding a California CDL should perform a pre-trip inspection. A pre-trip inspection includes ensuring your tires are in good condition and are working properly. At this time, truck drivers should focus on inflation and inspection of their tires. It is crucial to monitor tire pressure. When tires are overinflated, less of the tire touches the ground resulting in reduced traction, which negatively affects stopping distances. However, underinflated tires result in increased friction between the tires and the ground causing them to wear prematurely. Low tire pressure may also cause tires to overheat, which could potentially lead to an accident. Tires preform best when the truck’s recommended tire pressure is maintained. Tires are created to hold a certain amount of air to efficiently carry the load. It is advised to avoid fluctuating from the recommended tire pressure.

Clean Tires & Wheels

Not only are clean tires necessary for a trucks visual aesthetics, but they ensure durability. Washing wheel and tires should be a key component in every truck driver’s maintenance routine because brake dust and other elements on the road including salt can eat away at the rubber causing them to crack and deteriorate. The next time your tasked with cleaning your truck, ensure your wheels are squeaky clean.

Pay Attention to Driving Habits

Last but not least, poor driving habits are a leading issue in tread wear. Habits to break include speeding, last minute braking and excessive tire spinning in snow and ice. These habits often result in curbing and the creation of flat spots.   An easy way to break these poor driving habits is to consider brushing up on your truck driver education through a CDL Refresher Course. Advanced Career Institute offers hands-on Class A CDL Training and CDL Refresher Courses to brush up your California CDL skills. ACI offers a variety of options for Professional Truck Driver Training. To learn more about brushing up your California CDL skills, head over to our CDL Refresher Course page!

Have you ever dreamed of working for NASA or navigating the ocean floor? A career in welding might just give you the opportunity you’re looking for! Keep reading to learn interesting facts about professional welders.

A Variety of Career Paths to Choose From

Welders have the opportunity to choose from a variety of career options. Many welders choose to work in manufacturing or construction. However, professional welders have the chance to work in Underwater Welding, robotics, military support, NASCAR, or NASA. Whether you have a passion for high speed racing or desire to working alongside the military, there is a career in welding for you.

Opportunities to Travel

One of the greatest perks of welding is the opportunity to travel to places you may have never been before. Professional welders may work to repair cruise ships or pipe lines, allowing for extended time out at sea and along different coast lines. Additionally, if a welder chooses to work in motor sports, the welder will travel with the pit crew, and have the chance to visit to racetracks in major cities around the country. Lastly, with underwater welding, professional welders have the ability to explore the ocean floor.

Welders are in High Demand

The average age of welders is nearly 55 years old. This means that many welders will begin retiring in the next decade or so, opening up many positions for aspiring welders. Additionally, welding techniques are similar amongst most professionals which makes welders very versatile giving them the ability to switch between professions easily. This makes professional welders a hot commodity to employers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California has the second highest level of employment of welders. This mean that job prospects for welding training graduates looks promising!

Short, Affordable Welder Training Programs

A 4-year college degree is not required to become a professional welder. If continued education does not suit your lifestyle, welder training programs may be perfect for you! Advanced Career Institute offers hands-on Welding Training Courses at three California campuses located in Merced, Fresno and Visalia. Welding Training takes anywhere from 24-38 weeks to complete. With the help of ACI, you will be on your way to beginning your new welding career in no time!   To learn more about becoming a professional welder, head over to our California Welding Training Page!

Can a truck driver be pulled over? Yes, at some point in your trucking career, you could see blue and red flashing lights behind you indicating you to pull over. Being pulled over in your truck is extremely nerve-racking, but the following tips will help ease the process.

What to Do When You See the Flashing Lights

If you are being pulled over, don’t just whip the big rig anywhere on the side of the road. You need to look for a place to pull over that ensures safety for both your truck and the officer. Try not to stop the flow of traffic. The best areas to pull over are typically off-ramps or paved areas. Additionally, avoid stopping on soft-shoulders because your truck may get stuck. However, remember your main responsibility is to look out for your safety and the safety of other drivers even when being pulled over.

Necessary Documentation to Have On Hand

After being pulled over, the following documents may be requested by the officer: CDL, registration, logbook, and bill of lading. A bill of lading is a receipt detailing what is being shipped, how much, where it is going, and when it should be there. It is typically signed by the shipper, receiver and carrier representative. However, only present the documents that the officer requests. Additionally, your documentation should be located in an easy to reach place in your truck. You don’t want to have to get up to get your documents because this could cause the officer to question their safety because they may be unsure of what exactly you may bring back.

Important Things to Remember While Being Pulled Over

First, do not remove your seatbelt before the officer sees you wearing it. This helps to avoid possible additional violations the officer may ticket you for. Second, when the officer asks why you think you were pulled over, don’t say anything that could be taken as an admission of guilt. Give brief, but honest answers. Also, it is vital for you to be polite to the officer regardless of whether you believe you should have been pulled over or not. Lastly, always remember to thank the officer for doing their job whether they gave you a ticket or a verbal warning. Although being pulled over may be overwhelming, it is important to park your truck in a safe location. Be prepared with the correct documentation. And always be polite to the officer! If you have received a ticket, check out this blog for what to do next! Interested in becoming a truck driver? Advanced Career Institute offers hands-on truck driver training in California. ACI campuses are located in Merced, Visalia and Fresno. For more information on earning your California CDL, head over to our Class A CDL Training!

How many times have you heard that in order to get a good job you must go to college? Going to college means 4 more years of studying, 4 more years of tests, and 4 more years not getting paid. On top of all that, tuition will cost you an arm and a leg. Although we were conditioned to believe otherwise, a college degree is not the only way to be successful. There are a variety of career options that offer high paying salaries and job security without a 4-year degree. One of those career options is truck driving. The truck driving industry is facing a shortage of drivers, so there are a significant amount of jobs available. Employers are willing to pay big bucks for drivers in order to keep their fleets running. To become a trucker, you will need to attend trucking school. Lucky for you, truck driver training with Advanced Career Institute only lasts around 4-6 weeks! Learn why trucking school is the right fit for you.

Cost of Schooling

So you’re telling me that in order for me to make money, I have to spend it…a lot of it? When attending to an instate university, you can expect to pay at least $16,000 per year in tuition and room and board. By the time you earn your degree, you will have spent around $64,000. Most times, students are required to take out loans because financial aid does not cover the entire cost of schooling. With high interest rates on these loans, students are left with crippling debt. On top of the significant debt, students are required to take a variety of courses that are unrelated to their future career. So is there an alternative? Truck driver training can be completed in a matter of months, and costs a meager amount in comparison to college. Most trucking schools cost around $3,000-$7,000 in total. During CDL training, you will gain hands-on experience, over-the-road training and learn skills that you will use every day in your career. The best part? In a matter of months, you will start receiving a hefty paycheck, unlike in college where you have to wait 4 years just to get begin your career. 

Similar Salaries

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 4-year college graduates make an average salary of $50,556 per year. Similarly, glassdoor reports that the average entry-level salary for a truck driver is around $43,000. Not only are these salaries incredibly similar, truck drivers start earning a paycheck almost 4 years sooner than college graduates. Additionally, truckers are able to keep more of their paycheck each month because they don’t have student loans to pay back. As you become a more experience driver, you will have to opportunity to earn a higher salary up to $70,000 per year.

Not Your Average 9 to 5 Job

Finally, truck driving is not your typical job. The job setting is very laid back, and there is no dress code, so you won’t have to sport a suit and tie each day to work. Similarly, you won’t be stuck behind a computer all day. You are free to travel the open road and see different parts of the country. As you drive, you can sing along to your favorite CDs, listen to podcasts, and have plenty of time to think. Lastly, most companies pay for your gas, so you won’t have to put your entire paycheck into your gas tank for the commute back and forth to work each day. Hopefully now we have proved that you don’t have to go to a 4-year college in order to land a high paying career. Trucking school is another road to success.   Interested in truck driving school? Advanced Career Institute offers hands-on Class A CDL Training. Our campuses are located in Fresno, Visalia and Merced. To learn more about our CDL Training, check out Our Programs!

Underwater welding is a dangerous career yet it employs numerous people. Why is this so? Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of underwater welding.

What is Underwater Welding & How Does It Work?

Underwater welding has been around since 1932, and is often referred to as hyperbaric welding. It can take place in wet or dry environments. Wet welding is when the welder is entirely submerged in water. The welding is executed using forms of arc welding that employ a waterproof electrode where the welding supply connects to equipment through cables and hoses. Conversely, dry welding is used for high integrity welds. During dry welding, the weld is completed within a sealed pressure chamber that prevents water from entering the work area. They often use a form of gas tungsten arc welding. Dry welding is often used to repair pipelines and ships. Underwater welding research is being conducted at depths of up to 3,300 feet.

Why is it dangerous?

My guess is that your first thought about underwater welding was “Electricity and water aren’t a good mix. Isn’t that dangerous?” The answer is…yes! However, many safety precautions are taken to reduce the risk. Underwater welding is completed using a welding stick where a layer of bubbles is created to shield the weld from water. Dry welding is also a safer method since the weld itself is not exposed to water. However, electricity does not pose the biggest threat. Welders operate at high pressures that threaten the body. Additionally, large bubbles created by the weld and the overall dark atmosphere underwater makes it hard to see, and is threatening to the welder. The most notable underwater risk is differential pressure or Delta P. In Delta P, water from one area attempts to rush to fill another. The pressure difference accumulates hundreds of pounds which can draw divers in and make it very hard to escape. Although there is a high risk of Delta P, companies have come up with action plans on how to avoid this fatal occurrence. For more information on Delta P, check out this video.

Why do people choose to take these risks?

Many welders choose this career path because it is exciting, peculiar and challenging. Additionally, underwater welders are essential components to industries all over the world. This means that skilled welders are in high demand. Currently, companies do not possess the technology to complete underwater welding tasks without humans. This provides underwater welders with job security. On top of it all, underwater welders have the opportunity to make significant salaries that they would not have access to as a typical welder.

The Future of Underwater Welding

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an underwater welder is around $53,990 per year or $25.96 per hour. Underwater welder jobs are concentrated in California, Florida, Michigan and Washington. Your career can take place in one of two locations: inland or offshore. Inland welders typically make less than their offshore colleagues. They tend to work on bridges, dams and small water vessels. Although there is less pay involved, you operate on a less demanding schedule (40-hour work weeks) and less travel is required. However, offshore welders tend to bring in the big bucks. They work on oil rigs and large ships. In this job, you may spend a significant time out at sea and can expect to long work weeks, even up to 80 hours!   Interested in becoming an underwater welder? The first step is to get your welding certification. Advanced Career Institute offers hands-on welder training in the California area. ACI welding campuses are located in Visalia and Fresno. For more information, head over to Welder Training!

Our nation and economy depends heavily on the trucking industry. Trucks transport an assortment of goods that we rely on in order to maintain our every day way of life. Trucking is the only efficient way of transporting goods across the country. That being said, we must also take into consideration the carbon footprint of the trucking industry. Many trucking companies have began to shift their focus towards environmental consciousness. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, transportation accounts for nearly 27% of greenhouse gas emissions. When released in high concentrations, greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere which essentially warms our planet. As the planet warms, there is a ripple effect that negatively affects various aspects of the climate and overall environment. This may include: creating more severe natural disasters, melting sea ice and receding coastal lines. As a trucker, you cannot solely rely on your carrier to make all of the environmentally conscious adjustments. There are a variety of simple ways to reduce your truck emissions and improve the fuel economy in your truck (which saves you and the company money!) Read on to learn 3 easy tips for sustainable trucking!

Control Speed & Minimize Idling Time

You play a major part in controlling the fuel economy in your truck. Improving the fuel economy in your truck can reduce your personal carbon footprint. A study conducted by the American Trucking Association showed a 35 percent difference in the most and least fuel efficient drivers. Here are a few of ways to improve your truck's fuel economy:

• - Maintain an average speed (ideally around 55 mph)
• - Use cruise control when possible
• - Minimize idling time
• - Reduce the amount of times you accelerate and decelerate

Create Efficient Routines

The fuel efficiency in your truck is only partially controlled by your actual driving and gear shifting. A lot of it has to do with the weather, routes you choose to take, truck maintenance and aerodynamics. Luckily for you, you can semi-control some of these elements. Develop fuel efficient routines by:

• - Fueling in the morning
• - Driving routes with less traffic and stop lights
• - Plan routes with efficient drop offs and rest stops
• - Maximize your time at rest stops

Reducing the carbon footprint of the trucking industry begins with you. Every little adjustment has a positive effect on your individual fuel economy and on the environment as a whole.   Interested in being involved in a fundamental industry in our nation? Truck driving may be the career for you! Before beginning your trucking career, you must complete Class A CDL training. Advanced Career Institute offers hands-on truck driver training courses in California. Trucking classes are taught at three campus locations: Merced, Visalia and Fresno. Head over to Class A Truck Driving to learn more!