CAREER TRAINING RESOURCES

Once you have completed your trucking or bus driving education, it is time to find a job. However, this is easier said than done. Drivers and truckers fresh out of school may have a little difficulty finding work if they aren't prepared. If you want to be prepared so that you can find as much work as possible, read on.

What do employers look for beyond just a clean driving record?

Everybody knows that employers are looking for a clean driving record. However, they also want to see that you have completed education at a respectable school. Any experience you may have is also very important in the hiring process.

What are some ways to impress employers?

There are some things you can do to stand out when trying to get work. One of the best things to do is research the company thoroughly. Also, remember to dress professionally when going in for an interview.

What are important things to include in your resume?

The most important things to include in your resume are your training and experience. This is fairly obvious. However, there are other important things to include. You should include your other jobs, as the employers may be looking for certain areas of experience that drivers normally don't have.

Where are good places to look for driving jobs?

The best place to look for driving jobs in this day and age is the Internet. There are many jobs websites that have a lot of bus driving and trucking jobs listed. However, everybody is applying to these jobs. You may have a better chance if you use the contacts you made at your driving school to get work. If you want to learn more about search for trucking or bus driving jobs, contact our job placement department! We help all students and graduates find their next job opportunity.

Life on the road, much like other jobs, has its challenges. You'll have to balance a work schedule with parenting. However, becoming a truck driver comes with a lot of positives too. For instance, you can take the valuable lessons learned from your road experiences and share them with your kids. Lessons that apply to all areas of life.

Instill a strong work ethic

When on an assignment you are expected to be reliable, committed and have a respect for time. You have to pay careful attention to detail. People depend on you. Sharing these attributes with your kids will help them to grow up to have a strong work ethic. These are qualities they’ll be able to apply to schoolwork, sports and future jobs.

Teach important life skills

Kids can learn important life skills from their parents working in truck driving jobs. For instance, being on the road often brings the unexpected. You know you need to be flexible and adaptable on the job when things don't go as planned. Everyday life has its surprises and kids will need to know how to roll with the punches when it happens. You also have to show good judgment during your workday. Youngsters also need to make good decisions in school, on the playground, or in other situations as they become teenagers. You'll be teaching them the strategies needed to make good judgment calls. (Important skills to have, especially when peer pressure starts!)

Pass on good lifestyle habits

As a driver, you know it's important to stay healthy and get enough rest so you have the energy for those short and long hauls. You might even have to pass a health screening. Awareness of being fit is a good quality to pass on to your kids. They'll grow up knowing how to take good care of themselves. What’s more, following a healthy lifestyle is something you can do as a family too. It can be fun! Additionally, other talents gained from truck driving jobs that you can share with your kids include good communication skills and being friendly to others. These are life skills that will take them far, and they will have learned it all from you! Interested in a career that pays the bills and teaches you valuable lessons? Enroll in our Class A CDL training program today!

People may not believe it, but welding is a unique art form. Along with producing the welds and beads comes stress and frustration. The wrong material or the fluctuation of an arc can make a weld look knotty and somewhat sloppy. Many welders try extremely hard to produce smooth, even looking welds. The stress they experience during the performance of their job takes many forms. There are several welding stress relief mechanisms that are both effective and simple.

Maintaining the Same Position for a Long Period of Time

When completing a long bead, holding the same position can cause muscles to become tight and sore. In between welds, take a few minutes to stretch. Reaching toward the ceiling stretches the arms, legs, and back. Hand exercises will keep the fingers and wrist flexible. Stretching improves blood flow and keeps a person alert and focused.

Intense Concentration While Completing a Difficult Weld

Having to maintain strict focus for long periods of time can lead to headaches and eyestrain. Once every couple of hours, step away from the welder and take a few deep breaths. Closing the eyes and listening to music through headphones will help to unravel the mind and allow it to relax, even if only for a short period of time.

Measure Twice, Weld Once

One of the biggest stressors is making a mistake and having to scrap a piece of metal. Measure twice and take added precautions to ensure you have the exact specifications before you begin welding. This reduces the risk of a mistake and will eliminate much of the stress associated with precision projects.

Preventing Flash and Its Effects

Flash can occur on the hands, face, and arms. It is extremely painful and causes major stress when having to continue to weld in the heat. Before work, apply a thin layer of sunscreen and make sure it absorbs completely into the skin. Always check the helmet and safety glasses to make sure there is no way the bright flash can reach sensitive areas of skin. While it's easy to get caught up in work, don't forget to take care of yourself. Practicing these welding stress relief mechanisms will allow you to become a healthier, more productive welder.

Welding all started centuries ago, yet many people still wonder what welding is all about. This quick snapshot will walk you through everything you need to know about the history of welding.

What is Welding?

Welding is the process of joining or melting two or more pieces of metal together. This process is also used for plastic, but the term "welding" often refers specifically to the use of metal. The process of welding creates strength and reinforcement for structures, ships, and modern machinery.

Welding's Ancient Roots

The practice of welding dates back to the Bronze Age, the era in human history when people began to use metal. People living during this time created small gold boxes using pressure welding on lap joints. As welding techniques became more refined in the Iron Age, this gave people the opportunity to build things using iron. During this time, Ancient Egyptians and other cultures used the skill for welding tools, among other necessities. While useful, this trade was limited by the tools used to perform the welding function.

Advancements in Welding

The 19th century saw great advancements in welding and its capabilities for modern applications. In 1800, Englishman Sir Humphry Davy introduced the arc to welding, a form made between two carbon electrodes using a battery. In 1836, Edmund Davy discovered acetylene, a gas capable of producing the hottest flame. This discovery led to a rise in popularity for gas cutting in 1850. While there were other notable welding innovations, the next major advancements came in the 20th century.

The Creation of Modern Welding

The 20th century saw many exciting advancements in the welding field. These advancements were, in large part, due to electrical power companies figuring out how to generate and distribute power. This accomplishment motivated scientists to find a way to use electrical power for welding. In 1920, General Electric's P.O. Nobel invented automatic welding thanks to his use of a bare wire electrode guided by a direct electrical current using arc voltage. From here, further research led to the discovery of various types of electrodes as well as alternate forms of gas welding and resistance welding. Work to refine welding techniques continued into the 1950s and 60s. In 1954, the Dualshield process gave welders a more efficient, portable option by using an external supply of shielding gas. This process was later abandoned for Innershield welding, which left the shielding gas behind and eliminated the need for welders to lug heavy containers around the job site. This improved process also made it possible for welders to work in outdoor conditions without having to worry about the wind blowing the shielding gas away and contaminating the weld. Since then, welding processes have become modernized, leading to the use of friction welding and laser welding. Welding techniques are sure to evolve as technologies advance. Scientists and inventors continue to look for more precise, safe, and environmentally friendly ways to build the products and infrastructure needed. The future for welding is bright. If you're looking for an opportunity to move the world forward, welding could be a great fit for you. We offer welding training at our Visalia and Fresno campuses. Learn more about our welder training program today.

Only about 5.8 percent of working welders are females, according to the American Welding Society. Companies are doing more outreach to women to help replace the welders who are approaching retirement. Welding is a career that can offer many benefits, but there are still a few misconceptions about women doing this type of work.

Myth 1: Companies Don’t Want to Hire a Female Welder

Metal fabricating companies are desperate to find good welders to replace the workforce that is rapidly retiring now. Both women and men are great candidates for these positions. Anyone can have a promising career in welding, as long as they get the proper training. Having additional skills, such as blueprint reading, will help you be a more valuable employee for prospective employers. Keep in mind that there may not always be welding jobs available in your area, and you may have to move to a more industrial city to find the job you want.

Myth 2: Male Co-Workers Don’t Respect Female Workers

Although male welders may have resented women coming into the field in the past, the younger generation is less apt to hold on to these gender differences in the workplace. They may have worked alongside women in the military or in other fields of work. They respect anyone who does good work and can work well as part of a team.

Myth 3: Welding Work is Hard, Dirty and Dangerous

Not all shop settings are alike. Some companies may not have state-of-the-art equipment or the safest environment. However, there are welding positions in forward-thinking companies with clean, climate-controlled environments and manageable materials. Female and male welders can benefit from staying fit in order to manipulate the heavy materials. They should also take safety classes to ensure that they can protect themselves and others in the work environment.

Myth 4: There’s No Room For Professional Growth in Welding

Many welders become supervisors or consultants. They work on projects that involve welding processes for construction or manufacturing of products. In addition, welding offers the opportunity of starting your own business, which can bring increased financial benefits. Women in welding is still a relatively new concept, but it is fast becoming the norm as more companies look for reliable people who can perform the highly technical work that welders do every day. Interested in joining the community of women welders? Learn more about our welder training program today!

Updated July 2022 OTR truck drivers live on the corner of freedom and responsibility. They have the freedom to travel the highways and explore new locations on a near daily basis. They also must obey the rules of the road, listen to their dispatchers, and deliver their loads on time. There are more rules of the road for truckers than for drivers of non-commercial vehicles. These include log books, weight limits, and lane restrictions. While they have the most spectacular window views and are never confined to a stationary desk, that freedom is carefully recorded and monitored. After picking up a heavy load, truckers head off to the scales to make sure that their weight is within the correct limit and distributed properly. This is routine business. The same goes for carefully monitoring the hours you’ve spent driving and keeping your logbook up to date. These tedious chores ensure that you don’t end up sidelined when you slip through the chicken house and receive an unexpected inspection.

Routine & Flexibility

The average OTR truck driver will typically travel between 80,000 to 110,000 miles per year. They end up sitting behind the wheel for around 450 miles per day. Most company drivers have little control over where their next load will take them. They may rush to hit a tight deadline and then enjoy some downtime while waiting for their turn to unload. You could say they live on the corner of Hurry Up and Wait. It is critical, though, that drivers maintain the willingness to work hard and the flexibility to handle delays and unexpected circumstances. While trucking requires flexibility in scheduling, most drivers do establish routines that provide some sense of stability. For instance, they establish favorite truck stops in every region of the country. There’s nothing like a friendly face, warm cup of coffee, and a hot shower when you’ve been on the road eating from your personal stash of snacks or at fast-food restaurants for days. These routines often center around grooming, which is critical for an OTR truck driver. They don’t have direct access to showers but need to remain presentable when representing their company at delivery points. Identifying truck stops with clean showers, laundry facilities, television rooms, and other amenities is important.

Modern Trucking

Trucking life has changed considerably due to technological advancement. Drivers are no longer cut off from their loved ones or forced to talk via pay phone. They can now video chat with loved ones in their downtime. They can receive text messages, emails, and make phone calls from their trucks. This has created a more socially connected trucking world that is healthier for the OTR truck driver as well as those back home missing a truck driver. Connection and Solitude is just another corner on which many drivers now live. Interested in living the trucking lifestyle? Learn more about our Class A OTR truck driver training programs!