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Professional
Drivers are at the heart of every trucking company. This
profession has rewards for every lifestyle. Long-haul
drivers can truly experience the freedom and adventure of the
open road while travelling across North America. Short-haul
drivers can experience independence while driving and still
be home with their family every night.
But Professional Drivers do much more than just driving. They
must be able to plan and adapt their route at a moments notice,
be very organized, be knowledgeable about rules and regulations
regarding vehicle and load weights and dimensions, safety equipment,
rules of the road, transportation of dangerous goods, crossing
the border to and from the U.S., etc., and be emergency mechanics
for their trucks and other equipment when needed. Drivers
are also front-line personnel dealing directly with customers
and must be both professional and personable. Being
a Professional Driver is often a stepping stone for moving
into managerial positions in a trucking company. In
addition, professional drivers have the option of becoming
owner-operators and starting their own business.
General Responsibilities:
- Pick-up and deliver freight safely, on time and damage
free
- Perform daily inspections of the truck and equipment
- Maintain paperwork, such as log-book entries, trip inspection
reports and documents required for border crossings
- Specialization in different types of equipment and loads
is also possible
Typical Jobs:
Depending on the size of the company these jobs may be incorporated
into a single position or be separate positions. Position
responsibilities may also be shared with other employees.
Local Pick-Up and Delivery Driver:
- Picks up and delivers small shipments, often with smaller
vehicles
- May be responsible for planning routes for efficiency
- Responsible for a specific local area
Short Haul Driver:
- Leave early in the morning for
deliveries located up to half a day’s drive away
- Return home at the end of the shift
Long-Haul Driver:
- Deliver shipments over long distances; from caost to coast
or even internationally
- Travel unsupervised; often for days
- May have to plan and adapt routes
- May have to be familiar with customs and border crossing
requirements
Owner-Operator:
- Contracts driving services with his/her own truck to one
or many other companies
- Responsible for condition and efficiency of the truck and
other equipment
- Manages his/her own business, including business planning,
accounting, and finance
Required Skills:
Depending on their position, Professional Drivers need some
or all of these skills:
- Literacy and numeracy skills
- Strong communication and inter-personal skills
- Strong sense of responsibility and safety-consciousness
- Ability to work unsupervised
- Strong organizational skills
- Good record-keeping skills
- Some mechanical skills
Compensation:
$30,000 - $100,000, depending on experience, company size,
and whether self-employed
Training:
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