I read an article in my hometown newspaper the other day about locals, along with others across the country, being worried about the economy & especially the job market. The article talked to some people who had jobs & felt lucky, some who had jobs but not in the field they have a degree for, and some who didn’t have jobs at all & are having a hard time finding one.

My state isn’t the only state that has seen a decline in available jobs and an increase in unemployed workers. The entire country has felt this crunch, but there’s still one industry with job opportunities throughout the U.S. that is still, and always will be, hiring new employees. Can you guess which one? That’s right…the trucking industry. Truck driving jobs are plentiful & trucking is a great-paying, stable industry that this country will always rely on. Ever heard the saying ‘If you got it, a truck brought it’? It’s so true! There aren’t many products today that only ship via railways or water. Some, yes, but not a lot. So this just means that with a CDL (commercial driver’s license), your job market will always be growing & hiring, which is great for you!

One thing many people don’t know is how to get a new career started in the truck driving industry. Well…let me tell you just how easy it is! Many trucking companies want you to either have truck driving experience or they want you to attend a CDL training course. And good, quality CDL truck driver training can get pretty expensive. Not to mention, you’ve got to find your own job. One company that has taken all this into consideration is Driver Solutions.

Driver Solutions & their network of trucking companies and CDL training schools have created a unique program to help new truck drivers break into the trucking industry. Once you’re qualified with the Driver Solutions Network, they will set you up to attend an approved, top-notch CDL training school and secure you a job offer with a well-respected, stable trucking company. Of course, this is all contingent that you pass the required DOT physical and drug screen.

So if you’re down & out or just lucky but not really happy, check out a career as a professional truck driver. It might just be the opportunity you’re looking for!

The Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program has been in place since 1986 to ensure that drivers of large trucks and buses are qualified to operate those vehicles safely. A CDL is issued by each state, but there are established minimum national standards set by the federal government. Basically, the Department of Transportation is in charge of CDL licenses, but you'll visit your local BMV to actually get it.

Drivers need a CDL if they drive a Class A, Class B, or Class C commercial motor vehicle.

• A Class A vehicle is a combination vehicle, your typical truck and trailer, that weighs more than 26,000 pounds. The kind you see out on the highway.
• A Class B vehicle is a single vehicle that weighs more than 26,000 pounds.
• A Class C vehicle is a single or combination vehicle that doesn’t meet the definitions of a Class A or Class B, but is designed to transport 16 or more passengers or is able to carry hazardous materials.

To receive a CDL, you have to pass knowledge and skills tests administered by your state. To pass the knowledge test, you must correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions. To pass the skills test, you much successfully perform all required skills for the type of vehicle you expect to operate.

The minimum age to hold a CDL is 18 years old. However, federal law says you must be 21 to drive across state lines, transport hazardous materials, or transport interstate freight within the state. That means since most truck driving jobs you can get after driving school are OTR jobs (i.e. across state lines), you'll have a tough time getting one if you're under the age of 21.

When you attend a CDL truck driving school, you'll earn a CDL Permit during your first week. To get one, you'll need to pass the CDL general knowledge exam, as well as any other exams, such as air brakes & combination vehicles, for the vehicle(s) you want to drive. You'll learn how to do that at any truck driver training school.

Driver Solutions & their network of trucking companies have begun using online learning tools to help the students that go through their programs study for and pass the CDL permit exams. eGears, an online interactive learning resource, is used by all Driver Solutions students before they attend the CDL training school, and the results have been amazing! More students are graduating than ever before thanks to the use of the eGears products. eGears is just a simple tool to help students prepare for truck driver training by learning all the basic knowledge that's needed to succeed in a truck driving career. To learn more about eGears & their CDL learning tools, check out their website!

There are many things new truck drivers can do to make the transition into the trucking industry a smooth one, so I’ve listed a few things here to help you out. When you go through a CDL training school and begin your new truck driving career, there are basically three stages of the process: CDL training, OTR training, & becoming a solo, 1st seat driver.

CDL Training School Tips
During CDL training, you’ll be required to pass permit exams to receive your Class A CDL permit. Since you have to pass these tests before you even get in a truck, you’ll usually do the testing during the first week of classes, so PREPARE yourself. Get online and download the state CDL Manual, or check out companies like eGears who provide online interactive study tools. Also, make sure you PAY ATTENTION to the classroom instructor. This is where you’ll learn all kinds of stuff like trip planning, map reading, logging routines, etc.

You’ll also learn the basics of actually driving a truck on the range and street, learning skills like backing, turning, parking, and just how to handle that 40 ton piece of machinery. And remember, those instructors know what they’re talking about, so don’t take what they have to say for granted.

OTR Training Tips
Once you’ve completed the CDL training school and received your Class A CDL license, you’ll be ready to jump in a truck with a company truck driver trainer. Now this is where you’ll learn everything else you need to know about living on the road. Your OTR driver trainer will help you hone your truck driving skills, give you a heads up on the best truck stops to rest at, & basically prepare you to start driving on your own. And…two people, one truck. It’s going to be crowded, so pack lightly and be prepared to wear the same jeans for a couple of days. It’s tough for those first few weeks, but just LISTEN to everything your trainer tells you and you should be good.

Tips for 1st Seat Drivers
BE SAFE! By this point, you should be comfortable driving a tractor trailer and you should know how to complete all the necessary paperwork. The main thing you need to focus on now is being a safe & cautious truck driver, and just enjoying life on the open road.

1. Do you pre-screen applicants?

At the very least, a truck driving school should make sure you meet the minimum qualifications to be a truck driver. There's no point in paying for and enrolling in school if you're either a) ineligible to obtain a CDL license or b) unemployable because you fail to meet certain qualifications in regards to your driving record, health, or criminal background.

2. What type of job placement assistance do you offer?

In today's economy, you want a truck driving school that's going to help place you in a job. Remember, a CDL license is no good if you can't use it to make money. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of schools out there more than willing to take your money without ever helping you find employment.

With Driver Solutions, we actually recruit truck drivers and link them up with an employer before they even begin truck driving school. That's the main reason our job placement rate is so high — nearly 100%.

3. How long have you been a school? What is your history?

You're asking because you want to make sure this isn't a fly-by-night operation. You want a school that's established, has a good history and isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

4. What sort of equipment do you use to train truck drivers?

If they're training you on outdated rigs, using paper log systems and old technology, keep moving. You want a school that's got good trucks, good equipment and excellent training schools. Why? Because that's what most truck driving companies will expect from new graduates. It's what they're already using on the road.

5. May I see your practice area?

Before you sign on the dotted line, actually go and look at a school. Do they have a paved driving range with clearly marked skills practice areas or is it little more than a gravel lot? Are they operating out of real offices or a trailer in a field? Going out to look at a truck driving school can give you a lot of insight into its overall quality.

Were you always fascinated with the size and power of a big rig? Did you ever dream of becoming a professional truck driver and traveling around the country? Well, now is a great time to turn that dream into a reality and provide yourself with a better way of life.

Recently, the trucking industry has become more competitive, providing the best truck driving job opportunities to those who have completed a CDL training course and obtained their CDL license. And even during these rough economic times, a few trucking companies are still hiring inexperienced truck drivers and providing them with the CDL training they need to start a new career in the trucking industry.

Driver Solutions works with a network of trucking companies that will sponsor the upfront tuition costs that come with CDL training. Not only that, but they’ll offer you a driving job before you ever attend the training school. Very few CDL schools can say they do that. So if you want to make your dreams come true, check out the Driver Solutions Network to see what truck driving opportunities lie ahead for you!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Tim Ross, a truck driver trainer for P.A.M. Transport, and was able to hear his story of how he became successful as a professional truck driver.  Tim’s story started as many do, just looking for something better.  Before getting into the trucking industry, Tim served his country in the United States Army, was a supervisor, and a bodyguard for an entertainment security company.  It was time for a change.

The idea of being out on the open road with no one to manage but himself enticed Tim to take a look at a truck driving career.  After doing some research on the trucking industry, he realized he needed to get a commercial driver’s license, or a CDL, to get started, which is pretty expensive.  Tim came across the Driver Solutions Network and liked what they had to offer.  Driver Solutions has a network of CDL truck driver training schools and trucking companies that will cover the upfront costs of the CDL training and provide inexperienced truck drivers with a job offer before they ever attend the trucking school.  Tim found that the Driver Solutions CDL training program was the best fit for him and he signed up to attend the trucking school.  The CDL truck driving school provided Tim with the knowledge and skills needed to safely drive a commercial vehicle.  Once he completed the truck driver training course and obtained his CDL, Tim was ready to move on to the next step in his quest to become a professional truck driver, OTR training.

Check back soon for part two of Tim’s truck driving story.

The trucking industry is still one of the five fastest growing industries in the United States, and it will always be an important part of our country's economy. Truck driving jobs are in high demand and professional truck drivers are needed more and more every day. Because there are so many truck driver positions that need to be filled, some trucking companies are taking an extra step in helping you start a truck driving career by providing you with CDL training. With the Driver Solutions Network, companies like P.A.M. Transport and USA Truck will help you obtain a CDL license from a professional truck driving school and you'll have a job offer for a truck driving position before you ever attend the trucking school.

A career in the trucking industry is extremely stable, both professionally and financially. Most products are moved across the United States by trucks, and trucks will always be needed to transport America's goods. This means that there will always be a need for truck drivers. So if you're looking for a career you can count on in the long run, check out the many truck driving jobs that are available and learn how you can easily start a career in the trucking industry today!

To continue my last topic, ‘How to Prepare for Truck Driver Training’, here’s what you’ll need to know.  To obtain your CDL permit for truck driver training, you must pass three different license exams.  These include General Knowledge, Air Brakes endorsement, and Combination Vehicles endorsement.  General Knowledge consists of basic facts about truck driving that have to do with turning, pre-trip inspection, etc.  The Air Brakes endorsement exam topics include the identification of air brake components, as well as the way the air braking system works.  The Combination Vehicles endorsement focuses on the combination of the tractor and trailer and how everything works together.  Make sure you study all three of these very well, because you have to pass all of these tests to graduate from CDL truck driver training and obtain your CDL license.

Driver Solutions has taken an extra step to make studying a little easier for the truck driver training course.  They have partnered with a company that created an online, interactive learning tool called eGears.  The eGears Learning Center provides multiple choice questions similar to those found on state CDL exams, as well as different learning resources to help you learn the material.  Apply online today and start studying right away!

So, you want to get into trucking.  The first step to becoming a safe, professional truck driver is to attend a CDL truck driver training school.  And to successfully pass a CDL training school, you need to study, study, study!  You will need to pick up your state’s CDL manual before you ever attend truck driving school and study the material.  You will be testing for your CDL permit the first few days of truck driver training, so you must prepare a lot on your own before your CDL training starts.

It is possible, if you’re attending an out-of-state truck driver training school, that you will have to switch your driver’s license over to that state and you’ll have to pass that state’s Operator’s license test.  If this is the case, you should also study for the Operator’s test prior to going to the trucking school.

Check out my next blog for the second part of ‘How to Prepare for Truck Driver Training’.  I’ll tell you exactly what you need to know to prepare for CDL training and give you some useful tips to help you study.

Let’s face it: the minimum wage in the U.S. is often not enough to support a family. Every parent wants her kids to have more opportunities than she herself had, but if you’re barely making it from paycheck to paycheck, this may not be possible. You have options: consider applying for high paying trucking jobs today.

For truck drivers, the future looks bright. That’s because the demand for licensed, competent drivers far outstrips the available supply. There is a multitude of high paying trucking jobs available, but not enough drivers to fill them! This means interested individuals can easily start stable, long-term careers right now. If you’re interested in entering this dynamic industry, you’ll have plenty of help getting there.

High Paying Trucking Jobs Can Ensure Your Future

A truck driver can be expected to gross as much as $40,000 right out of school—and expect a $5,000 to $10,000 raise in the next year. However, when you apply for high paying trucking jobs through Driver Solutions, you’ll get more than a fantastic salary--you’ll get free company-sponsored training. We started this company back in 1992, and in that time, we’ve placed more than 20,000 truck drivers.

Trucking companies are so eager for drivers that they will cover the upfront tuition for you at a top truck driving school. In addition, you’ll receive $200 to defray any incidental expenses during your training. Some trucking companies go so far as to offer signing bonuses.

It’s all right at your fingertips when you apply to our truck driver recruitment program today.  Online Application

Even in today's economy, there is still huge demand for truck drivers.  A quick scan of the newspaper 'Help Wanted' ads or job website reveals that truck driving jobs are available for those who qualify.  So how do you qualify for truck driving job?  Well, first you need a CDL license.  A CDL is a commercial driver's license which authorizes the driver to operate a large commercial vehicle.  Getting a CDL license requires going a truck driving school. 

Driver Solutions offers a simple and hassle free way of affording a CDL training program and getting a career started as a truck driver.  The company paid CDL training program offered by Driver Solutions unites truck driver training with a truck driver job.  It's a simple process.  When you qualify for an entry level truck driving job with a Driver Solutions Network trucking company, this company will cover your upfront tuition costs to attend CDL training at an approved truck driving school.  Once you complete the CDL training and graduate with a CDL, you are ready to begin working as a professional truck driver.

Check out what Driver Solutions has to offer you.