If you like the idea of traveling across the country as part of your job, being a long–haul truck driver might just be for you. Current economic worries have made this industry a little bit more dicey than usual, but in general, it's a good and secure career to have as long as you meet the necessary requirements.

What does it take to be a long-haul truck driver?

If you become a long-haul truck driver, you will have to meet a certain number of requirements set by the US Department of Transportation. You'll need to be at least 21 years old, and pass physical examinations set by the US Department of Transportation, usually paid for by your employer. You'll also have to have vision that's at least 20/40 with or without correction, and you have to have good hearing.

If you meet these requirements, you have to take road tests with the particular type of truck you're going to be driving, and you'll also have to pass written tests set by the Department of Transportation and safety regulations. You will need a state-issued commercial driver’s license, which will require you take driving and written tests.

Some companies may have higher standards than this. For example, you may need to be at least 25 years old to be hired, or already have had long haul driving experience. You may also have to have completed at least two years of high school, have completed high school or have gotten your GED.

To get this type of education and experience, you can attend technical and vocational schools and community colleges to take courses in truck driving; some high school curriculums also offer these types of classes.

On-the-job training

You may begin working as a local truck driver before you undertake training for long-haul truck driving. Once you're hired by a company, you'll also likely be required to take courses on company policies. You usually start by driving a truck under the guidance and supervision of someone who's more experienced. Once you got this experience, you'll usually be given jobs as a substitute driver for those who are out sick or on vacation. As you advance, you can qualify for regular routes.

Getting jobs as a long-haul trucker

If you've got the proper education, you can apply directly to private carriers or trucking companies for work. You can also check with Internet job boards, classified ads, private agencies or employment services for work.

Some considerations

If you decide to undertake formal training to become a long-haul truck driver, be advised that some programs provide substandard training. Therefore, it's advisable to check out any schools or programs you decide to attend to become a long-haul truck driver before you actually undertake your education.

Some dangers on the job

Transportation jobs Miami, transportation jobs Sacramento, and transportation jobs in LA all have a unique risk, which is that increasingly, trucks are being hijacked for their goods by criminals. In some cases, fuel is also an important commodity in these trucks. Your company will probably implement policies whereby you can protect yourself, such as keeping your truck locked at all times, even when you're in it and driving.

Incidentally, this is also a worry for local truck drivers which include transportation jobs in LA, whose trucks are hijacked for goods by criminals then, too. Again, your company will have policies set in place to help protect you. This is also a concern, of course, for private motorists who have cars hijacked, but this is also increasingly on the rise for truck drivers, whether local or long haul.

Some career paths you can take

Once you've been in your career for a while, you may decide that you want to advance by becoming a dispatcher, driver supervisor, safety supervisor, or another position in a supervisory capacity. Even if you stay within the position of truck driver, as your career advances you will be given more favorable routes and you will be given pay increases too. Some truck drivers decide to eventually become owners and operators of their own companies.

Job outlook and compensation

At present, the dwindling economy has meant that consumers are cutting back on unnecessary expenditures, which means that retail business across all sectors is down. This, in turn, affects the transportation industry, too, since with fewer goods to be transported, fewer truck drivers are needed. Nonetheless, once the economy picks up, the transportation industry, too, is expected to be favorably impacted. With the recent drop in gas and diesel prices, some pressure on the bottom line has already been eased for those who run these companies.

On average, long-haul truck drivers made about $60 an hour as of 2004. Those who were the most experienced made about $25 an hour.

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