Truck drivers must pass a physical exam every two years to maintain their commercial driver’s license (CDL), according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). It’s a comprehensive check-up, covering the trucker’s bodily and mental health, along with their hearing and visual acuity. By preparing ahead of time, you’ll pass the test with ease, ensuring your safety on the road. Young woman driving big modern truck What Should Truckers Do Before a DOT Exam? 1. Maintain an Exercise Regimen While it may not seem demanding, trucking can place strain on the body if drivers aren’t careful. The sedentary position can lead…
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4 Mistakes to Avoid on the CDL Road Test
CDL training readies students for a road test that’s much different than one for a standard license. Tractor-trailers are challenging to handle at first and come with pre-trip maintenance duties that will take time to adapt to. Learning about the easiest mistakes to make ahead of time will better prepare you for the test. What Common Mistakes Lead to Failing the CDL Road Test? 1. Forgetting the Trailer Candidates often make the mistake of turning too fast, especially on tight corners. The trailer might veer into another lane on sharp-angled turns, where it can accidentally strike another vehicle. 2. Improper…
How Can You Transition to the Trucking Lifestyle?
It’s common for an individual to change careers several times during their working life. While the responsibilities may vary, most jobs maintain a standard schedule. However, these experiences may not translate to trucking. It’s a dynamic and unique career path that may seem to have a steep learning curve at first. If you’re preparing for life on the road, learn more about how you can make your transition as smooth as possible. How Is Trucking Different From Traditional Careers? Different Weekly Schedules Trucking isn’t a nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday job. Schedules vary depending on if a driver has short- or long-haul routes.…
What Effect Will the COVID-19 Vaccine Have on Truckers?
Truck drivers have played a central role in maintaining the country’s infrastructure during COVID-19. They have transported medicine, food, and household products, so people in quarantine remained healthy and comfortable. Since truckers cover vast swaths of the country, their continued health is paramount to reducing the novel coronavirus’s expression. Are Truck Drivers Essential Workers? The American Truckers Association (ATA) has been pushing for priority vaccine access since last year. The work paid off, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designating truck drivers as essential workers. With the accelerated vaccine rollout, truckers will receive the vaccine as part…
What’s the Difference Between Trucking Layover & Detention Pay?
As a truck driver, most of your time will be spent traveling from one location to another. However, you’ll occasionally need to wait around between shipments if there’s a delay from the receiver or shipper, in which case you’ll get layover pay. In other cases, there may be delays during shipment, and you’ll get what’s called detention pay. This guide will go into more detail about these situations. What Is Layover Pay? If the wait between loads is beyond the driver’s control, truck drivers will get layover pay. However, keep in mind that not every company offers this. As an…