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Text File | 1995-10-24 | 20.9 KB | 411 lines

411
Truckdrivers

(D.O.T.  292.353, .363, .463, .483, and .667; 900 through 905.683;
906; 909.663; 919.663-018, -022, -026; and 953.583)

Nature of the Work

Nearly all goods are transported by truck during some of their
journey from producers to consumers.  Goods may also be shipped
between terminals or warehouses in different cities by train, ship,
or plane.  But truckdrivers usually make the initial pickup from
factories, consolidate cargo at terminals for intercity shipment,
and deliver goods from terminals to stores and homes.

   Before leaving the terminal or warehouse, truckdrivers check their
trucks for fuel and oil.  They also inspect the trucks they will
drive to make sure the brakes, windshield wipers, and lights are
working and see that a fire extinguisher, flares, and other safety
equipment are aboard and in working order.  Drivers adjust mirrors
so that both sides of the truck are visible from the driver's seat,
and make sure the cargo has been loaded properly so it will not
shift during the trip.  Drivers report to the dispatcher any
equipment that does not work or is missing, or cargo that is not
loaded properly.

   Once underway, drivers must be alert to prevent accidents and to
drive their trucks efficiently.  Because drivers of large
tractor-trailers sit higher than cars, pickups, and vans, they can
see farther down the road.  They seek traffic lanes that allow them
to move at a steady speed, and, when going downhill, they may
increase speed slightly to gain momentum for a hill ahead.

   Long-distance runs vary widely.  On short turnarounds, truckdrivers
deliver a load to a nearby city, pick up another loaded trailer, and
drive it back to their home base the same day.  Other runs take an
entire day, and drivers remain away from home overnight.  On longer
runs, drivers may haul loads from city to city for a week or more
before returning home.  Some companies use two drivers on very long
runs.  One drives while the other sleeps in a berth behind the cab.
Sleeper runs may last for days, or even weeks, usually with the
truck stopping only for fuel, food, loading, and unloading.

   Some long-distance drivers who have regular runs transport freight
to the same city on a regular basis.  Because shippers request
varying amounts of service to different cities every day, many
drivers have unscheduled runs.  Dispatchers tell these drivers when
to report for work and where to haul the freight.

   After long-distance truckdrivers reach their destination or complete
their operating shift, they are required by the U.S.  Department of
Transportation to complete reports about the trip and the condition
of the truck and to give a detailed report of any accident.  In
addition, on duty drivers are subject to periodic alcohol and drug
tests.

   Long-distance truckdrivers spend most of their working time behind
the wheel but may be required to unload their cargo.  Drivers
hauling specialty cargo often load or unload their trucks, since
they may be the only one at the destination familiar with this
procedure.  Auto-transport drivers, for example, drive and position
the cars on the trailers and head ramps and remove them at the final
destination.  When picking up or delivering furniture, drivers of
long-distance moving vans hire local workers to help them load or
unload.

   When local truckdrivers receive assignments from the dispatcher to
make deliveries, pickups, or both, they also get delivery forms.
Before the drivers arrive for work, material handlers generally have
loaded the trucks and arranged the items in order of delivery to
minimize handling of the merchandise.

   At the customer's place of business, local truckdrivers generally
load or unload the merchandise.  If there are heavy loads or many
deliveries to make during the day, drivers may have helpers.
Customers must sign receipts for goods and drivers may receive money
for material delivered.  At the end of the day, they turn in
receipts, money, and records of deliveries made and report any
mechanical problems their trucks may have.

   The work of local truckdrivers varies, depending on the product they
transport.  Produce truckers usually pick up a loaded truck in the
early morning and spend the rest of the day delivering produce to
many different grocery stores.  Lumber truckdrivers, on the other
hand, make several trips from the lumber yard to one or more
construction sites.  Gasoline tank truckdrivers attach the hoses and
operate the pumps on their trucks to transfer the gasoline to gas
stations' storage tanks.

   Some local truckdrivers have sales and customer relations
responsibilities.  These drivers called driver-sales workers or
route drivers are primarily responsible for delivering their firm's
products, but they also represent the company.  Their reaction to
customer complaints and requests for special services can make the
difference between a large order and losing a customer.  Route
drivers also may use their selling ability to increase sales and to
gain additional customers.

   The duties of driver-sales workers vary according to the industry in
which they are employed, the policies of their particular company,
and how strongly their sales responsibilities are emphasized.  Most
have wholesale routes that is, they deliver to businesses and stores
rather than homes.  A few distribute various foods, or pick up and
deliver drycleaning to households, but these retail routes are now
rare.

   Wholesale bakery driver-sales workers, for example, deliver and
arrange bread, cakes, rolls, and other baked goods on display racks
in grocery stores.  Paying close attention to the items that are
selling well and those just sitting on the shelves, they estimate
the amount and variety of baked goods that will be sold.  They may
recommend changes in a store's order or may encourage the manager to
stock new bakery products.  From time to time, they try to get the
business of new stores along their route.

   Driver-sales workers employed by laundries that rent linens, towels,
work clothes, and other items visit businesses regularly to replace
soiled laundry.

   Vending machine driver-sales workers service machines in factories,
schools, and other buildings.  They check items remaining in the
machines, replace stock, and remove money deposited in the cash
boxes.  They also examine each vending machine to see that
merchandise and change are dispensed properly, make minor repairs,
and clean machines.

   After completing their route, driver-sales workers order items for
the next day which they think customers are likely to buy, based
primarily on what products have been selling well, the weather, time
of year, and any customer feedback.

   Trucking companies employed nearly one-third of all truckdrivers.

Working Conditions

Truckdriving has become less physically demanding because most
trucks now have more comfortable seats, better ventilation, and
improved cab designs.  However, driving for many hours at a stretch,
unloading cargo, and making many deliveries can be tiring, and
driving in bad weather, heavy traffic, or mountains can be nerve
racking.  Local truckdrivers, unlike long-distance drivers, usually
can return home in the evening.  Some self-employed long distance
truckdrivers who own as well as operate their trucks spend over 240
days a year away from home.

   Local truckdrivers frequently work 48 hours or more a week.  Many
who handle food for chain grocery stores, produce markets, or
bakeries drive at night or early in the morning.  Although most
drivers have a regular route, some have different routes each day.
Many local truckdrivers particularly driver-sales workers load and
unload their own trucks, which require considerable lifting,
carrying, and walking.

   The U.S.  Department of Transportation governs work hours and other
matters of trucking companies engaged in interstate commerce.  For
example, a long-distance driver cannot be on duty for more than 60
hours in any 7-day period and cannot drive more than 10 hours
following at least 8 consecutive hours off duty.  Many drivers,
particularly on long runs, work close to the maximum hours
permitted.  Drivers on long runs may face boredom, loneliness, and
fatigue.  Although many drivers work during the day, travel at night
and on holidays and weekends is frequently necessary in order to
avoid traffic delays and deliver cargo on time.

Employment

Truckdrivers held 2,720,000 jobs in 1992.  Jobs are concentrated in
and around large cities.  Some drivers are employed in almost all
communities, however.

   Trucking companies employed nearly one-third of all truckdrivers,
and another one-third worked for companies engaged in wholesale or
retail trade, such as auto parts stores, oil companies, lumber
yards, or distributors of food and grocery products.  The rest were
scattered throughout the economy, including government agencies.

   Fewer than 1 out of 10 truckdrivers are self-employed; of these, a
significant number are owner-operators, who either operate
independently, serving a variety of businesses, or lease their
services and their trucks to a trucking company.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Qualifications and standards for truckdrivers are established by
State and Federal regulations.  States must meet Federal standards,
and some States have more stringent regulations.  All truckdrivers
must have a driver's license issued by the State in which they live,
and most employers strongly prefer a good driving record.  All
drivers of trucks designed to carry at least 26,000 pounds which
includes most tractor-trailers as well as bigger straight trucks are
required to obtain a special commercial driver's license (CDL) from
the State in which they live; in many States a regular driver's
license is sufficient for driving light trucks and vans.  All
truckdrivers who operate trucks that carry hazardous materials also
must obtain a CDL.

   To qualify for a commercial driver's license, applicants must pass a
knowledge test and demonstrate that they can operate a commercial
truck safely.  A national data bank permanently records all driving
violations incurred by persons who hold commercial licenses, so
drivers whose commercial license is suspended or revoked in one
State may not be issued a new one in another State.  Trainees must
be accompanied by a driver with a CDL until they get their own CDL.
Information on how to apply for a commercial driver's license may be
obtained from State motor vehicle administrations.

   The U.S.  Department of Transportation establishes minimum
qualifications for truckdrivers who are engaged in interstate
commerce.  A driver must be at least 21 years old and pass a
physical examination, which the employer usually pays for.  Good
hearing, 20/40 vision with or without glasses or corrective lenses,
normal use of arms and legs (unless a waiver is obtained), and
normal blood pressure are the main physical requirements.  Persons
with epilepsy or diabetes controlled by insulin are not permitted to
be interstate truckdrivers, and drivers may not use any controlled
substances unless prescribed by a licensed physician.  In addition,
drivers must take a written examination on the Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations of the U.S.  Department of Transportation.

   Many trucking operations have higher standards than those described.
Many firms require that drivers be at least 25 years old, be able to
lift heavy objects, and have driven trucks for 3 to 5 years.  Many
prefer to hire high school graduates and require annual physical
examinations.  Federal regulations require employers to test their
drivers for alcohol and drug use as a condition of employment, and
require periodic random tests while on duty.

   Since drivers often deal directly with the company's customers, they
must get along well with people.  For jobs as driver-sales workers,
an ability to speak well and a neat appearance are particularly
important, as are self-confidence, initiative, and tact.  For all
truckdriver jobs, employers also look for responsible,
self-motivated individuals, since drivers work with little
supervision.

   Driver-training courses are a desirable method of preparing for
truckdriving jobs and for obtaining a commercial driver's license.
High school driver-training courses are an asset, and courses in
automotive mechanics may help drivers make minor roadside repairs.
Many private and public technical-vocational schools offer
tractor-trailer driver training programs.  Students learn to inspect
the trucks and freight, to maneuver large vehicles on crowded
streets and in highway traffic, and to comply with Federal, State,
and local regulations.  Some programs provide only a limited amount
of actual driving experience, and completion of a program does not
assure a job.  Persons interested in attending one of these schools
should check with local trucking companies to make sure the school's
training is acceptable or should seek a school certified by the
Professional Truck Driver Institute of America as providing training
that meets Federal Highway Administration guidelines for training
tractor-trailer drivers.

   Training given to new drivers by employers usually is informal and
may consist only of a few hours of instruction from an experienced
driver, sometimes on the new employee's own time.  New drivers also
may ride with and observe experienced drivers before being assigned
their own runs.  Additional training may be given if they are to
drive a special type of truck or if they are handling hazardous
materials.  Some companies give 1 to 2 days of classroom instruction
which covers general duties, the operation and loading of a truck,
company policies, and the preparation of delivery forms and company
records.  Driver-sales workers also receive training on the various
types of products they carry so they will be more effective sales
workers and better able to handle customer requests.

   Very few people enter truckdriving directly from school; most
truckdrivers previously held jobs in other occupations.
Consideration is given to driving experience in the Armed Forces.
In some instances, a person also may start as a truckdriver's
helper, driving part of the day and helping to unload and load
freight.  When driving vacancies occur, senior helpers usually are
promoted.

   New drivers sometimes start on panel or other small straight trucks.
As they gain experience and show good driving skills, they may
advance to larger and heavier trucks, and finally to
tractor-trailers.

   Although most new truckdrivers are assigned immediately to regular
driving jobs, some start as extra drivers, who substitute for
regular drivers who are ill or on vacation.  They receive a regular
assignment when an opening occurs.

   Advancement of truckdrivers is generally limited to driving runs
that provide increased earnings or preferred schedules and working
conditions.  For the most part, a local truckdriver may advance to
driving heavy or special types of trucks, or transfer to
long-distance truckdriving.  Working for companies that also employ
long-distance drivers is the best way to advance to these positions.
A few truckdrivers may advance to dispatcher, to manager, or to
traffic work for example, planning delivery schedules.

   Some long-distance truckers purchase a truck and go into business
for themselves.  Although many of these owner-operators are
successful, others fail to cover expenses and eventually lose their
trucks.  Owner-operators should have good business sense as well as
truckdriving experience.  Courses in accounting, business, and
business arithmetic are helpful, and knowledge of truck mechanics
can enable owner-operators to perform their own routine maintenance
and minor repairs.

Job Outlook

Opportunities should be favorable for persons who are interested in
truckdriving.  This occupation has among the largest number of job
openings each year.  Although thousands of openings will be created
by growth in demand for drivers, the majority will occur as
experienced drivers transfer to other fields of work or retire or
leave the labor force for other reasons.  In addition, truckdriver
jobs vary greatly in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, number of
nights that must be spent on the road, and in the quality of
equipment operated.  Because truckdriving does not require education
beyond high school, competition is expected for jobs with the most
attractive earnings and working conditions.

   Employment of truckdrivers is expected to increase about as fast as
the average for all occupations through the year 2005 as the economy
grows and the amount of freight carried by trucks increases.
However, increased integration of truck and railroad long-distance
freight transportation should continue to slow somewhat the growth
of truckdriver jobs.  Trailers are expected increasingly to be
carried between distant regions on trains, and delivered and picked
up by trucks.  Perishable goods should continue to be shipped long
distance by truck.

   Average growth of local and long-distance truckdriver employment
should outweigh the slow growth in driver-sales worker jobs.  The
number of truckdrivers with sales responsibilities is expected to
increase slowly because companies are increasingly splitting their
responsibilities among other workers, shifting sales, ordering, and
customer service tasks to sales and office staffs, and using regular
truckdrivers to make deliveries to customers.

   Job opportunities may vary from year to year because the amount of
freight moved by trucks fluctuates with the economy.  Many new
truckdrivers are hired when the economy and the volume of freight
are expanding, but fewer when these decline.  During economic
slowdowns, some truckdrivers are laid off and others have decreased
earnings because of reduced hours or miles driven.  Independent
owner-operators are particularly vulnerable to slowdowns.
Truckdrivers employed in industries such as wholesale food
distribution, which is usually not affected much by recessions, are
less likely to be laid off.

Earnings

As a rule, local truckdrivers are paid by the hour and receive extra
pay for working overtime, usually after 40 hours.  Long-distance
drivers are generally paid primarily by the mile, and their rate per
mile can vary greatly from employer to employer; their earnings
increase with mileage driven, seniority, and the size and type of
truck.  Most driver-sales workers receive a commission based on
their sales in addition to an hourly wage.

   In 1992, truckdrivers had average straight-time hourly earnings of
$12.92.  Depending on the size of the truck, average hourly earnings
were as follows:

Medium trucks................................................$13.50
Tractor-trailers..............................................12.94
Heavy straight trucks.........................................11.91
Light trucks.................................................. 8.51


   Drivers employed by trucking companies had the highest earnings,
averaging about $14.55 an hour in 1992.  Truckdrivers in the
Northeast and West had the highest earnings; those in the South had
the lowest.

   Most long-distance truckdrivers operate tractor-trailers, and their
earnings vary widely, from as little as $20,000 to over $40,000
annually.  Most self-employed truckdrivers are primarily engaged in
long-distance hauling.  After deducting their living expenses and
the costs associated with operating their trucks, earnings of
$20,000 to $25,000 a year are common.

   Many truckdrivers are members of the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters.  Some truckdrivers employed by companies outside the
trucking industry are members of unions that represent the plant
workers of the companies for which they work.

Related Occupations

Other driving occupations include ambulance driver, busdriver,
chauffeur, and taxi driver.

Sources of Additional Information

   Information on truckdriver employment opportunities is available
from local trucking companies and local offices of the State
employment service.

   Information on career opportunities in truckdriving may be obtained
from:

   American Trucking Associations, Inc., 2200 Mill Rd., Alexandria, VA
22314.

   The Professional Truck Driver Institute of America, a nonprofit
organization established by the trucking industry, manufacturers,
and others, certifies truckdriver training programs that meet
industry standards.  The Institute has available for $4 A Checklist
For Quality Programs in Tractor Trailer Driver Training, a
do-it-yourself guide for evaluating the quality of a truckdriver
training program.  This publication, as well as a free list of
certified tractor-trailer driver training programs, may be obtained
from:

   Professional Truck Driver Institute of America, 8788 Elk Grove
Blvd., Suite 20, Elk Grove, CA 95624.