| With the loss of jobs recently, many are seeking | | | | It is now called a C.D.L. or commercial drivers license. |
| new employment or a career change. There is one | | | | The problem was that I had no over the road driving |
| employment opportunity that stands the test of | | | | time. How do you get experience if no company will |
| time, that of the professional truck driver. The supply | | | | hire you? This is and was a big hurdle to any potential |
| chain that feeds and clothes American families across | | | | person willing to apply for one of these jobs. Formal |
| this great nation is operated chiefly by the | | | | training was not available to me in my remote area |
| professional trucker. No matter how bad the | | | | of Montana. I could travel to Indiana and take |
| economy gets, there is a supply and demand for | | | | company courses, but I still was required to have 1 |
| food and clothing. There may be a slowdown of | | | | year 100,000 miles of driving history to go through |
| certain freight at particular times of the year as a | | | | their classes to become an owner operator for that |
| norm, but the basic staples of life must continue to | | | | company, along with a large tractor down payment. |
| flow. | | | | The biggest hurdle today is still where to get |
| If you are currently looking for a career change, lost | | | | comprehensive driver training that is valid and not |
| your job recently, or are new to the workforce, | | | | just a c.d.l. mill. The safety of the motoring public and |
| then a trucking job may be exactly what you are | | | | you depend on getting the correct ground floor |
| looking for. The current minimum age for over the | | | | training. You have to have your school first for the |
| road (otr) truck drivers is 21. In the old days most | | | | license, then go on to the next step. The next big |
| companies decided to move up the minimum age to | | | | question is, what company should I apply to? There |
| 25 for maturity purposes. This is not an easy job and | | | | are so many companies out there that offer training |
| requires a high level of responsibility. If this | | | | after you get your license. |
| opportunity fits you, then read on. | | | | I worked for a large company and trained drivers for |
| I started driving as a moving company driver back in | | | | over 8 years. I can speak a bit about what it is like |
| 1985. I had to work my way up from | | | | from both ends of the driver trainer/trainee |
| warehouseman, to going over the road with owner | | | | relationship. There is so much the regular person does |
| operators and lumping the furniture for them. The | | | | not know about the training program and life on the |
| drivers were treated with respect and always | | | | road. I am still leased to a very large company and |
| seemed to have a pocket full of money. This | | | | go where I want and for the rates I choose most of |
| seemed the line of work for me. Little did I know | | | | the time. It is great to have that freedom to earn a |
| what was in my future. | | | | living and see our wonderful country. |
| I had my chauffeur license since 1979 after the army. | | | | |