Congratulations! You just completed and passed the
instructional driving courses and earned your Commercial Driver’s
License (CDL). So now that you are licensed to drive a truck, what is
your next step?
Unless you have a thing about big trucks and just
wanted the license to say you have it, chances are you went to school
and got your CDL because you want to be a truck driver. Luckily for
you, there are a number of opportunities just waiting to be found. It
is up to you to find the trucking jobs that best fit your needs.
Think
about why you wanted to be a trucker in the first place. Was it to see
the country? The salary? Do you enjoy the driving? What kind of truck
or payload do you want to haul? Writing down everything you are looking
for in trucking jobs will solidify things in your mind when you start
your job hunt.
There are many avenues in which to pursue trucking
jobs. First of all, check your local papers – both the dailies as well
as the Sunday issues which usually have an extra classified section
just for employment. Often times, trucking companies in your area that
are seeking qualified licensed truck drivers will advertise available
positions. Keep your eyes and ears open too. Billboards are becoming
more popular, with trucking companies sometimes purchasing billboard
space if they are in a big hiring push. Television ads and even posters
displayed at libraries and other public places are other areas to keep
an eye on.
The truck driving school where you trained and earned
your CDL is another avenue to pursue in your quest for trucking jobs.
Often times, a trucking company will post available positions in their
company through the school’s connections. So you have to remember to
ask because these are not always advertised!
The internet is also
a major source for trucking jobs. There are tons of employment websites
that cater to helping you find a job. Most of them do not specialize in
truck driving. However, with a few web searches, you can come up with
some sites that do. Another internet option is researching the trucking
companies themselves. Perhaps you know of a few trucking companies in
your area. Look them up and see if they have trucking jobs on their
website.
Searching for trucking jobs is the easy part. The hard
part is determining which trucking company is the right one for you.
You might have to move to a different area or travel to places that you
prefer not to go. Think about those issues as well as the reputation of
the trucking company and the benefits and salary. Your decision will
mark the start of a new life and career for you.