On the road again

Truck drivers form backbone of state’s, nation’s industries

E very day, the truckers of America are charged with the safe, timely transport of products, from food and medical supplies to industrial equipment, fuel, furniture, automobiles — the list goes on and on.

According to the Arkansas Trucking Association website, www. arkansastrucking.com, 87 percent of the state’s communities rely exclusively on the trucking industry for the delivery of goods. Helping to meet this need, Arkansas is home to more than 4,800 trucking companies. While most of these are small locally owned businesses, others are among the nation’s largest trucking companies.

IS TRUCKING RIGHT FOR YOU?

For many people, both men and women, trucking provides the perfect career. The decision to become a professional truck driver is not one to be taken lightly. This career is actually more of a lifestyle.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most tractortrailer drivers are long-haul drivers, meaning they spend days or even weeks at a time on the road, often including weekends and holidays.

These drivers operate trucks whose gross vehicle weight capacity — that is, the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers and cargo — exceeds 26,000 pounds.

Many people, both men and women, find trucking to be a personally rewarding and lucrative career, citing the feeling of freedom and the chance to see more of the nation as part of the profession’s appeal.

In addition to driving tractor-trailer rigs long distances, truck drivers are also responsible for loading and unloading cargo and keeping a log of their daily activities. Drivers must also inspect their trailers before and after runs and keep their trucks and equipment clean and in good working order.

HITTING THE OPEN ROAD

Most drivers plan their own routes, often using satellite tracking to help plan the best route to deliver their cargo on schedule. Drivers must follow traffic laws in each area through which they travel and must be aware of truck restrictions for various routes.

While many drivers are employed by trucking companies, others buy or lease trucks and work independently. These owner-operators are also responsible for business tasks, such as seeking out clients and performing accounting tasks.

Most trucking companies offer short on-the-job training and require entry-level drivers to have a high-school diploma or equivalent. Arkansas also has several schools devoted to instructing new drivers in how to handle a rig. Drivers must have a commercial driver’s license, or CDL.

To find out more about the trucking industry and related careers, visit the American Trucking Association’s website, www.trucking. org, or the BLS website at www.bls.gov.

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Information courtesy of the Arkansas Trucking Association and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

With more than 4,800 trucking companies in the state and thousands more across the country. Arkansans share the road with professional drivers every day.