The purpose of the CDL program is to ensure that people who drives trucks underwent special and through training in order to ensure the safety of the truck driver, the cargo, other vehicles and pedestrians on the road. It aims to remove under qualified and untrained drivers from the road.

Before getting your CDL you must pass a series of tests which includes knowledge test and skill test.

The Knowledge Test

A general knowledge test is required from all applicants who wish to apply for a CDL. The knowledge test is in written form and depends on the type of vehicle they wish to drive.

If you plan to drive passenger busses like a school bus, city bus or a tour bus, you need to pass the Passenger Transport Test or the School Bus test.

On the other hand, if you plan to drive combination vehicles (tractors, trailers), you need to pass the Combination Vehicles Test, and a Doubles/Triple Test if you want plan to tow two or three trailers.

Truck drivers who are planning to haul large volumes of liquids must take the Tanker Test, while truckers hauling hazardous materials must take the Hazardous Materials Test.

If your truck or commercial vehicle has an air brake, then passing the Air Brakes Test is a must.

The Skills Test

After passing the knowledge test, the then applicant moves on to the skills test. This is includes three types of subtests namely pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving.

In the pre-trip vehicle inspection test, the driving examiner will ask you to inspect the vehicle prior to driving. Here, you are tested if you know how to check for the safety of a vehicle. Thus, you must know what you need to inspect and explain why you need to inspect them.

After the pre-trip vehicle test, you will be tested on your ability to maneuver the vehicle in a series of lanes and turns. You need to be able to pass obstacles and barriers like cones. It also includes backing, space management, and so on. You will be asked to move forward, backward and do turns.

Lastly, you will need to pass an on-road driving test. You will be asked to drive along a pre-determined route, and you will be tested on your ability to maneuver along a traffic area and a variety of actual driving situations like cross roads, streets and highways.

These are two of the tests that you need to pass in order to get a commercial drivers license. Since CDL requirements may differ from state to state, you may need to consult the nearest transport office for any queries or clarifications. CDL information is always available in the said offices.

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The interstate truck license will cover these following areas:

Registration

In order for your truck to touch a state’s highway, you must file a registration for all of your trucks that needed to cross that particular state. Registration is vital to ensure safety and to know that your trucks have passed the standards of that state. Also, registering your trucks legally can be a statement that you are not hauling illegal materials, products and other cargo.

Interstate Authority

Different states mean different authorities. The truck drivers should be aware of it at all times. In the area of truck driving, most of the interstate authorities vary from road rules and regulations. If your truck drivers are professional and wise enough to make decisions along the road, they will automatically comply to that state’s particular road orders and decisions.

Permits

A legal document which gives an official permission can mean a lot in your truck driving company. Usually, permits are the very first document which will be required to show from you if you are passing the state’s borders. This document/s will determine if your transportation of cargo within their territory is legal or not.

Taxes

To continually support the government of the state, your large scale operation must pay the necessary taxes. In order to have good roads and highways as well as fast response time of highway patrol, taxes can mean a lot.

Other Necessary Certifications and Records

In order to acquire interstate truck licenses, the state will review your application thoroughly and will observe other endorsements such as what type of vehicular truck, the total number, and the materials, products, and cargos to be transported to ensure the legality and safety in all aspects. Also, they will check your background and history so that they can filter those who are professional and not.

Truck Driver’s Interstate License

When we are dealing with interstate truck licenses, we are also talking about the driver’s interstate license. The CDL or Commercial Driver’s License can only be renewed under certain conditions. First, if the truck driver has existing CDL under a given state, and wishes to replace it under another state, the truck driver is required to surrender his existing CDL. The rule is that a truck driver is not allowed to hold more than one CDL under his name.

The next condition is that when the driver wishes to renew his CDL. If he has clean and good driving records, he will be granted to renew his CDL. If he has committed any violations, depending on the number and its level of intensity, the truck driver might undergo into the skill and knowledge test again. Also, if he is not mentally and physically fit, his application for renewal will be automatically rejected.

In obtaining interstate truck licenses, you must obey the state’s road law as well as to comply with Department of Transportation’s rules and regulations. If you value professionalism in your line of work, obedience in these areas must be in your character at all times.

Long Haul Truck Drivers

Given that they will hit the open roads for almost half a day, the long haul truck drivers will be automatically far from their home for a week or two. This is one of the major sacrifices of the “over the road” truck drivers. They are geographically far from their home and relatives as their job require it. Also, long haul truck drivers are spending their week life in the truck itself; eating, sleeping, and resting. No other extracurricular activities are allowed for they are on a tight schedule.

If you are single, with no family or children, and love to travel from coast to coast, this is the ideal career for you. Truck drivers who have family usually avoid long haul truck driving as their assignment because of the given fact above. That’s why some of the truck driving companies prefer singles to do the long haul truck driving job.

Usually, long haul truck driving is requiring at least two drivers to ensure safety. These truck drivers can take turns so the other can take a rest without compromising their schedule. These drivers are also called “interstate drivers” for they are driving in different states to transport their loads. It is essential because a single driver cannot drive properly for ten to twelve hours straight. As a result, the probability of committing in to accidents is relatively high. Most of the truck accidents are caused by the drivers who fall asleep in the steering wheel.

Long Haul Truck Condition

Just like the long haul truck drivers, the truck itself must be in its top condition before hitting the open road. To travel thousands of miles means to endure the weather condition of the states, the terms of the roads, and the stop-over plans. Long haul truck drivers must create a travel route to avoid traffic and to designate their stop-over. Before travelling, the truck’s engine and tires must be checked from time to time to avoid over-heating. Also, the level of gas must be monitored to avoid being stuck in a place where there are no gas stations.

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Varying Road Signs And Regulations

Long haul truck driving covers the awareness of the drivers from varying road signs and regulations. For instance, the “no trucks allowed” sign boards and the regulations of allowed weight when crossing a bridge, all of these must be carefully considered.

Long haul truck driving plays a crucial role in the continuity of the industry’s operation. That’s why companies are investing to get skilled and professional truck drivers as well as maintaining the truck’s condition at all times.

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In order to be eligible in acquiring a commercial driver’s license, the truck driver must be 18 years of age and above.

The Commercial Driver’s License

Gaining a Commercial Driver’s Licence is not that easy. Every truck driver will undergo into two sets of examination, added by a through medical check-up to ensure that they are always physically fit. The first examination will determine the driver’s skills. It includes the pre-trip inspection, where the driver will be tested if he knows how to inspect the brake condition, quality of tires, etcetera. Driving test is also covered in the skill test examination. Driving a massive vehicle with tons of weight is not the same as driving your Ferrari and Lamborghini. So to protect the interest and safety of all people, this skill test must be passed by every truck driver.

The second part on the one hand includes the knowledge test, which is written. In this part, the driver will be tested if he knows all the aspects in driving massive and heavy loaded vehicles and mechanical systems along with it. In order to pass this second part of exam, the truck driver must answer correctly at least 80 percent of the total items. If the truck driver has passed all the two examinations, the skill test and knowledge test, he will be recommended to undergo in medical examinations at least every two years to update his health status.

Special Truck Driver Examinations/Endorsement

In operating a large truck that contains heavy raw materials, finished products, or chemicals, a unique skill set is required. Along with the two basic examinations to acquire a CDL, a special examination will be required based on the truck you are operating. The Department of Transportation is aware that there are different types of commercial motor vehicles such as those that contain trailers that haul certain freight. For the safety benefit of all, an additional endorsement will be required like.

• T – if you are to operate trucks with two or three trailers (knowledge test)
• N – if your truck contains a tank like those of gasoline trucks (knowledge test)
• H – if you are to drive trucks that contains hazardous materials (knowledge test)
• X – if your truck contains the combination of a tank and hazardous materials (knowledge test)

Significance of Truck Driver License

According to The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, every truck driver must be qualified to drive and operate commercial motor vehicles. Reckless and incompetent truck drivers must not be present in every highway. Therefore, if you want to pursue truck driving as a career, this is the first thing you should process. If you want to include yourself in the line of professional and safe truck drivers, consider truck driver license as your ticket to get in.

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Truck driver salary can be seen in three ways: hourly rate, per mile rate and by contract. Their experience in the long and open road is highly credited in the amount of their salary. For instance, a truck driver with less than a year of experience will start to the basic salary, while a truck driver with 1 to 5 years experience will be more compensated, and so on.

Truck Driver Salary: Hourly Rate

Although not every truck driving company are giving their truck drivers hourly rate compensation, still, some are following this kind of salary format. Hourly rate for truck drivers are fixed based on the required time of travel. For instance, the truck driver is bound for a 10-hour drive. Regardless of the traffic, stop-over, any forms of delay, they will be compensated with the rate per hour times ten as long as they will reach their target destination given the time frame.

Speaking of traffic, truck drivers who are paid through hourly rates usually hate this congestion of cars especially if they are with a tight schedule. Most truck driving company deduct their salary if the truck drivers arrived at their destination lately. So, if you will ask any truck drivers, they usually state that traffic is a “curse” in their job.

Truck drivers are usually allowed to drive a maximum of 18 hours per day. And within these hours, 10 to 12 hours are spent driving in the long and open road. Truck drivers with at least 1 year experience in long distance driving usually start at a rate of $14 to $15 dollars per hour, based on the truck driving company. Experienced truck drivers on the one hand regularly start at a rate of $20 dollars up.

Truck Driver Salary: By Contract And Per Mile Rate

This mode of salary is the more popular one in truck driving. Most truck drivers, both amateurs and professionals, have a preference with this kind of compensation. The truck driving company will pay everything associated with their work. This includes the driver’s licensing, gas consumption, etcetera. So, the truck drivers will worry no more about everything except on how they will stay awake

By contract, truck drivers will be under the truck driving company for the specified time and they will be compensated by per mile rate. The average salary of truck drivers usually start from $0.60 per mile.

The truck driver salary often changes by a little percentage from season to season. As a conclusion and if we are to calculate, the annual truck driver salary ranges from $60,000 up.