Truck Driver Trucking Employment Options

As a new truck driver, you have many trucking employment options that you can choose from. As a new driver, you are probably excited to hit the highways and start your career as a trucker. Before you jump into a cab of a truck, you should take time to fully understand your options. Long hauling trucking or, is the way many new drivers start off their career. For many, long hauling trucking is their first choice, but for others it is a stepping stone to eventually find local trucking jobs with smaller companies.

Just like any other job, when you are new, you have to start somewhere. Becoming a truck driver is no different. The reasons that new drivers start with long hauling trucking or over-the-road (OTR) trucking vary, but for the majority, it is a requirement that must be met before driving a truck for a small company and many local trucking jobs.

Most of the shipping and delivery companies that provide local runs require a minimum of two years of truck driving experience. The smaller trucking companies and many trucking companies that only do local runs, require the minimum 2 years of experience per their insurance requirements. It is more economical to insure a truck driver that has 2 years of experience and with a clean record, than it is to insure a new non-experienced truck driver. Also some insurance companies will not insure new drivers.

When you are considering your employment options, you should weigh them carefully. When deciding on a driving job, you should research and check out each trucking company. If possible, try to locate feedback from actual truck drivers for that company. Another aspect to consider is the condition of their trucks. A trucking company that does not properly maintain their equipment will cost you time and money while you are out trying to earn money.

Properly maintained vehicles also reduce your chances of getting a ticket as you pass through DOT inspections. Finding work as a truck driver is fairly easy to find because shipping companies are constantly hiring. Some employer's offers may include incentives if you sign on as a new driver. You will need to use caution when accepting a "sign on" incentive. Incentives normally come with a hitch, such as agreeing that you will drive for a certain number of years. This can be good or bad. Shipping companies that offer truck drivers an incentive, often have a very high turnover rate. You will want to ask yourself, why their drivers leave so often.

The best advice to any new truck driver that is contemplating a certain company or someone considering a new company is to decide which trucking company will best help you fulfill your goal. Whether it is hauling containers, flatbed hauling or boxed trailer hauling, finding truck driver jobs is plentiful throughout the country. There will be many options available to you and there are several great companies that will help you start your career as a truck driver.

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How Do Air Brakes Work?

All the air brake systems are using the air pressure for the brakes every time the pedal is stepped on. The air is being stored on several reservoirs or pressure tanks in the truck. The stored air are pressurized using the air compressor that is located in the engine of the truck. The air pressure is being regulated by the air governor in the compressor and most of this works on the level of 120 psi pressure. The governor manipulates when air compressor pump an air in the pressure tanks. If the air reservoir pressure exceeds the cut out level, the governor halt the compressor in pumping air.

Some systems possess air dryer that dries all moisture so that the water condensation would not build in the pressure tank causing brake failures. This will also avoid freezing during winter season. The air dryer has cartridge that needs to be replaced once a year. The air is being pressured by the compressor that passes in the air dryer down to the tanks. And from the air tanks, it goes to different type of systems. The first one is the emergency or the supply system, which discharges parking brakes and keep the reserve air to halt whenever there is a leak.

The manner that the system of parking brakes works on the truck is through the use of springs in air chambers in rear axles of the truck which puts the parking brakes. If the parking brakes knob is pushed, it supplies air in the air chamber which pushes against its springs to discharge the parking brakes. When the air pressure in air system goes down below 60 psi, the parking brake knob would pop out and will set parking brakes.  This is a kind of safe feature to make the air truck stop because when the pressures fall down, the service brake might not work.

When driving in a semi-tractor that has trailer, the trailer knobs in the brakes works on the same manner. But if an air leak exist in the trailer, the protection valve in the tractor will create the trailer brake as protection to the air supply so that the truck would still stop. The other kind of system is called the service brake. It is a kind of system that stops you whenever pushing on the pedal break. When the brake pedal is pushed on, it goes to the pedal valve, which in return control the flow of the air in brake chambers.

Brake chambers also push the slack adjusters, a component that maintains the brake in adjustment. There are also the so-called disc air brakes which are unpopular. Most of brake shoes have the indicator that is built at the end of pads which needs to be replaced in a regular period. When changing the brake shoes, the hardware kits is also needed which includes the pins, busing, and springs for the brakes. The drums must also be replaced as the brake shoes are replaced. This is important because the drums might wear ridge on it that can trigger heat cracks. 

If you would like to take a practice test on air brakes please visit: CDL Learning Center

Tips for Purchasing a Used Class 8 Truck

Purchasing a Used Class 8 Truck

Buying a used Class 8 truck takes more than just looking at the features, you need to look under the hood as well. For many drivers who want to have their own truck, the advantages of purchasing a used one are obvious.

A new class 8 truck is expensive and it can take years to save up the money just to put a good down payment on one. However, a used truck is far less expensive and many drivers can put back enough money to get one in a much shorter period of time. Still, there are disadvantages of owning a used truck that you will need to be aware of before making the purchase.

What to Look for when Purchasing a Used Class 8 Truck

The first think you will need to do is prioritize the needs of the truck you want to own and put to the side the niceties and features that you can do without. You’ll need to make a checklist so that you can fully take down the information on the used truck you are inspecting. What follows are the basics when it comes to overseeing what you want to look for in a truck.

Lights: The first thing you should check off your list is the lights on the vehicle. You’ll want to see that all of them are intact and working properly as well as having the minimum number to be legally on the road.

Brakes: The brake lines should be connected from the truck to the trailer with no issues. Plus, you may want to have a jake brake in the vehicle or some similar device that helps you slow the truck down. Remember that jake braking is illegal in certain cities and counties however.

Transmission: Most used class 8 trucks have manual transmissions, although you will find a growing number that have automatic ones. You’ll want to know how many speeds the engine carries which will range from nine to eighteen. The greater the number, the better control you will have over the truck, especially when it comes to making different maneuvers.

Engine: The condition of the engine is paramount to whether you are going to purchase the truck or not. Everything else can be fixed or replaced within reason, but replacing the engine is a cost that you do not want to bear. Obviously, you should start with the transmission to see what kind it is and then turn to the number of miles the engine has run. Be sure to ask about the maintenance history and any issues that have arisen over that time.

The Features of the Truck

After clearing the big hurdles, you’ll now want to focus on the amenities that the vehicle offers. Safety equipment is an obvious one, but you’ll also want to see about thermostat gauges and other indicators that make driving the truck a lot easier. Comfortable sleepers are always good as well, however you should focus on the features that you want and see if the used class 8 truck has them.

Finally, remember that the main aspects of the used truck are vital towards making a purchase. A class 8 truck in great shape that doesn’t have an amenity or two is something you should buy if it is at a good price.