Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Driving and Dispatching

The first step is obtaining your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Of which, there are three classes A, B, and C. Depending on what kind of truck driving you will do will determine which classification you get.

The price for truck driving schools vary on which one you attend and whether or not you are getting a Class A or B license. On average you can expect attend a course to cost you between $3,000 to $9,000.

If you have a Class A license, you don’t have weight restrictions you have to work around. A Class B license you can’t drive or haul a load over 10,000 pounds. To put it into perspective, with a Class B you will most likely drive a dump truck, straight truck, or other trucks that carry smaller loads.

Both will afford you with employment opportunities, but which one you obtain will depend on your goals. If you go with a Class A, there are more options for you, but the cost of training will be a little higher. We have seen some who obtain their Class B and then get their Class A after they’ve had some experience.

If you attend full-time, which means you meet five days a week, the average course lasts about seven weeks. If you are committed to dedicating a full forty hours per week, you will either need to take up employment after hours or rely on your spouse.

You can get your CDL as young as 18, but you have to be 21 to drive across state lines. Each trucking company will have a minimum age requirement before you can work for them as a truck driver. At Beacon Transport, you must be 23 years old.

States regulate their own rules for driving under the influence. For most people, you can either get a ticket or be convicted. Depending on how your case is registered might result in a suspension.

Each truck driving company will have its own set of rules for hire, but the career choice as a whole provides many convicted felons with jobs.

The median average for truck drivers is $37,000 per year. However, the more experience, the better your earning potential. Some seasoned drivers can make around $60,000 annually.

Businesses are required by law to provide full-time employees with medical benefits. Policies will vary from state-to-state and business-to-business. For truck drivers who decide to work independently, you can obtain your own health insurance or go through the Healthcare Marketplace.

On average, truck drivers are on the road 1-2 weeks at a time. Some companies and drivers allow for 4-6 weeks on the road. Different companies offer different incentives. Some promise to get their drivers home each weekend.

Most companies try to honor time-off requests for their drivers, as long as enough notice has been given in advance of the schedule is made.

Many states prohibit the parking of a semi-truck on their roads. Therefore, truck driving companies have terminals where they can be stored when they aren’t in use.

Truck drivers often sleep in their truck cabins while they are over the road (OTR). Trucks can be parked at any truck stop facility.

Most companies cover tolls, scale tickets, and repairs for their vehicles while their drivers are on the road. For the driver, the only thing they need to worry about is the cost of food.

Personal possessions like your wallet, phone, and clothing are a must. Some drivers choose to kit out their cabins by installing mini fridges, microwaves, and coffee makers, but that is up to the individual.

To a degree truck drivers are able to control their own schedule. As long as they are able to get their load to the destination at the approved time, you can stop to eat, shower, and use the bathroom as you see fit.

Dispatchers organize and schedule routes for truck drivers. They must remain in close contact with the driver, customer, and dispatch facility to get loads to their final destination on time. Attention to detail and accurate record keeping is necessary to become a good dispatcher.

For the most part, training is on the job. However, many companies will ask you to have a high-school diploma or equivalent.

To find available job openings, you can email the companies you prefer to work for directly or check their career board for vacancies.

Basic mathematics, language, and computer skills are required to get you ahead as a dispatcher. Most training will come with the job, but there are additional courses available to help improve on these fundamentals.

Some of the daily responsibilities include answering the phone, coordinate and manage loads, determine best delivery routes, negotiating fees, and talk to drivers about their progress.

The median average for a dispatcher salary is $42,000 a year but varies from company to company.

Yes, many dispatchers become supervisors. With more responsibility comes more pay, with the average salary being over $60,000 annually.

Most dispatchers work from Mon-Fri, 9 am – 5 pm. There are night and weekend positions available as well.