Tag: Trucking Industry

New to the trucking life? Here are some useful tips that will come in handy when you’re on the job.

If you’re new to trucking, or undertaking training to be certified as a qualified commercial motor vehicle driver, then this read is for you.

Truck driving is a relatively easy job.

However, it’s a lot of hard work and sacrifice. You will be required to spend time away from your loved ones for a long time. Some loading assignments require you to stay on the road for weeks.

The job requires your 100% focus and attention, all day, for most days of the year (excluding paid time off and holidays).

But of course, the job also comes with its perks. The pay is really good, and you can eventually gain enough experience to start your own trucking business. Alternatively, you will be recommended by contractors and companies in accordance with your performance, giving you a long and fruitful career.

While every job comes with its own pros and cons, the cons of this job should be considered carefully.

The following tips will help you find the answers you’re looking for, as you navigate through this new chapter of your life as a new truck driver.

1. Your training is not customary. It’s useful in real life

It’s important to pay attention in your CDL training. The methods and mechanisms you learn in your training will be useful in real-life situations. Even the troubleshooting and vehicle fix workshops are necessary to help you get familiar with the vehicle and the job.

2. Be prepared to drive for 10-11 hours a day

From a layman’s perspective, truck driving might seem like a dream. The long drives across picturesque landscapes, traveling from one state to another, and exploring different kinds of local cuisine may all seem appealing.

But here’s what you need to remember.

Driving alone for 10-11 hours a day will tire you out. It even gets boring after the first few trips because you’re on your own in the middle of nowhere with nothing to support you but your truck.

A study even shows that truck drivers are more prone to stress and anxiety due to a variety of reasons, including work and the distance away from home and family.

3. Be flexible & patient

You will be required to travel interstate and even across borders for some loading orders. The IRP trip permits are testimony to that.  You have to be open to driving for days, and you’ll need to budget your trips accordingly.

You will have to stay at remote motels, or no motels at all (if you can’t find parking for your truck), and just function with a few essential items for an entire trip.

A typical day for a truck driver looks something like this.

• Waking up + freshening up
• Coordinating with the back-office staff to get details of the load assignment
• Inspecting the vehicle
• Driving
•  Grabbing a quick breakfast at a nearby travel center (that has parking available for heavy trucks)
• Driving for a few hours until lunchtime
• Lunch at a travel center + re-fueling + quick repairs
• Driving for a few more hours until the shipment is delivered (before the deadline)
• Unloading
• Confirming the load details with the back office coordinator
• Dinner

This was a single-day trip. If the loading is to be shipped to a far-off location, then just include a lot more driving for days, and uncomfortable sleep in the schedule.

And let’s not forget how all of this has an impact on your physical and mental health.

4. Pay/salary will get better with experience

You’re not going to be at the top of the pay scale right off the bat. It takes time and experience to understand the gravity of the job and the responsibilities.

It’s the same for any job in the world.

And once you gain enough expertise, you will be paid well.

Truck driving is a promising career with good pay and a variety of benefits. So, if you’re patient and consistent, and learn the job well, you will be rewarded in the long term.

5. Regulatory compliance is very important

Getting the CDL training and license is not enough. You need IFTA fuel permits, IRP trip permits, credentials, and other paperwork as you pass through each state.

Each state has its regulatory obligations. And you need to familiarize yourself with these mandates and comply.

Speaking of regulatory obligations.

If you’re an owner-operator who’s new to the trucking industry, you will need more than just highway compliance to stay in the good books.

You will also need to comply with the IRS.

When you drive a heavy vehicle that weighs 55,000 pounds or more (be it for agricultural or commercial purposes), your vehicle will be taxed by the IRS.

Every self-employed truck driver and trucking business needs to file a 2290 HVUT form to report the vehicle information.

The weight of your vehicle, month of first use, and mileage utility information will be considered to tax your trucking business.

With EZ2290, you can easily manage your HVUT filings and stay compliant.

EZ2290 is trusted by 10,000+ trucking businesses in the U.S. because it enables: 

• Quick and easy bulk data import
• Real-time TIN matching
• Dynamic form completion
• Automatic HVUT tax calculations
• Secure & encrypted eFile transmissions
• Free 2290 VIN Corrections
• Free Re-file for rejected returns
• Online options to pay your HVUT with convenience
• Priority 2290 tax support

Create Your Free Account & File Your Form 2290

Other Useful Posts From Ez2290 Blog:

• 2290 Filing Deadline: When Is The Deadline For HVUT Form 2290?
• 10 Ways To Save Fuel: For Fleet Owners
• How To File An Amended 2290 Return Online?
• Top 5 Best Truck Stops In The Midwest
• What Are 2290 Amendments? How To Amend A 2290 Return Online?

Considering becoming a truck driver? Then here are 7 more things you should consider before you choose commercial truck driving as a long-term career option.

Options. 

We all love them.

There are so many things to choose from. 

But when it comes to choosing a profession like ‘commercial truck driver’ as your full-time career, it’s important to base your decision on practical circumstances and knowledge. 

You can make this decision by weighing the pros and cons.

Your passion to become a truck driver for a commercial fleet company is a good start. 

But passion, too, needs direction and consistency. 

So, ask yourself the following question. 

How prepared are you for this role? 

If you’re under the assumption that truck drivers are mostly driving around, crossing states, unloading orders, and enjoying the scenic view, you’re not wrong. 

Truck drivers do get to do all that. 

But there’s more to this job than just driving. 

Just like any other job, truck driving tests your driving skills, people skills, time management skills, and other skills. 

But how? 

By the end of this read, you’ll find answers to this question.

Let’s look at commercial truck driving with a logical sense.

The Job Pays Well

Just wanted to start off this read with a positive note. Yes. Truck driving pays well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay of an average truck driver in the U.S. is around $48,000 in 2021. 

The more experience you add to your profile, the higher the pay. The highest-paid truck drivers were only 10%, yet they were paid $72,700. 

Of course, this kind of pay comes after you’ve completed regulatory training and tests. But after that, the pay basically takes care of you in the long term.

And to be realistic, not every truck driver is promised a 48K pay range in a year. Some truck drivers get paid less than $30,000 a year. That’s pretty decent if you’re just starting out and if you have no prior experience. 

It’s essential to note that truck driving is all about how well you manage your time and hone your skills as you’re on the job. The more you train and the more alert you are when you drive, the more trucking companies will rely on you for commercial transportation, improving your pay within years. 

This just shows how professional and mindful you have to be on your job, all day, every day, in order to get paid that much.

The Trucking Industry Is Booming 

The trucking industry is here to stay. Be it manufacturing, retail, construction, or any other industry. 

They all depend on commercial transportation on some level. 

In fact, statistics show that the U.S. trucking industry’s revenue in 2021 is valued at $732 Billion. 

When the world was sinking in revenues during the peak of the Covid-19 global pandemic in 2020, the trucking industry in the U.S. was making record revenue at $791.7 Billion.

The current employment growth rate is at 6% annually with an average of 200,000+ jobs being projected every year, over the next decade. 

So, it’s safe to say that commercial truck driving jobs are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

If you plan on becoming a truck driver, you’re looking for a job that pays you well and secures your future. 

That’s a win-win.

Timing Is Everything

When we say truck driving tests your patience, we really mean it. 

You’re looking at starting your job at, say, 7 AM, and reaching the location destination by 1 PM. Most trucking companies are pretty strict about these deadlines and require the loads to reach the destination by pre-determined timelines. 

Now, this doesn’t seem so bad!

Well, when you consider other factors, which are interconnected with this one, you’ll see how this may not be so easy.

Keep reading.

All That Driving Has An Impact On Your Health 

When you’re a commercial truck driver, your dispatcher will connect with you to make sure that you’re taking the best route to reach the destination on time. 

You can’t stop for breaks longer than 5-10 minutes because longer halts prolong your timeline, making you miss the intended deadline. 

You have to weather through annoying traffic in order to get to highways. 

And then there are nature calls, which require you to hit the brakes in the middle of nowhere. 

Most importantly, you’ll be constantly driving for long hours, which will have an impact on your cognitive functions. 

You can’t drink too much water because it will lead to frequent halts. And if you don’t drink enough water, you’ll be dehydrated. 

The constant vibration for prolonged hours takes a toll on your muscle health and neuro health. 

And if you’re not big on fitness, just a one-way trip could easily tire you out – and this is not a good thing for a truck driver. 

But then, you did not sign up for this job for one day. 

You will have to do this every day. 
So, you will have to get better at handling your health and time while managing your job.

Hygiene Concerns 

You’re driving inside a small space for long hours. Your body will naturally sweat through the day, and you will have very little time and means to take care of your body. 

Most drivers prefer taking the next load instead of jumping in for a quick shower at the trucking facilities (because more loads and trips mean bonus pay). 

This, combined with minimal availability of public toilets, could impact your hygiene and eventually, your health. 

This is especially bad during winters when most public spaces are closed down or blocked due to heavy snowfall.

Elements & Traffic Are A “Normal” Part Of Your Job 

We all drive through the elements. But this is not the same as driving a truck that is loaded. 

Accelerating, decelerating, controlling the speed, and braking through damped roads can be especially complex for truck drivers. 

It’s even difficult when there’s an unprecedented downpour or early snowfall.

And the traffic maneuvering is different from a truck driver’s perspective. You can never be too close to “regular” vehicles on the highways, and you always have to maintain a safe distance from other trucks. 

Driving a truck won’t be the same as driving with a companion. You won’t have friends or family to accompany you on your long journeys. 

Technically, every day is a long road trip but with a deadline. 

The best policy when on the road is to avoid accidents at all costs. 

Compliance Is Your No.1 Priority 

Getting a valid trucking driver’s license, registering the truck, maintaining all the necessary paperwork, and taking the training necessary to qualify for the job. These are all a part of the regulatory compliance protocol. 

You cannot drive a truck that weighs 55,000 pounds or more (plus loading weight) and maze it through the national highway without prior experience or training. 

That’s just a very bad accident waiting to happen. 

So, it’s important to comply and carry all the paperwork, certificates, license, registration, and other permits with you at all times. The fact that you have all these permits and licenses is testimony to your professionalism, training, and expertise. 

And if you’re a self-employed truck driver, it’s essential you prepare and file your 2290 returns online to pay your HVUT tax and get Schedule 1 (also known as “proof of payment”). 

You have to take a few quick minutes out of your busy schedule to pay your HVUT taxes and eFile 2290 forms to the IRS. 

With EZ2290, you can do all this on the go in just a few quick steps.

Follow this guide to file and pay your HVUT taxes before the deadline.

Go paperless for your next 2290 filings with EZ2290. 

Get Started Now & eFile Form 2290 For 2022-2023 Tax Period

Other Useful Trucking Related Blog Posts

• How To Pass A DOT Inspection?
• DOT Inspection Levels: The 6 Levels Of DOT Inspections Explained
• 5 Ways Fleet Companies Are Effectively Reducing Fuel Consumption
• 5 Ways Transportation Companies Can Increase Driver Retention
• What Is Form 2290 Amendment And How To File An Amended 2290 Return Online?