You Just Got Your CDL License - Now What?
Congratulations! You just completed and passed the instructional
driving courses and earned your Commercial Driver's License
(CDL). So now that you are licensed to drive a truck, what is
your next step?
Unless you have a thing about big trucks and just wanted the
license to say you have it, chances are you went to school and
got your CDL because you want to be a truck driver. Luckily for
you, there are a number of opportunities just waiting to be
found. It is up to you to find the trucking jobs that best fit
your needs.
Think about why you wanted to be a trucker in the first place.
Was it to see the country? The salary? Do you enjoy the driving?
What kind of truck or payload do you want to haul? Writing down
everything you are looking for in trucking jobs will solidify
things in your mind when you start your job hunt.
There are many avenues in which to pursue trucking jobs. First
of all, check your local papers - both the dailies as well as
the Sunday issues which usually have an extra classified section
just for employment. Often times, trucking companies in your
area that are seeking qualified licensed truck drivers will
advertise available positions. Keep your eyes and ears open too.
Billboards are becoming more popular, with trucking companies
sometimes purchasing billboard space if they are in a big hiring
push. Television ads and even posters displayed at libraries and
other public places are other areas to keep an eye on.
The truck driving school where you trained and earned your CDL
is another avenue to pursue in your quest for trucking jobs.
Often times, a trucking company will post available positions in
their company through the school's connections. So you have to
remember to ask because these are not always advertised!
The internet is also a major source for trucking jobs. There are
tons of employment websites that cater to helping you find a
job. Most of them do not specialize in truck driving. However,
with a few web searches, you can come up with some sites that
do. Another internet option is researching the trucking
companies themselves. Perhaps you know of a few trucking
companies in your area. Look them up and see if they have
trucking jobs on their website.
Searching for trucking jobs is the easy part. The hard part is
determining which trucking company is the right one for you. You
might have to move to a different area or travel to places that
you prefer not to go. Think about those issues as well as the
reputation of the trucking company and the benefits and salary.
Your decision will mark the start of a new life and career for
you.