Why Truck Drivers Are in High Demand

In life, people often say that when one door closes another one opens, and you may be thinking about that very phrase as you shift your career from one industry to another. The distribution industry is likely to grow and now is a good time to get your truck driver's license. What do you need to do first?

Opportunities Abound

As people buy an increasing amount of their goods online using the click of a mouse, more drivers than ever are needed to help move everything from the factory to the warehouse, and on to your front door. This will call for more drivers in the future with light, medium or heavy rigid capability and presents the perfect opportunity for you.

Types of Licence

Assuming that you have held a car licence for a little while, you can get your light rigid licence straight away. This will qualify you to drive smaller trucks as you learn. Within a year you'll be able to get an hr licence (heavy rigid licence) in most states, but you may even be able to go directly for this type of licence in your jurisdiction. Get in touch with your local authority to see how it works where you live.

What About a Road Train?

You may not need to go all-out and get a licence that allows you to drive a road train across the country, and this will typically take you a few years to do so anyway. Remember, there will be plenty of opportunities at the lower levels.

Getting Underway

You can make an application right now at your local highway authority, but you will need a certain amount of training and will need to take a test before you can qualify. Remember, this is not like driving a car, and you will have to rely a lot more on your mirrors and be very careful to watch your speed.

You will also need to budget for the cost of hiring a vehicle and instructor for the test itself and should ensure that you have enough money to go through a qualified driving school as well. Remember, you will need an independent assessor when it comes to the actual test, and you won't be able to use your trainer for this purpose.

For more information and assistance with getting your new career started, contact your local trade school today for a consultation.