The lack of truck drivers has been well-published through traditional media outlets and online. However, there’s a very substantial difference in a traditional over-the-road truck driving job and being a heavy haul driver.

Licensing

It all begins with obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Individuals will need a regular driver’s license, good driving record, and there will be a driving and written knowledge test geared specifically for the CDL. There are also different classes of CDLs, each with its own endorsement that’s required.

Potential drivers will need to meet age and citizenship requirements and be able to produce documentation to prove those requirements. Individuals must be able to speak and read English and be able to pass the mandatory background check.

Drivers will need to know rules and requirements that are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). There are companies that teach courses in driving tractor-trailers. Individuals that successfully complete the training will typically be issued a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) that enables them to practice driving a semi.

The Physical

Good hand-eye coordination isn’t just a skill for video gamers. It’s also needed to be an effective heavy haul driver. Individuals that aspire to be a heavy hauler will need to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical and provide a DOT medical card.

Heavy haulers don’t just sit behind the wheel of their big rig. They must be physically able to secure the loads they’ll be hauling and may be required to perform other duties related to heavy hauling in different types of situations. They need to pass stringent hearing and vision tests, and meet blood pressure standards. There are specific health conditions that will automatically disqualify an individual from being a heavy hauler.

Written Test

Potential drivers will be tested on their general knowledge and that of air brakes and vehicle systems. Individuals may also be tested on any endorsements they may be seeking.

Road Test

Every new driver must take a road test in the type of vehicle they will be licensed to drive. Individuals will be tested on their vehicle inspection skills, control of the truck-trailer, and overall driving habits.

With over a decade of transporting and Heavy Haul experience, we ensure any and all of your heavy equipment export is transported safely. Our skilled logistics team understands it’s mission-critical to get your load where it needs to be on time, every time and will make it our main focus when shipping for you.

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