Over-the-Road Truck Drivers perform some or all of the following duties:
• Inspect assigned trucks to ensure that they are in good working order, and ready for long hauls.
• Check fluid levels and tire pressure, and make sure that any issues with the engine or transmission are rectified.
• Clean assigned trucks from the inside and the outside, and ensure that they are road-worthy.
• Take and comprehend orders regarding moving or transporting goods and items to different destinations within the city and in an intercity or interstate capacity.
• Assist in the loading of goods and items into the truck, and securing them properly so that they remain safe during transit time.
• Map short and safe routes to destinations using standard maps and GPS, and drive trucks on determined routes.
• Ensure that deliveries are made in a timely manner, and provide dispatchers with information on delivered items.
• Create and maintain logs of deliveries and routes, and record any incidents that may have transpired on the way.
Over the Road Truck Driver Qualifications
Working as an over-the-road truck driver requires one to possess a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Some companies may hire you even if you do not possess this but it will be in your own interest to have this much education, as you will often need to read instructions, and write logs.
Working in this position means that your knowledge of trucking between cities and states needs to be exceptional. Route comprehension and the different ways in which you can map efficient routes to your destinations will be all part of your work, and you will have to be good at doing this.
Also, physical strength and dexterity are required when working as an over-the-road truck driver. You will need to go long times without sleeping, and the few naps that you can take may not be enough to make you tackle the day. However, this strength will help you make it big in the trucking world.