what are the different types of trucking?

Yeah. Anything that requires a set of placards on the tractor and trailers, or the straight truck, is a hazmat load, by definition.

As to trucking itself, there are all kinds of definitions, depending on the truck or combination's and what and how you are hauling it.

 

as Ranger 309 said, there are all kinds of trucking. you could specialize in one type if you want, or you can be a "jack of all trades" if you want.

there is "vocational trucking" which can be construction, garbage, dump, etc,etc.

when thinking about truck driving and what you might want to do, take into account what you want for home time. but be forewarned, trucking is work and at times so many hours per day. some of those hours, you will NOT get paid for either. its just the way it is. But, you can make a decent living, just do not expect to become a millionaire from it.

 

Great.....now ya tell me.............

 

Basically there is Dry Van (most common), Refrigerated (reefer), Flat Bed (skateboards), Tankers (liquids), Car Haulers (rolling parking lots), Logging (toothpicks), Bottom Dump (grain, wood chips etc) and Containers (cans, intermodal).

Inside these types there are small specialty breeds. For example: I was a Heavy Haul (over 80k gross) which can be dry van or flatbed using extra axles on the rigs/trailers. Each type fills a specialty niche in the shipping world and requires some skills the others might not commonly use. For example: IN HH, my 4 axle trailers didn't track or back as cleanly as a 2 axle. I also had to very careful of balancing the loads using air bags to keep from going over axle weights or bridge laws. Anything that ships on the road, some company has a division that specializes in it.

Now, that probably just opened up a whole new realm of questions.....

 

There's all kinds of trucks you can drive once you obtain your cdl...not just over the road truck trailer combinations either...



Sweeper trucks...although I don't think CDL is required...not sure...



there's water trucks,various types that are utilized for various reasons, including construction...



There's cement trucks...



A fire truck, which is used to extinguish fires....
(obviously I'm bored)....



Tow trucks...used to tow other trucks....



Sewer clean up trucks...you'll be home everyday....
(why do I hear Al Gores voice?)



A small garbadge truck, used to remove garbadge....

Or, if you get your cdl, you might want to get your P endorcement and drive a tour bus...



With a job like this, you drive people or groups around to Casinos, resorts, cruiseships....sometimes you get cheerleaders.(ye baby!!)..other times you might get seniors...or a church group...

And I could go on and on...my aim or purpose here (besides the fact I'm bored) is to let you know there's many options that most do not consider when it comes to driving a truck, or what they can do with cdl...there more to truck life than OTR...

And with the possible acception of the tour bus or Greyhound jobs, most will have you home everyday...like a normal 9-5 job....

Warehouses also have truck jobs...the highly coveted 'box truck' types...where you work a normal short shift and are home in time to attend the ball game...



I'm just trying to broaden your horizon when it comes to a trucking career...or just driving career....just go to warehouses and ask about driving opportunities...you may have to start of sweeping floors though..

Not all trucking jobs lead to Pilot...
And with that...good day...

 

A few more options...

Grocery store chain driving opportunities...like Winn-Dixie...



They have large dist centers scattered throughout the SE...and employ many warehouse workers and drivers....

And believe it or not...if you get hired at one of their local grocery stores, you can then apply for the truck job and get it...cause your already in the door....from bag boy to truck driver...not bad...



The same with Publix warehouse trucks...you can follow the same career path...day cabs, and your home daily...


I'm just trying to let you all know theres more to driving than Swift, Werner and JB Hunt...that's one type of driveing...but there's a whole other world of driving out there that most just don't know about or ever consider...I merely trying to aid you in your search...

One more....Moving Van companies pay good, very good...but require lots of 'work'...loading, unloading...that's why most crews you see are younger males...but they will be younger rich males if they plan their career right...

You can often get on with these companies as labour, and work your way up...



For instance...one cross country move can cost from $10-$20,000 dollars...hard work yes, but someones getting paid...and it's the driver and his crew...

 

Opportunities I've found, (if only I had the 5 years experience) if you get your CDL and drive for a while. You can get gigs with the Department of the Army, and the Department of the Navy. They pay you salary. (meaning no matter how many hours you work, you get paid what's in your paygrade) Working 10 hours a day (which is what the shifts they listed to be) you can pull in $25 an hour transporting "Militarized Material" and "Materials of a military nature" between bases from ports, across the state, etc.

Gotta qualify for a Secret Clearance through the Gov. But the gov would fit the bill provided you have a clean background etc.

And then, there is also actual Military Trucking. Like Joining the Army, Marines, etc. as a Truck Driver.

And then there is working as a National Guardsmen, Army Reservist, Air Guard Reservist etc. as a Truck Driver, and being a professional one in the civilian world.

OH and then there is Marina Trucking. where you transport material to be delivered to a port. Or from the ports to their destinations.

I've found a LOT of different trucking career paths one can take as a Trucker.

Also found possible gigs working overseas as a truck driver as well. A orgenization called KBR and a couple other contracting freightliners I've found. Will pay experienced drivers $91,500-135,000 annually for taking a contract to drive overseas for the US Military. Like driving in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and even found a gig one can take working in Eastern Europe. they also have a gig driving in Kosovo to Turkey etc. But you have to have experience per their job adds.

But yeah. Best move I've probably ever made is pursuing a career as a Trucker.

 

It would be nice if every truck school or if there was an agency, that could sit every new driver down, and help them plot out a career behind the wheel...I mean really educate them the many exciting or not so exciting paths they could go down...

Like prep those who are looking to become owners or fleet operators...lay out a loose template for them to follow to achieve that...(including keeping your credit good)...(good credit is such a key, cause with it, you can write your own ticket)...

Without it, you have to deal with shady people and make shady deals to get what you want...

In this seminar or service, explain to them about utility truck driving vs open road carrier type driving...

Tell them where and how to apply for each...

So many drivers come into this trade blind....
Maybe in the past you could do that...but it's not smart to do that now...so much has changed...companies have changed...what they do with your information has changed...

15 years ago...a driver would quit, and just leave the truck parked at his house...and all the companies would do is send someone to retrieve it....
Try that now, and you'll never get another driving job...and they will charge you for recovery fees...

Explain to drivers lease vs buying vs company...
Explain to the the demands of refer vs the demands of dry van vs the demands of flatbed tanker, bulk, dump trailers, oversized, moving vans, cattle hauling ect ect...

It's not enough to say you want to drive for a year, and then find a local job....cause there's a 30 year waiting list...in that every driver has had those same thoughts since the 70's....

And most local jobs are based out of local warehouses...and many of their drivers get their starts from within...

Other types of local driving jobs include these types..



All the large soda companies have a variety of truck routes...from 18 wheels and trailer...to the ones you see above...each with different demands on the drivers...

With these side loaders...lot's of stops during the day...maybe 12-15....but you start at around 5-6am...and are off by 2-5...just depends on work load that day and how fast you are...

You drive the truck back to warehouse...and warehouse guys reload it for you...so that next morning all you gotta do is check load inventory...then your delivery again...

Applying at Coke or Pepsi or other companies as such with trucks, is yet another back door way to get into a driving route that may suite you better than 18 wheeler...

Again, just depends on what you want...

But I know now, the over the road stuff is becoming a pain, with the over regulating of everything, all these self imposed company idling rules, scales, dot, increased city and country traffic...

It's a lot to ask of someone now...

Maybe they should start paying truckers salaried wages also...with periodical raises...I think it would put a lot of drivers at ease...like say just $650.00 a week to start...
For over the road...it would put the driver more at ease...and put the pressure on dispatchers to find loads...I don't know...just brain storming...

Best wishes to you new guys..and gals...

 

All the gov trucking jobs are salaried. and I've found a LOT of jobs that are hourly rate. But they all require experience. =/