5 Steps to Gain an Independent Career in Trucking

If you like the idea of working for yourself and helping others succeed, all while taking in the beauty of this great country, then a career as an independent truck driver may be your calling. Of course, you can’t just wake up tomorrow and start pulling loads down the road. Becoming a truck driver takes skill, determination, and lots of practice. If you follow the right steps, though, you could find yourself in a lucrative career in less time than you think.

Earn Your CDL

To drive any type of truck, you’ll need your commercial driver’s license. Therefore, before you can do anything else, it’s vital to earn this license. If you know what type of loads you’d like to haul, you can also work to gain endorsements for various types of hazardous materials. This may take time and often includes mandatory classes and driving hours that vary from state to state, so make sure you do this long in advance before you expect to be out on the open road.

Make Sure You’re Physically Capable

Driving a truck is a big responsibility. That’s why the DOT wants to ensure that you’re physically capable of driving a truck without any significant underlying risks. Therefore, after you obtain your CDL, you’ll need to have a DOT physical exam completed so that you can gain an operator’s certificate. This is a screening done to make sure you don’t suffer from any condition that may impair your driving ability. Conditions like narcolepsy, seizures, and various mobility issues may disqualify you.

Find A Truck

If you’re planning on being an independent operator, you will need a truck before you can get started. If you’ve got plenty of money to spend, it’s generally a good idea to purchase a new truck so that you can take full advantage of the available warranties and other support. Whether you choose a new or pre-owned truck, though, make sure you’re comfortable with servicing at least some of the parts yourself to help save money on repairs and maintenance.

Set Up Your Business

As an independent trucker, you are a small, self-contained business. In order to attract customers and keep track of your income, you will need to run your operation like you would any other business. You will also need to take care of paying taxes, obtaining health insurance, and doing the other tasks that go along with running a business.

Find Work

Once your business is up and running, all that’s left to do is find work. At first, you may have to take some jobs that pay less than you want to work for. This experience is vital, though, as it shows that you’re reliable and trustworthy, which will help build positive word-of-mouth about your business. Once the snowball starts rolling down the hill, you’ll be able to be more picky about the loads you haul.

Even though you plan to be an independent trucker, you don’t have to do everything alone. For example, if you attend a driver training academy, you may be able to talk to them about where to find work. If you try to do everything entirely by yourself, you are only setting yourself up for failure.