FleetMatics occasionally publishes guest posts with interesting content relevant to our audience. Robert Wilkes is an on the road freelance blogger for TheTruckersReport.com as well as a regular poster on TheTruckersReport.com Forum.
Truck drivers deliver product such as food, vehicles, milk, petroleum, construction material, packages and more from one place to another. They may deliver goods from one state to another or stay within one particular state. They may be away from home for days or weeks at a time or they may return home each day. There are many advantages and disadvantages that come with this job, including being away from family, stress keeping up with delivery schedules, driving in heavy traffic and living a healthy lifestyle. The pros are job security, paid travel to places they’ve never seen, and freedom while on the road.
- Tractor Trailer Truck Drivers
A tractor trailer truck driver hauls dry product or refrigerated product in a contained trailer. He or she may be delivering anything from food to furniture. They may own their own semi or “rig” as some truck drivers call it, or they may be hired by a trucking company and driving their vehicle. This is probably the most common type of truck driving job available. Truck drivers may be on the road for days or weeks at a time depending on where they deliver or they may drive on local routes and return home each day. The hours may be long and tedious. They may hand deliver everything with the use of a hand cart or they may have the help of a store employee. - Tanker Truck Drivers
The driver who delivers liquids will be driving a tanker. This person has the responsibility of keeping the tanker on the road safely because liquids are not as stable as the product a tractor trailer driver delivers. He must have special training to know how to handle a tanker. He may be delivering milk, gas, oil, or other types of chemicals. He may or may not be on long hauls. Along with the responsibility comes better pay and benefits. This job is often dangerous, especially if he is carrying flammable materials. - Fed Ex and UPS Drivers
Two of the most popular truck driving jobs, the Fed Ex and UPS delivery man. This person values his job because both companies offer their employees great benefits and good pay. The Fed Ex driver has his own vehicle and works under contract with the Fed Ex company. He is delivering packages to customers all over the country. A UPS driver drives a truck that the UPS Company owns. While Fed Ex promises overnight deliver, UPS takes a little longer. Both jobs are highly sought after and have companies in over 200 countries. - Auto Haulers
This truck driver may or may not own their own semi. They deliver many different types of vehicles either locally or across the country. Their vehicle is open to the weather. The driver delivers cars, trucks, SUV’s, all terrain vehicles, other semis and even military vehicles. They deliver to auctions, new and used auto dealerships and even to various ports so the vehicle can be shipped overseas. - Flat Bed Haulers
When you can’t fit large materials inside a trailer it must be delivered on a flat bed trailer. This is the vehicle you see loaded with construction materials such as scaffolding or roofing tresses. This driver also delivers bulldozers and other types of heavy equipment. It is different than an auto hauler because the trailer is flat and may be covered with a tarp in inclement weather. The driver delivers to construction sites, heavy equipment dealerships or auctions.
No matter which type of truck driver you are, the hours can be strenuous, often driving up to 10 or 12 hours at a time. A lack of proper nutrition and sleep is hard on the body and being away for long periods of times may be depressing. Although truck driver’s jobs are stressful, there are drivers who love their job. They love the freedom of the open road. They also enjoy meeting people from all walks of life.
