What Work Does A Truck Driver Do Besides Driving?
I am looking into becoming a trucker. I’ve read a lot about this type of job on the internet. I’ve read that legally you can drive 11 hours per day and work a total of 14 hours per day. So what does this other work consist of?
Also, does your company pressure you to work beyond these limits?
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8 Comments to “What Work Does A Truck Driver Do Besides Driving?”
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By wvparano, February 21, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
What you’ve read , you have partially correct. What you’ve read is kind of a quick, but inaccurate summary of what the law is. What the law actually says is that you can legally drive 11 hours a day and can not drive after having been on duty for a total of 14 hours. You can actually work 24 hours a day, but you can not drive after having been on duty 14 hours, until you take a ten consecutive hour break either in the sleeper or off duty or a combination of the two, but it must be ten hours consecutive.
Other work that truck drivers do is
Loading/Unloading
Tarping and/or securing flat bed loads
Fueling
paperwork
To name a few
and anything else you do that requires you to be in direct possession of the truck or load must be logged as on duty not driving.
By Javier, February 21, 2010 @ 9:26 pm
Large and/or established companies are not going to tell you to violate HOS rules. You should never accept a load if you don’t have the hours for it. Some smaller companies may encourage you to violate HOS rules, but it’s not worth it.
As far as other work, what’s already been said is good. You have to inspect your truck (15 minutes required for a pre-trip, but a good inspection will take longer), do paper work, plan trips, maybe do some loading/unloading, and other small things.
By wylee, February 22, 2010 @ 1:20 am
Well first of all becoming a truck driver is more of a lifestyle and not just a job. If you have a spouse who supports you in this decision the your on your way. Also you really have to have patience with the way other people drive especially cars….lol as we call em 4 wheelers…Well the other hours consist of paper work waiting to dock breaking a load down fueling your rig.
Yes alot of companies will try you but if you get in trouble the will deny they pushed you to work passed you hos. but also alot of the big companies don’t paly the game atleast in the publics eye.. it’s different behind the scenes, hope this helps you out…….
By Ed, February 22, 2010 @ 3:15 am
Maintaining log books that track how long you drove in a day.
Handling all the paper work for the loads you deliver.
Pre and post trip inspections of the truck and trailer you have.
sometimes loading and unloading of the loads you carry.
Light maintinance of the truck if you drive for a company and even more if you own the truck. This can be checking and adding fluids when needed and greasing the fith wheel.
By cowboy57, February 22, 2010 @ 8:16 am
I have been in trucking for 32 years and wish I could get out. Not a job but a lifestyle. Most long haul companies expect you to be gone from 1 to 2 weeks and 3 days off and then do it all over again.If you have a life stay away from it. Shorthaul or city work fits into the job category as you would be home everyday but will do many pickup and deliveries
which involves more physical work
By kelly_f_, February 22, 2010 @ 3:00 pm
eat sleep drive load unload drive keep records checks loads checks trucks all companies pressure you to work
beyond limits
most press on for the money
pays is good sometimes
its more of a life Style than a job
days hours months away from home sleeping in back of truck eating out every day long hours good pay maybe sure many do it an dif thats what you want learn how to do it really
By Lacieles, February 22, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
In Malaysia, Truck or Lorry Drivers drives 16 hours a day, sometimes 22 hours (with two 30-minute breaks and 1 hour lunch-break). Others just drive as little as 9 hours or less a day. As the part time, they sell fruits by the roadside (especially seasonal fruits).
By REV B, February 22, 2010 @ 7:54 pm
Coordinating the load and unload process, counting freight and filling out paperwork.