Ten Stages Of Your First Year In Trucking
Your first year as a truck driver can be the most challenging and trying year of your life. It will come with a lot of highs, and a lot of lows. But once that first year is done and over with, the opportunities for you are endless. We have broken up the first year of trucking into 10 different stages to help explain easier what all you will go through. Please watch the video below and then read the details of each stage after that...
WATCH: The 10 Phases Of Your First Year Of Trucking
These are the 10 phases of your first year as a truck driver:
- Stage 1 - Research; find the trucking company and style that fits your needs.
- Stage 2 - Find the best CDL Training; search for CDL training and all the different options from multiple different schools, then decide on the one that best suits you.
- Stage 3 - Study; Study that CDL manual from top to bottom to better help prepare yourself once you start CDL training school.
- Stage 4 - Prepare; Pack your bags and attend CDL training school.
- Stage 5 - Company Orientation; Learn about your role with the company.
- Stage 6 - OTR With Trainer; You will spend a few weeks over-the-road with your driver trainer, learning new tricks and all of the secrets to a successful trucking career.
- Stage 7 - First Seat Driver; Your time is up with your trainer and it's time to head out on the road alone.
- Stage 8 - First 6 Months OTR; The main goal is to help you gain confidence while out on the road trucking.
- Stage 9 - Months 6-9; This is when you think about the bigger picture. You are more than halfway through your first year and have some experience under your belt.
- Stage 10 - Months 9-12; This is where you're approaching the end of your 1sdt year and need to start preparing for the next big step. Do you want to stay with the same company and continue over-the-road? Or would you rather try different routes such as becoming a trainer, driving local, or choosing a dedicated route?