$70Kannual starting pay, Drivers work 3 weeks and 1 week off, Healthcare available after 60 days, Paid Vacation after 1 year, also have set pay raises Some heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers plan their own routes.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Alltractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity of more than 26,000 pounds.
These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states.Duties Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following :
- Drive long distances
- Report to a dispatcher any incidents encountered on the road
- Follow all applicable traffic laws
- Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers
- Inspect their trailers before and after the trip, and record any defects they find
- Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations
- Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate personnel
- Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working order Most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers' routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes.
When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road restrictions that prohibit large trucks. Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip.
Some drivers have one or two routes that they drive regularly, and others drivers take many different routes throughout the country.
Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs in order to minimize downtime. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other drives.
Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations.Other drivers, such as those carryingcars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them.