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Advancing Your Trucking Career: Certifications and Training Programs
The trucking industry is a cornerstone of the American economy, as well as the global economy. Truckers keep our supply chains flowing safely and efficiently, and as someone who spends most of their working time on the road, there is much expected of them in terms of safety and responsibility. There are many different certification and training programs that truckers can enroll in that will help them advance their careers by opening up new opportunities.
As all truckers know, certifications are central to the world of commercial trucking. Many people may overlook the fact that with more certifications comes more opportunities for higher pay, specialized work, and professional advancements due to your ability to perform in-demand work that few can handle. The industry is evolving, and the drivers who show their dedication to learning new best practices, staying on top of changing regulations, and willingness to work in new areas are the ones who will enjoy a higher trajectory.
Professional development in trucking can take several forms, including additional certifications as well as many different training programs. In each of these options, you, as a driver, will have the opportunity to expand your skillset and knowledge while demonstrating your commitment to improving.
Why Certifications and Training Matter
Certifications and training are very important in any professional field, which includes the trucking industry. Each certification you receive or training you complete will send a signal to potential employers that you are skilled, capable, and dedicated, and in many cases, will give you access to work that others won’t be able to take without the necessary qualifications.
Career Advancement
A certification tells a story without you needing to explain yourself. When a potential client or employer sees that you have a certain certification, they don’t even need to ask if you are able to handle that task — it’s implied. This is a great way to set yourself apart on a resume or job application in a competitive field.
Increased Marketability
Beyond the obvious marketability benefits in the field, there is the important fact that these certifications and training will help you stay up to date with all of the changes in the industry so you are able to perform your work as safely as possible. As new truckers enter the field, they will have a more “current” view of the industry, so it’s important to stay fresh and make sure that you stay on top of new trends and practices.
Higher Earning Potential
As you continue to specialize, you will become more in demand by employers and clients who need your specific skill set. The more specific your skills, the higher the earning potential likely is. Continuing to broaden your competencies will give you access to more niche jobs that employers and clients are willing to pay competitively for.
Key Certifications You Should Consider
Here are just a few of the most important certifications that you can consider in order to further advance your career, improve your marketability, and potentially increase your earning power. Remember that there is no linear path for advancement in the trucking industry, so you may choose some, all, or none of the certifications listed below. Your choices will depend on your unique situation, but here are a few of the big ones:
HazMat (HME)
An endorsement for Hazardous Materials (HazMat) is one of the first certifications that many truckers have added to their CDL. A HazMat endorsement allows a driver to transport materials that have been designated as hazardous by the FMCSA, such as flammables, compressed gaseds, poisonous materials, radioactive substances, corrosives, environmentally-hazardous substances, high-temperature materials, and marine pollutants. There are many other materials that are covered by HazMat, and some that fall under this category may require additional endorsements.
Tanker (N)
A Tanker endorsement is added to a CDL, much like HazMat, and allows the driver to transport liquids or gases that are in tanks. There is no requirement for tanks under 119 gallons or an aggregate rated capacity of less than 1,000 lbs, so this endorsement is specifically for full-sized tanks that carry things like propane, gas, water, food-grade liquids, and much more.
This is an important endorsement because transporting the types of materials stored in tanks requires specific skills and knowledge in order to do the job safely. There are a lot of different clients and employers who are always on the lookout for a driver who can handle these types of jobs.
Doubles/Triples Endorsement (T)
A Doubles/Triples endorsement gives a CDL driver the authorization to haul multiple trailers at once in a configuration known as an LCV (longer combination vehicle). As you can imagine, the skills necessary to haul a second or third trailer is much more complicated than hauling a single. This endorsement will give you access to whole new areas of the long-haul world, where you can make more efficient trips in order to maximize efficiency. Lots of logistics and shipping companies love partnering with T-endorsed drivers for the fact that they can transport double or triple, the amount of material with a single vehicle, saving on operations costs, driver costs, and working hours.
Air Brake Certification
An Air Brake Endorsement, or Air Brake Certification, will open your world up to vehicles equipped with air brakes, which are common in trucks that exceed 26,000 lbs GVWR. Trucks that weigh less are often equipped with hydraulic systems, which most vehicles are equipped with. There are a lot of benefits to air brakes, but because of the differences between these and hydraulics, you will need an additional certification — which potential employers will appreciate due to the added versatility of the work you can provide.
School Bus/Passenger Endorsements
Driving a school bus or passenger bus requires an endorsement to your CDL, and will open up completely different avenues of work compared to the material hauling industry. Many localities have shortages of bus drivers, both for schools and public transportation, and these jobs offer stability and regularity that many trucking opportunities can not. With this endorsement, you will have access to jobs driving school buses, public transit buses, and charter buses, and may give you more companies to consider when looking for the best pay and benefits packages.
Training Programs
There are also a number of different training programs that could benefit your work as a trucker and your attractiveness as a potential employee. There are many different safety training programs that are not required for you to have an operational CDL license but that employers and customers would look at favorably. These include things like different First Aid and emergency response training, advanced driving technique programs, truck maintenance, and training with the many technologies that are emerging in the field. Regardless of your opinions on technology integrations in trucking, they are here to stay: you might as well stay on the cutting edge so you don’t fall behind in the field. If you know how to maintain your own vehicle, you will be able to keep yourself ahead of inspections by making sure everything is in tip-top shape.
There are also many different opportunities for “soft skills” training that may not be specifically for the trucking industry but will give you a major boost when working with customers or going out on your own and handling your own accounts. These could be training like developing a professional voice, interpersonal skills, or how to effectively work on projects with others. A good way to think about what soft skill courses you may want to consider is by thinking of any reviews you get from employers: are there any areas for improvement that they think you should consider? Luckily, in the modern age, there are training opportunities online for nearly every skill you could imagine.
Putting It All Together
The trainings, endorsements, and certifications we touched on in this post are just a few of the many different options you have available for advancing your career. A good place to start is sitting down and thinking about what you would like your work to look like, and what specialized areas call to you most. Once you have an idea of where you want to take your career, you can start researching which programs would be best to get you there. Some certifications and endorsements are cumulative, so you will need to take prerequisite programs in order to get into the courses that will really move you forward.
LubeZone is happy to support our trucking partners, so whether you are just starting on your career or you are looking to further advance a career that you are already established in, we are here to help you stay safely on the road and trucking towards the future.
Steering Your Career Towards Success
We hope that this blog has given you a bit of an idea of the next steps you can take in your career. Getting a CDL is an important (and, of course, necessary!) step to take as a trucker, but this is only the first step into a world of education, advancement, and career stability. In a fast-changing world of technological advancements, the drivers who are most willing to adapt and stay current with best practices, technologies, and market demands will be the most secure in their position as they keep the American economy rolling on.
LubeZone is the fastest growing dedicated semi-truck service in the United States with locations in Texas, California, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Georgia. Our preventative maintenance solutions are designed to get the professional driver back on the road FAST.
