Reasons Why You Should Consider a Career in Truck Driving

Ever wonder how most items you buy arrive at the stores and warehouses? If your answer was trucks, you guessed correctly. Trucks drive everywhere: the city, rural communities, the open highway and urban streets. Whenever a truck has to go, there's a need for a person to drive it to its rightful spot. Currently, the trucking industry employs more than 3 million drivers and numerous support personnel like truck loaders, schedulers, and dispatchers. Even with a down economy, the number of trucking companies looking to hire drivers is expected to rise in the coming years.

If you've ever thought of attending truck driving school, there are a lot of encouraging signs that make it worth your while. Compared to other training schools and universities, trucking school graduates earn one of the highest average salaries right after school. In fact, the average salary for a CDL trained and certified driver averages about $42,000 annually. That number can surpass $50,000 within a couple years. Unlike a number of industries, you can expect your career in truck driving to be a steady one. With more than 1.4 trucking companies across the nation, the need for trucker is always present. This is the case any time of year. Furthermore, the market suffers from a shortage of truck drivers that is expected to remain at least through 2018. As an added plus, going to truck driving school can open additional possibilities for you down the road. Truck driver training can also prepare you for future employment possibilities like training, recruiting or managerial positions.

Aside from high pay and stability, trucking schools offer a quick and direct path to gainful employment. Schools will vary, but an intensive truck driver training program can have you career ready in as little as 30 days. Though it will require a financial investment, trucking school-because the training is shorter-also tends to cost markedly less than other education and training facilities. Any decent driving truck school will offer job placement assistance. A good truck driving school can get you pre-hired with a hauling company before completing training and earning your CDL license.

Do your research before choosing a truck driving school. Get a look at their resources. Try and meet the instructors who will teach the driving truck school. See what kind of resources they have and what connections they have in the truck driving school. If you can, really to land a place at a truck school that offers pre-hiring job placement.

Learn more about truck school and see about driving truck schools near you.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Heavy Haulage Company

Choosing the right heavy haulage and transportation is very important. It often takes quite a bit of research to make sure you select the right company for you. After all your load is precious to both you and your customer.

When doing a simple internet search for potential haulage companies it is easy to become overwhelmed by the vast number offering services throughout the UK and Europe. But how do you choose the right one? What should you be looking out for? And how can you be sure that they have the necessary equipment to handle your goods/loads? We have compiled a list of questions that you need to consider when choosing the right heavy haulage company, so read on and find the right company for you.

Do your goods require handling in certain way?

More often than not, you will find that your load/goods will need to be handled with great care, whether these goods are fragile computer components or a delivery of vehicles. Make sure that your selected haulage company can handle the load with the care that it deserves. This requires making sure that they have necessary equipment and driver training. Experience is also an important factor when considering the handling of goods. Does your heavy haulage company have the necessary experience in handling your types of goods?

Are your goods to be delivered in specific time scale?

Heavy haulage companies have different views when it comes to transportation logistics. Some can pick up goods en route to other pick-ups or drop-offs. Make sure that if you have an agreed time scale with your client that your haulage company can match this. Make sure they understand the route in full before receiving a quote for the transportation.

Does your chosen company have necessary insurance?

One of the single most important factors to think about when choosing the correct heavy haulage company is the load that they will be carrying. For example they maybe collecting a multimillion pound jet engine, if this is the case make sure that they are insured to carry goods to this value. If not then look elsewhere. There are many companies out there that would be able to do so and it is not worth the risk.

Lastly, when getting quotes for haulage companies make sure that you have at least 3 and that you give the same requirements. This way you can be sure that you are getting the best possible price for your transportation needs.

Smiths Mechanical specialise in heavy haulage throughout the UK. Boasting a specialist vehicle and trailer fleet providing both ridged and articulated combinations covering a wide range of weights and lengths. So if you are looking for a heavy haulage company look no further than Smiths Mechanical heavy haulage.

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Consider The 2012 International ProStar For Your Next Semi Truck

The 2012 International Prostar Truck is a fitting continuation to the most popular class 8 truck in North America. It was created after consulting owners and drivers about the features they wanted to keep and the innovations they needed, and the results are clear: the 2012 International Prostar is perhaps the best truck released by International trucks yet.

Driving the Prostar is driving in comfort. The steering wheel is more ergonomic than in previous years and it includes a number of built in controls that make it easier to access the features you need most without taking your eyes off the road. Both on- and off-center steering are present by default, allowing for better maneuverability up those steep mountain passes and better control on the straights and corners. Handling is one of those areas where all trucks show room for improvement, but the Prostar takes things a step in the right direction with its four point suspension that counters sway and the automotive style controls in the cockpit. This combines to make a smooth and steady ride that lets the miles pile on without wearing the drivers down.

Built for heavy duty work, the 2012 International Prostar comes ready to tackle the hardest of jobs. As a class 8 truck, it's more than capable of handling 33,000 pounds or more, but not all class 8 trucks are built equally. With a total gross vehicle weight rating of 52,350 pounds, the Prostar is a truck that won't leave your cargo behind. The body is the standard hi-rise sleeper configuration, the wheelbase comes in at 209 inches, and the front bumper to back of cab dimension is within typical ranges at 113 inches. However, perhaps the most enjoyable part of the truck is the new expanded sleeper. At 56 inches, the size is not particularly large, but the bedding is comfortable enough to catch deep sleep on a cross country haul.

The MaxxForce 13 engine that powers the 2012 International Prostar is strong enough to get the truck moving no matter how much one is hauling when paired with the Fuller 10 speed transmission. With 1700 foot pounds of torque at 1000 RPM, there is plenty of low end power on hand to take off from a standstill, and the inclusion of a number of small but welcome comforts like keyless entry, added storage space, and even a paper towel holder to help drivers deal with coffee spills in the cabin combine to make the Prostar a welcome addition to the International trucks family.

The truth of the matter is that no matter how impressive a truck looks on paper, it is the comfort, durability, and handling that drivers will either sing or swear about when pulling 12 hour shifts through the great highways of this country. This is why little things like increased foot room in the cabin and attention to the give of the clutch pedal make such a difference. The easier it is to shift, the less fatigue a driver's feet get. The more room there is to stretch while on the road, the easier it is to keep one's eyes on the road where they belong. The 2012 International Prostar was built with these creature comforts, and it shows.

Jim McCormack is the managing editor for Trucker To Trucker which offers International ProStar Trucks and a full line of International Trucks across the USA.

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The Different Factors One Should Consider While Buying Trucks

If you are looking to buy a new truck you will be considering the many aspects to be considered. If you analyze all these aspects beforehand you will surely get an excellent truck fulfilling all your requirements. You will find various types of trucks for sale. You have to be very careful about in your choice. The different aspects you should consider before buying trucks are -

Size or Market Segment

Mostly the trucks come under either the full-size or compact category. Compact one could be considered a relative term in the present time. Most of the full-size trucks can be obtained in the heavy-duty guise.

Cab Designs

Each manufacturer generally has its snazzy name for their trucks. But, the body styles basically for trucks are regular cab, crew cab and extended cab. The regular cabs possess two doors and seat between 2 and 3 adults. The extended cabs are compact and provide mostly additional storage space. Full-size versions have the capacity to seat 3 extra passengers. Rear clamshell doors provide easiness for getting cargo and people in and out at back of the extended cabs. But a few have smaller, front-hinged doors. The crew cabs possess 4 full sized doors as well as comfortable seats for between 5 and 6 passengers.

Engine and Fuel Economy

The compact trucks come in 4-, 5-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines and offer a variety for different buyers. Several full-sized trucks come in 6-cylinder engines on the base models. But mostly trucks make use of V8 or V10 engines which return marginal fuel-economy figures at best. The heavy-duty full-sized trucks have diesel engines which give lots of towing power as well as better mileage.

Safety

Mostly trucks give basic safety equipment such as seatbelts and front airbags for all passengers. Stability control and side curtain airbags are commonplace now on the full sized models. Few compact models have poor performance in the crash tests. People should be careful of the rear jump seats which aren't made to offer protection to anybody in case of a crash.

Drivetrain

Mostly all the trucks give both automatic and manual transmissions, plus two- and four-wheel drive. Several vehicles also give traction-aiding devices such as locking differentials, limited-slip or electronic traction control.

Versatility of Interior Seats

Mostly trucks could be equipped with bucket seats or 3-person front bench. The crew or extended cabs give the option to fold the complete rear seat up, or one half at least. Some latest full-sized trucks permit you folding the front-passenger seat flat and this gives a table like, handy surface.

Towing Ability

The compact trucks have the ability of towing from 3,000 to 7,000 pounds. It depends on the way they are equipped. The regular full-sized trucks have the ability of towing 12,000 pounds with particular suspension and engine configurations, though most range from 8,000 to 10,000 pound capacities. The heavy-duty full-sizers have the capability of hauling 24,000 pounds if they are equipped with fifth-wheel connection. One should properly analyze the axle ratios, which really matter in fuel economy and towing capacity.

The truck sales figures depend on these aspects. One should make a choice that completely suites his liking and requirement.

The article focuses on the different aspects which people should consider while sell my truck. The factors such as engine and fuel economy, safety, drivetrain, towing ability etc. are discussed in detail.

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