Month: November 2017

Even if you haven’t been in the military for a long time, you might feel a bit different when you come home. You’ll have to reintegrate into civilian society, and part of that means finding a fulfilling job. For many veterans, this means earning a commercial driver’s license and looking for a job as a truck driver.

Going to Trucking School

Many veterans decide to go back to school when they return home from the military. If you want to go back to school and learn skills and information that you can apply almost immediately, look into trucking schools. There you can learn what you need to know to earn your CDL, or commercial driver’s license, which will come in handy when you take the necessary tests. You may also make connections that can help you throughout your career.

Earning Your CDL

Some people have a bit more of a straight shot to earning a commercial driver’s license than others. If you drove a truck in the military for two or more years, you might not need to take the full test. You may qualify for a veteran skills test waiver if the vehicle you drove for the military is similar enough to a commercial motor vehicle. Whether you qualify for this waiver or not, you will also have to pass a knowledge test.

Joining the Trucking Industry

With your new CDL in hand, you can start considering trucking jobs. This career path is great for military veterans because it offers freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to spend your days traveling. Truckers also enjoy a decent salary and job security on the road.

W24e are happy to answer any questions you have about joining the trucking industry after exiting the military, so call HDS Safety Services at (877) 206-1282. It’s our job to make sure truckers find the jobs they’re looking for.

New advances in technology continue to change the way every industry operates, and it’s come up with a lot to offer truck drivers. New techniques and equipment like platooning, telematics and fleet management aim to make the roads safer and more efficient. Read on and stay updated on the newest pieces of trucking technology.

Platooning

The word “platooning” has a few uses, and in the context of trucking, it refers to several commercial vehicles driving in a single file line. Each vehicle is equipped with technology that allows them to communicate with each other at all times. All trucks behind the leader will automatically brake at the same time, reducing the risk of collisions between them. Platooning keeps trucks close together so they don’t take up too much space, which helps with the flow of traffic.

Telematics

You need to know what’s going on with your fleet at all times, and technology is making it easier every year. When you integrate GPS with technology like computers and mobile phones, you can monitor each one of your vehicles whenever you want to. Each truck sends information regarding where it is, how fast it’s going, and what condition it’s in. That lets you check up on any part of your fleet to make sure your business is running as productively as possible. Customer service will benefit, and unauthorized vehicle use will subside.

Fleet Management

Truck drivers have always had to keep track of their record of duty status, but now electronic logging devices can do it automatically. This reduces the chances of recording mistakes due to human error and improves organization.

At HDS Safety Services, we’re always caught up on the latest technology so we can offer you the best experience possible. Our website offers an overview of our compliance, safety, and drug testing services, and you can call us at (877) 206-1282 if you have any questions.