In the Air Force:
Air Transportation; Air Transportation Superintendent; Fuels Journeyman; Ground Transportation Helper; Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Apprentice, Firefighting and Refueling Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance; Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Journeyman, Firefighting and Refueling Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance; Munitions Systems Apprentice; Nuclear Weapons Apprentice; Pavements and Construction Equipment; Weather; Weather Superintendent
In the Army:
Air Defense (AD) Battle Management System Operator; Ammunition Specialist; Bridge Crewmember; Construction Equipment Repairer; Horizontal Construction Engineer; Marine Engineering Officer; PATRIOT Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer; Powerline Distribution Specialist (RC); Senior Automotive Maintenance Warrant Officer/Senior Ordnance Logistics Warrant Officer; Technical Engineer
In the Coast Guard:
Damage Controlman; Gunner's Mate; Machinery Technician; Storekeeper
In the Marine Corps:
Armor Marine; Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) Crewmember; Combat Engineer; Cryogenics Equipment Operator; Engineer Equipment Operator; Motor Vehicle Operator; Semitrailer Refueler Operator; Senior Armor SNCO
In the Navy:
Advanced Equipment Operator; Equipment Operator; Water Well Drilling Technician
Excellent driving skills, quick reaction time, good hearing, and accurate vision form the baseline of what it takes to be a truck driver. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most are long-haul drivers with routes spanning several states, though some cover local routes only. Safety is a major concern in this field, as vehicles can weigh more than 26,000 pounds. Drivers must know and follow special regulations for carrying different cargo, such as chemical waste, liquids, or oversized loads. Routes are assigned by a dispatcher, though drivers may use a GPS to help them plan. Truck drivers work for freight and wholesale trade companies, although some own and operate their own trucks. Their demanding schedules can keep them away from home for days or weeks at a time. Work hours, including breaks, are highly regulated, but drivers often work nights, weekends, and holidays. Because of traffic accidents, handling cargo, and long periods of sitting, there is high risk of illness or injury. Drivers must not have any medical conditions that could impair driving. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and a commercial driver’s license. Many learn their skills at a professional truck driving school. On-duty drivers are randomly tested for drug and alcohol use.
What they do:
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
On the job, you would:
Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Safety and Government
public safety and security
Business
customer service
Arts and Humanities
English language
Basic Skills
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
reading work related information
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Controlled Movement
quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
quickly decide if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part
Spatial
know where things are around you
imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed
Vision
see details that are far away
see details up close
Reaction Time and Speed
quickly move your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Dependability
Self Control
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Stress Tolerance
Cooperation
You might use software like this on the job:
Word processing software
3M Post-it App
Microsoft Word
Data base user interface and query software
ddlsoftware.com drivers daily log program DDL
TruckersHelper
Route navigation software
ALK Technologies PC*Miler
MarcoSoft Quo Vadis
high school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.