Did you reach your peak?
A peak earning age is the time of your life when you’re making the highest income. For those who decide to hop from job to job instead of following a lucrative career path, their peak earning amount is less than desirable.
Research is revealing that most Americans will never make more than $51,000 in their lifetime, and that’s if they’re lucky. On the lower end of things, it’s not uncommon to have to live off of an income of $25,000 or less.
If you don’t like the idea of living paycheck-to-paycheck, you can secure your future by becoming a dump truck driver. As a truck driver, you’ll be able to earn licenses and endorsements to build and customize a career you love.
If you think you have what it takes, read on to find out what driving a dump truck is all about.
Why Become a Dump Truck Driver?
If you’re new to the trucking industry, becoming a dump truck driver could help you land other jobs that involve heavy equipment. You’ll also have job skills that construction companies are always seeking.
Who Should Apply?
Are you great at paying attention to the things around you? Driving a dump truck means you have to always be aware of your surroundings. Your ability to have situational awareness will decide how successful your driving career can be.
Unlike “over the road,” or OTR, trucking opportunities, you’ll have to learn how to pay attention to a lot more than the traffic around you. The moment you drive your dump truck onto a construction site, several things could go wrong.
Benefits of Driving a Dump Truck
One of the best parts of operating a dump truck is that your pay will be by the hour rather than by the mile. You’ll also be able to clock out every day after work and never worry about when you get to go home.
What You Can Expect
A typical day for you will include picking up large loads from one location and hauling the loads to other sites. You might also be responsible for emptying the contents of the truck bed.
A dump truck typically carries loads of soil, construction debris, sand, rocks, and other materials. Large dump trucks usually help with mineral extraction sites that work with coal or rock. Smaller dump trucks are more common for construction sites and household renovation projects.
First Step to Become a Driver
If you already have experience as a trucker and you have a Class A or Class B CDL, you’re more than halfway there. All you’ll need to do is get dump truck insurance and apply for open job positions. If you’re starting fresh, you’ll need to earn your CDL before you can send in any applications.
Truck Size and License Needs
The dump truck you’re going to drive will determine the type of license you need. You’ll need to start with at least a Class B CDL, along with the endorsements your state requires. If you already have experience as a trucker, and you have a class A license, you’ll still need to get the right endorsements from your state.
An endorsement means that you have to take a written test to demonstrate some type of technical knowledge or competency you have. You can get an endorsement for air brakes, hazardous materials, tanker vehicles, and more.
Prepare for Your Test
If you already have trucking endorsements, it doesn’t mean you can skip the written portion of your test. Instead, a big part of the written test will involve retesting your knowledge for any licenses or endorsements you already have. If you don’t pass any part of the written test, you won’t be able to move on to the road test.
Once you pass the written test, you can move on to the skills and road test. The testing agency will want you to bring the vehicle you’ll be using for work in for the test.
Bring a Big Truck
Depending on the vehicle you bring, the testing agency may have to place restrictions on your license. Take the driving test in the biggest truck you can find that has the least amount of limitations. This way, when you’re ready to take a test for your next license, you’ll have already laid the groundwork.
For instance, if you’re able to bring in a truck that has a manual transmission, do it. You’ll instantly have certifications to drive trucks with manual transmissions.
However, if the truck you bring in for your driving test only has an automatic transmission, your license will have restrictions. The restrictions will limit you to only drive trucks with automatic transmissions.
How to Qualify
There are 19 types of trucks for commercial use, and dump trucks are some of the most closely regulated models (for safety reasons). A dump truck is a heavyweight commercial vehicle, and the law treats it that way.
State agencies pay extra close attention to vehicles that carry heavy loads. Each state will have its own particular rules that dictate how you operate your vehicle.
Clean Record and Medical Exam
Unlike a standard driving test to drive your car, trucking licenses are much more thorough. When you’re getting your dump truck license for the first time, you’ll have to take a drug test and pass a medical exam.
New license applicants also need to have a clean driving record. If you don’t know your driving record, visit your local DMV office and ask them to print it out for you.
Along with having a clean record and passing a medical checkup, you’ll also have to take a written test and a skills test. The skills test is the driving portion of the exam.
Build Your Career
Now you know more about how to become a dump truck driver. Whether you’re just starting your career, or looking to make a change, we hope our article will help you build a career you love.
If you’re looking for more ways to create a bright future for yourself, we can help! Go ahead and explore the rest of our site today!
