Different Types of Truck Driving Certifications

There are many different types of careers people can choose from and often career choice is defined by education and personality. One of the best types of careers for people who love to be independent and be on the open road is a truck driver. While truck driving does have some stresses, there are many benefits for people who enjoy travel and the freedom of not being in the same place for work 9 to 5 every day. When it comes to education, truck driving requires a special class of licenses that driver’s must study for, and train for. Once the driver has reached a sufficient place of being trained they must pass a license exam before they are given the ability to become a professional truck driver.

In general, there are several main types of truck driving licenses. These licenses are specifically designed for truckers who can carry different types of cargo and using different sizes of vehicles. As an example, not all truckers are certified for moving HAZMAT or hazardous materials, nor are all truckers are licensed to handle tandem trailers. While most truck drivers are trained specifically for 18-wheeler rigs, others are trained more extensively to handle tandem vehicles, HAZMAT hazardous transport vehicles, liquid transport vehicles or construction trucks. If you need help acquiring your license and permits, you can acquire them at Truckers Bookkeeping Service.
There are different truck driving jobs bay area drivers are needed for.

Liquid and HAZMAT Tanker Trucks

HAZMAT drivers are usually licensed for the category of being able to transport all hazardous materials including different types of petroleum. Many of these truckers are employed by major oil companies and gas station chains to transport their fuel to fuel distributors. While many liquid tanker trucks carry liquid hazardous material, there is a separate category for standard liquid transportation. This is because hazardous materials need to have specialized safety measures in place by drivers who transport this type of material.

By contrast, standard liquid tankers can carry anything from milk and juice, to water and so much more. Because liquid tankers are different in how they handle, there is specialized training for these types of vehicles. Some of these tankers are refrigerated and some are not. Drivers are generally trained in handling both the vehicles and the potential cargo.

Tandem Trailers

Tandem trailer drivers also are a separate category. These drivers get extra training since tandem drivers must maneuver with two and sometimes three trailers attached to a rig. This requires extensive training to learn how to safely maneuver these extended trailers and secure the safety of the cargo. Since most truckers do not have this type of license, these drivers can be in high demand. These driver’s licenses are certified on a state by state basis and each state carries their own training requirements.

Construction and DOT

Construction vehicle driving is also a separate level of training for a trucker. Many of the jobs that these vehicles are used for are not long distance and they handle much different than a typical 18-wheel rig. While these vehicles are shorter than a tandem truck, many of them are wider and can have a variety of physical configurations. Construction truck drivers are often trained in a variety of different construction vehicles. This type of training diversification can be extremely helpful with employment opportunities for both construction companies and Department of Transportation employment.