Featured Trucking School
Thomson Education Direct (Distance Education) Diesel Mechanic Training. Courses covered include: Hydromechanical Diesel Fuel Injection, Diesel Engine Fundamentals, Computerized Truck and Bus Systems Management, The Basics of Truck Electricity and Electronics Batteries and Starting Systems, Clutches and Standard Transmissions, Automatic Transmissions, Allison Transmissions, Drive Shafts and Axles, HVAC Systems.
Minnesota School of Business/Globe College MSB Online (Online) - Transportation Business Programs Online

Alabama Truck Driving Schools
Diesel Driving Academy (Baton Rouge) - Diesel Tech Driving Programs, Tractor Trailer Driver Training

Arizona Truck Driving Schools
Arizona Automotive Institute (Glendale, AZ 85301)
Your career in the automotive industry is within your reach. Arizona Automotive Institute has designed state-of-the-art training options in the fields of Automotive, Autotronics, Diesel Technologies and Shop Management.

Arkansas Truck Driving Schools
Diesel Driving Academy - Little Rock (North Little Rock, AR) - Tractor Trailer Driver Training

Colorado Truck Driving Schools
DADC - Denver Automotive & Diesel College (Denver, CO) - Automotive Technology, Diesel Technology, Master Technician

Connecticut Truck Driving Schools
New England Tractor Trailer Training School - Somers, CT - Truck Driving Courses
Baran Institute of Technology (Windsor, CT) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician, Diesel Technician, Electrician, HVAC Technician, Welding Technician

Canada Truck Driving Schools
Kim Richardson Transportation Specialists (Caledonia, Ontario, Canada) - Diesel Tech
North American Trade School - London (Canada) (London, ON)  - Truck Driver Training  

Florida Truck Driving Schools
National Heavy Equipment Operator School (Orange Park, FL) - Diesel Technician
Roadmaster Drivers School of Jacksonville (Orlando) - Diesel Service Technician, Truck Driving Training

Indiana Truck Driving Schools
Lincoln Tech (Indianapolis, IN) - For those of you interested in taking your diesel expertise to the next level, we offer our Associate Degree Diesel and Truck Service Management program. Not only will you learn to correctly test, diagnose and repair the gasoline and diesel engines typically found in current model medium and heavy-duty trucks, but you can also learn the supervisory and managerial skills needed to run your own business. An Associate Degree can also give you added value to employers and super-charge your career opportunities and possibilities.

Louisiana Truck Driving Schools
Diesel Driving Academy (New Orleans, LA) - Tractor Trailer Driver Training. DDAI offers its graduates an excellent job placement assistance program to help them obtain employment. DDAI has contact with major trucking companies throughout the country, that continuously employ its graduates. The wage levels within these companies are very competitive and are among the highest in the industry.
Diesel Driving Academy - Lafayette (Lafayette, LA) - Tractor Trailer Driver Training

Maine Truck Driving Schools
Diesel Driving Academy (Shreveport, ME) - Diesel Technician

Massachusetts Truck Driving Schools
Northeast Technical Institute (Haverhill, Hermon, Scarborough) - Truck Driving Training

Maryland Truck Driving Schools
North American Trade Schools (Baltimore, Maryland) Building Construction Technician, Diesel Technician, Electrical Technology

New York Truck Driving Schools
National Tractor Trailer School (Liverpool, NY) - Diesel Technician

New Jersey Truck Driving Schools
Engine City Technical Institute (South Plainfield, NJ 07080)
Engine City Technical Institute is a dedicated Diesel Mechanics school with a curriculum that focuses on commercial and industrial diesel. The diploma programs in Diesel Engine Drive Train (DEDT) and Diesel Engine Drive Train Transport (DEDT/TR) are designed to prepare student with hands on experience for entry-level positions in a variety of fields related to diesel mechanics, including the required skills to diagnose, disassemble, inspect, repair and overhaul popular makes of diesel engines, fuel systems, electrical charging, starting, lighting and control systems, drive train, brakes, steering, suspension, and transport refrigeration systems used on trucks, marine, industrial and other applications.

Ohio Truck Driving Schools
Hamrick Truck Driving School - Medina, OH - Diesel Technician
Roadmaster Drivers School of Ohio, Inc.- Diesel Technician

Pennsylvania Truck Driving Schools
All-State Career School  (North Versailles, PA) - Diesel Technician
Transport Tech  (Bressemer, Brookville, Butler, PA) - Diesel Technician Training Program
Automotive Training Center (Exton, Warminster, PA) - Automotive Advanced Automotive, High Performance, Diesel Collision, Marine Service, Pennsylvania State Safety Inspection Certificate, Program Pennsylvania State Enhanced Emission Inspection Certificate Program.
All-State Career School - North Versailles, PA - Diesel Technician
Transport Tech (Bressemer, Brookville, Butler, PA) - Diesel Technician
Lincoln Technical Institute - (Allentown, PA)
New Castle School of Trades (Pulaski, PA) - Automotive Technology, Building Technology, Combination Welding, Commercial Truck Driving, Electrical Technology, Machine Technology, Refrigeration/AC Technology
UTI Automotive Training - Exton, Pennsylvania
WyoTech (Blairsville, Pennsylvania) - Cosmetic Dent Repair, Welding, Panel Alignment and Replacement, Plastic Parts Repair and Refinishing, Glass Replacement, Spot Repair, Detailing, Media Stripping

Rhode Island Truck Driving Schools
New England Tractor Trailor Training School - Pawtucket, RI - Diesel Technician

Tennessee Truck Driving Schools
Nashville Auto-Diesel College (Nashville, TN) - Auto Body Repair Technology (Diploma and Associate Degree), Automotive and Diesel Technology (Diploma and Associate Degree), High Performance

Texas Truck Driving Schools
Roadmaster Drivers School of San Antonio, Inc.- Diesel Technician
Lincoln Tech - Grand Prairie, TX

Utah Truck Driving Schools
Roadmaster Drivers School of Salt Lake City, Inc.- Diesel Technician

Virginia Truck Driving Schools
Advanced Technology Institute (Virginia Beach, VA 23462) -
Automotive Technology I, Automotive/Diesel Technology, Commercial Driving, Diesel/Heavy Vehicle Technology, Ford Motor Co. MLR Training, HVAC, School of High Performance. Put your love of technology to work for you. Contact the Advanced Technical Institute (ATI) today and put your career in the fast lane.

Truck Driving Job Outlook
Job opportunities should be favorable for truck drivers. In addition to growth in demand for truck drivers, numerous job openings will occur as experienced drivers leave this large occupation to transfer to other fields of work, retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Jobs vary greatly in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, number of nights spent on the road, and quality of equipment operated. Because this occupation does not require education beyond high school, competition is expected for jobs with the most attractive earnings and working conditions.

Overall employment of truck drivers and driver/sales workers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012, due to growth in the economy and in the amount of freight carried by truck. The increased use of rail, air, and ship transportation requires truck drivers to pick up and deliver shipments. Demand for long-distance drivers will remain strong because these drivers transport perishable and time-sensitive goods more efficiently than do alternative modes of transportation, such as railroads. Job opportunities for truck drivers with less-than-truckload carriers will be more competitive than those with truckload carriers because of the more desirable working conditions for less-than-truckload carriers.

Faster than average growth of light and heavy truck driver employment will outweigh relatively slow growth in driver/sales worker jobs. The number of truck drivers with sales responsibilities is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all other occupations as companies increasingly shift sales, ordering, and customer service tasks to sales and office staffs, and use regular truck drivers to make deliveries to customers.

Job opportunities may vary from year to year, because the strength of the economy dictates the amount of freight moved by trucks. Companies tend to hire more drivers when the economy is strong and deliveries are in high demand. Consequently, when the economy slows, employers hire fewer drivers, or even lay off drivers. Independent owner-operators are particularly vulnerable to slowdowns. Industries least likely to be affected by economic fluctuation, such as grocery stores, tend to be the most stable places for employment.

Common Types of Truck Driving Jobs:
Local
Over-the-Road (otr)
Regional/National
Short-Haul/Long-Haul/Heavy-Haul
Less-than-Truckload (ltl)
Solo
Team/Teams
Owner Operator (independent contractor)
Common Types of Truck Driving Equipment:
Auto/Autohauler
Dry Van
Reefer/Refrigerated/Temperature-Control
Flatbed
Tanker
Moving/House Hold Goods
Tractor-Trailer

Common Truck Driver Job Qualifications:
Each trucking company is different and minimum driver qualifications vary from company to company. Some truck driver job qualifications may include:

Age - 21 years, 23 years, 25 years old are common depending on the company.
Valid Commercial Driver's License (e.g., CDL Class A, CDL Class B) with or without endorsements (e.g., hazardous materials/haz-mat endorsement, doubles/triples endorsement, tank endorsement)
Driving record/traffic violations - vary greatly based on time (e.g., within 12 months, 3 years, etc..), number (e.g., no more than 1, 3, etc..) and incident (moving violation, serious violations such as DUI/DWI, hit and run, excessive speeding, etc..)
Criminal record including felony convictions may or may not disqualify you. Some companies require 5 or 10 year since the conviction (some crimes may disqualify you completely) and some companies do not accept anyone with a felony.
over the road driving experience (vary's by company such as 1 year, 3 years, 5 years)
A valid driver's license.
Pass a DOT physical and drug testing
may or may not require loading and unloading
Important Note: If you have any questionable events such as a criminal record, serious/multiple driving violations, etc.. make sure "BEFORE" you sign up or pay for training that you will be able to be employed as a truck driver after training is completed. Otherwise you may find it difficult or impossible to find a job, "AND" you would still owe the money for your training.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos246.htm (visited March 22, 2004).