Author: Arwin Chua

For more than a century, commercial trucks have helped to transport goods and materials around the country. If you want to become a part of today’s trucking industry, now is a great time to enroll at a truck driving school. After you graduate from your truck training courses, you will be ready to embark on a fulfilling truck driving career. Here is a look back at some of the top highlights in the history of the truck driving industry.

Origins of Truck Driving

The origins of truck driving can be traced back to around 1900, when the first commercial vehicles started to make deliveries along America’s roadways. These early trucks were equipped with dense rubber tires, which weighed them down and made them slow. By 1912, electric lights and lighter wheels helped to improve the productivity of the trucking industry.

Development of the Fifth Wheel

Today’s commercial trucks are based on the early fifth wheel truck designed that first emerged in the 1920s. The invention of the fifth wheel allowed trucks to travel faster while carrying heavier loads. By 1935, commercial trucking had become so prevalent that the federal government found it necessary to pass the Motor Carrier Act, which placed new regulations on the industry.

Invention of Refrigerated Trailers

Another important innovation in the truck driving industry was the invention of refrigerated trailers in the 1950s. Prior to the introduction of refrigerated trailers, perishable goods were very difficult to transport across long distances. To the present day, refrigerated trailers are used to move produce, dairy, and other perishable goods.

To learn more about how you can join the expanding truck driving industry, be sure to get in contact with Phoenix Truck Driving School of Ft. Bliss. Our truck training course will prepare you to pass the CDL exam, and we can help you get your very first truck driving job. Give us a call at (877) 206-8344 to hear more about our current enrollment opportunities.

When you embark on your first long haul journey as a commercial truck driver, you may be surprised at the amount of time that you will spend in solitude. If your mind wanders as you are driving, you may be more likely to get distracted. By keeping yourself mentally stimulated during those long hours on the road, you will prevent fatigue and ensure that you are driving safely. Let’s take a look at three tips that will help you keep your mind occupied on the road.

Listen to Your Favorite Music

If you are a music lover, you should make sure to create a few playlists before you hit the road in your commercial truck. From upbeat jams to relaxing tunes, there are many musical styles that can keep your mind occupied during your journey. Your truck cab is also the perfect place to practice your karaoke skills.

Tune Into a Podcast

Listening to podcasts is a great way to ensure that you are mentally stimulated as you drive. When you research podcasts, you fill find content for virtually any topic that may interest you. By tuning into podcasts regularly, you can educate yourself while remaining mentally stimulated.

Stock Up on Audiobooks

Whether you are an avid reader, or it has been years since you picked up a book, you may want to consider incorporating audiobooks into your listening rotation on the road. Since audiobooks are typically many hours in length, a single audio book could keep your mind busy for an entire leg of a long haul delivery.

For more essential tips for succeeding as a truck driver, get in touch with Phoenix Truck Driving School of Ft. Bliss. Our top rated truck driving education program will prepare you for what you can expect during your career as a truck driver. If you have questions about the benefits of attending our school, give our Ft. Bliss location a call at (877) 206-8344 to receive more information about our program.

 

There’s much to see during your long routes across the USA, and there are some great truck stops to experience along the way. From South of the Border and its plentiful attractions to the massive Bucee’s locations in the South, you’ll have plenty to enjoy. Continue on and look at these top truck stops in the USA.

South of the Border
There are plenty of interesting truck stops and tourist attractions throughout the country, but none quite like South of the Border. A large statue of a man in a sombrero, named Pedro, will welcome you into the stop and likely be the first thing you see. South of the Border has everything you might need to fuel up and get back on the road, plus much, much more.

Iowa 80
If you’re a seasoned truck driver, there’s a good chance that you have at least heard of Iowa 80. This massive truck stop has been around for more than half of a century, and it still serves thousands of customers every day. At Iowa 80 you can find essentials like showers and restaurants as well as entertainment features like movie theaters.

Bucee’s
Although there are 22 different Bucee’s locations throughout the United States, there’s one in Texas that stands out from the rest. The size of this Bucee’s is comparable to that of a football field, which is enough room for 60 gas pumps. The owner clearly subscribes to “the bigger, the better” philosophy, although even he admits that might have gone a little farther than necessary.

Once you’ve gotten your commercial driver’s license, you can break into the truck driving industry and visit these truck stops throughout your travels. Please feel free to call the Phoenix Truck Driving School in Ft. Bliss at (877) 206-8344 or head over to our website to find out what we can do for you today.

In addition to earning your commercial driver’s license, you’ll need to achieve specific endorsements for certain jobs. Some endorsements require you to take a knowledge test, while others require knowledge and skills tests. Keep reading for a look at truck driving endorsements and what they mean.

S
When you enter the truck driving industry, you’ll realize that there are many different kinds of commercial jobs available. If you decide that you’d like to become a school bus driver, you will need to pass a knowledge test as well as a skills test first, in order to earn your S endorsement. Parents trust bus drivers with the lives of their children, so it’s important that only qualified individuals are hired for the job.

H
When commercial driving meets hazardous materials, you are going to need a certain endorsement. The H truck driving endorsement qualifies you to work with hazardous materials. If you want to earn this endorsement, you’ll have to take a knowledge test to prove you are ready and capable to handle potentially dangerous materials.

N
Driving a tank vehicle is not quite like driving a standard truck or passenger vehicle. Thus, you will need to pass a knowledge exam in order to add this endorsement to your commercial driver’s license. You’ll need to understand how handling a tank vehicle is different before you can get out on the road.

X
Sometimes commercial driving, hazardous materials, and tank vehicles all come together. The X endorsement, which requires a knowledge test, qualifies you to drive vehicles where this is the case.

If you’re striving for any of these endorsements, the first step is to earn your commercial driver’s license. The professionals at the Phoenix Truck Driving School in Ft. Bliss are happy to help you prepare for your career in the industry. Give us a call at (877) 206-8344 or visit our website to learn more.

When you decide that earning your CDL and becoming a truck driver is the career path for you, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your lifestyle altogether. There are plenty of workouts you can do on the road to keep yourself in shape and feel as healthy and proud as ever. Read on and learn how to maintain your soldier physique on the road with these exercises.

Jogging or Bicycling

If you don’t want to lose your soldier physique when you transition into truck driving, make sure you exercise as much as possible. Jogging and bicycling are great exercise options because you can do them just about anywhere. If you choose bicycling, be sure to find a small or collapsible bike so it doesn’t take up too much room in your truck.

Abdominal Squeezes

Whenever you stop at a red light or have a few minutes to spare, try doing some abdominal squeezes. All you have to do is tense up your abs for a period of time, so try holding your muscles for the duration of your favorite song. This exercise is convenient because you can do it right from the driver’s seat.

Weight Training

Like jogging and bicycling, weight training can be done anywhere you want. Make sure the weights you bring along with you don’t take up too much cargo space or weigh down the vehicle too severely. You can always add extra reps to increase resistance and intensify your workout.

Before you can jump into a career on the road, you’ll need to earn your commercial driver’s license. At Phoenix Truck Driving School at Ft. Bliss, we will do everything to help you earn your CDL and start your career in the industry. Feel free to give us a call at (877) 206-8344 or look through our website for more information.

What better way to use your G.I. Bill than to prepare yourself to earn your commercial driver’s license? You can start by attending a CDL school, where you will meet people and make connections. You can then decide what specific type of trucking job you would like and make your way into the career of your choice. Put your G.I. Bill to good use with CDL training.

Earning Your CDL

As good of a driver as you may be, you can’t find a job in the truck driving industry without a commercial driver’s license. The good news is that there are schools geared towards preparing drivers to earn their commercial licenses. Your CDL school will teach you what you need to know in order to pass your exam, and it will give you the experience you need to excel in the industry.

Finding the Right Job

You will probably meet a great deal of people during your time in CDL school, and you will learn even more. You can consider the people you’ve met and the knowledge you’ve picked up to figure out exactly what kind of job you would like to procure within the trucking industry. Think about how far you’re willing to travel, how often you need to be home, and what kind of products you would like to transport when looking at your options.

Breaking Into the Industry

Once you’ve earned your CDL and found a direction, you can use your experience and connections to find a job in the trucking industry. Make sure you take care of yourself while you’re on the road so you can stay safe and enjoy a long career as a professional driver.

If you think you might be interested in CDL training, feel free to call Phoenix Truck Driving School at Ft. Bliss at (877) 206-8344. Our school will prepare you to earn your commercial driver’s license so you can put your G.I. Bill to good use. Please check out our website if you’d like to learn more about our CDL school.

When you are exploring educational programs to take advantage of your GI bill, you may want to investigate the benefits of becoming a certified truck driver. With your CDL, you will be eligible for the terrific job opportunities that are available in the world of trucking. To highlight the positions that will be waiting for you when you graduate from truck driving school, here is a look at some of the different truck driving jobs that are available.

OTR Driving Jobs

As a new truck driver, your first trucking job will typically be an OTR, or Over The Road position. OTR driving jobs are defined as any truck driving jobs that require truck drivers to travel long distances. As an OTR trucker, you will often drive to different cities or states to transport your cargo. If you enjoy the freedom of being out on the road, you are sure to enjoy your OTR job.

LTL Driving Jobs

Truck drivers that have more experience may be qualified for LTL jobs. LTR is a term that stands for Less Than Truckload, and LTL jobs typically involve smaller cargo and shorter delivery distances. One of the benefits of becoming an LTL driver is that you will be able to spend more time at home with your family.

Dedicated Driving Jobs

If you crave routine in your working life, you may want to explore the dedicated driving jobs that are available to you after you graduate from truck driving school. When you are hired for a dedicated truck driving job, you will be responsible for a specific route or delivery schedule that does not change from day to day.

At Phoenix Truck Driving School Ft. Bliss, we are proud to prepare our graduates for successful careers in the truck driving industry. If you live on or near the Ft. Bliss military base, be sure to stop by and check out our current trucker training programs. Give us a call at (877) 206-8344 to learn more about how we can assist you with job placement services.

If you are looking for a fulfilling career opportunity after you retire from active military service, you may want to look into the benefits of getting your CDL. Using your GI Bill, you will be able to finance your truck driving school and embark on an exciting truck driving career. During your time in school, you will need to decide what type of CDL classification will fit your career aspirations. Let’s take a look at the three CDL classifications that are available to you.

Class A

When you are a new truck driver, you will typically start out with a Class A CDL classification. After you have received your Class A classification, you will be certified to drive a vehicle and trailer setup that has a combined weight of at least 26,001 pounds. With a Class A certification, you can legally tow more than 10,000 pounds.

Class B

Class B certifications are suited for drivers that will be towing lighter weights. Unlike a Class A certification, which allows a driver to tow a unit in excess of 10,000 pounds, a Class B has a set limit of a 10,000 pound tow weight. A Class B certification may be useful for local transportation positions.

Class C

The Class C certification covers any drivers who will be transporting hazardous materials. In order to legally transport hazardous materials, you will need to undergo a special Class C CDL certification. Typically, a driver obtains a Class C classification after he or she has passed the Class A or B classification.

Once you have determined that you are ready for a career in truck driving, be sure to get in touch with Phoenix Truck Driving School Ft. Bliss by calling (877) 206-8344. We are conveniently located on the Ft. Bliss base, and we help veterans and other military professionals obtain their CDLs. Our team looks forward to helping you prepare for your upcoming CDL exam.