Category: Truck Driving News

Five Ways to Pay For Trucking School

Those looking to get into the trucking profession in Arizona need to invest in trucking school. There are many ways to pay for this schooling.

Filling Out a FAFSA

The FAFSA is a free application for federal student aid that can easily be filled out online. The good thing about FAFSA is that all of the grants offered through student aid are free money. It never has to be paid back. The downside to most FAFSA grants is that one single grant is not always going to cover a person’s education. A FAFSA can on occasion cover more than tuition costs. This will result in the government sending the applicant a cash refund for the amount left over. A FAFSA should be filled out before you decide to apply for external grants and loans. You can fill one out at Finaid.org

The Pell Grant Program

Trucking school can cost $4,000 or more. The best way to ensure that your tuition is completely covered is to apply for a Pell Grant. The Pell Grant can award people up to $5,550. This does not have to be repaid. The amount awarded depends on your income and the school that you choose. There are several truck driving schools in Tucson, Arizona. Be sure to select one that fits your budget and your needs. If you are awarded, the Pell Grant should be able to cover the entire cost of tuition.

WIA Grants

The WIA Grant should be requested as a secondary after the Pell grant. You can receive a WIA Grant through the government if you cannot find work with your current resume and skill set. The overall evaluation process for the WIA Grant is on a case by case basis, so be prepared to be declined this grant if you have already been approved for the Pell Grant.

Student Loans

Student loans differ from grants in that they have to be paid back. Loans should only be considered if you aren’t in the income bracket to receive grants, or the grants don’t fully cover your tuition. Many different banks offer student loans.

Bank Loans

A bank loan should be a last resort. Most commercial banks that are funded by the Federal Reserve require collateral to be put up. The loan application process can also take longer than the student loan process.

No matter how manage to pay for trucking school, you will need to be hired by a trucking company before you can start living the life of a professional truck driver. One of the best trucking companies in Tucson, Arizona is DSW Drivers, so contact them about career opportunities today.

Trucking: Do You Have What It Takes?

A truck driver is a professional who transports goods from one place to another. If you are thinking about becoming a truck driver, then there are several things that you will need to take into consideration. Below are some of the key facts that you need to know about being a truck driver:

Becoming A Truck Driver

A high school diploma or GED is required to become a truck driver. They are also required to earn a commercial driver’s license, which is also known as a CDL. Before you earn a CDL, you must pass a driving and knowledge test. Many companies also require that people students complete formal training at an accredited institution.

Dangers Of Being A Truck Driver

Truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road, so fatigue is very common among drivers. Fatigue is a very common cause of truck accidents. Not only do drivers spend a lot of time on the road, but they spend a lot of time unloading cargo. Unloading heavy cargo can lead to injuries.

Career Potential

It is estimated that the number of jobs available for truck drivers will grow by 21 percent between the years of 2010 and 2020. The economy is growing, and that is fueling the demand for goods. When the demand for goods increases, the number of truck drivers needed will increase also. Global positioning system, or GPS, can also make trucks more productive. Even though many companies are beginning to rely more on rail, it is unlikely to take the market share away from trucking companies.

Salary

The salary of a truck driver can vary greatly, depending on the company that one works for and experience. In May 2010, the median salary for a truck driver was $37,770. However, many truck drivers are making over $60,000 per year.

If you want to know more about being a truck driver, then you should contact DSW drivers, the standard bearer in Tucson trucking.

The Cultural Impact of the Highway

Highway History
Although 2013 marked the 100 year anniversary of Lincoln Highway, America’s first transcontinental highway, it was not until 1939 when Congress considered a federally funded a national interstate system. In 1944, the Federal Aide Highway Act gave permission for the national highway system to be constructed, but it failed to give permission for a specific program to initiate construction. Over a decade later, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, authorizing the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways. For decades, artists have incorporated highway themes into American pop culture.

Highways and Pop Culture


America’s highways are the subjects or setting for many movies and songs. One of the most notable songs includes the Rascal Flatt’s rendition of Tom Cochrane’s, “Life is a Highway,” the theme song to the Disney movie, Cars. John Mayer has a version of Bobby Troupe’s “Route 66,” on the same soundtrack.

The road trip is a popular setting for several road trip themed movies. Starring Pete Fonda and Dennis Hopper, “Easy Rider” (1969), was one of the first films to glorify the freedom of traveling across America’s highways. Burt Reynolds and Sally Field star in “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977). The 80s produced a few movies that could be among the road trip hall-of-fame, including “Cannonball Run” (1981), starring Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett and Roger Moore and National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983). By the 90s, the road trip theme becomes less humorous, taking on serious subjects like feminism in the critically acclaimed “Thelma and Louise” (1991) starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. The “Straight Story”, starring Richard Farnsworth, Sissey Spacek and Harry Dean Stanton, tackles issues related to aging, death and mental illness. Riding a lawnmower, Alvin Straight, an elderly man, takes a journey across Iowa and Wisconsin to make amends with his estranged, dying brother, Lyle.

Hit the Road Jack

If life imitates art, many will find driving America’s highways an adventure. If you want a career that will give you the freedom and excitement of traveling America’s highways, talk to DSW Drivers, the standard bearer in Tucson trucking.

How would you like that shipped?

The trucking industry is in constant motion. We need all kinds of materials moved to different locations throughout the world, and to accomplish that we need a wide variety of trucks. And while they will have stark differences in design and function, all of these trucks have the same purpose. They need to safely move their cargo from point A to point B.

There will be some overlap in style, but these are the basic types of trucks. Flatbed trucks are the basic standard for transporting materials that don’t need special care such as boxes or crates. Tankers are mostly for liquids, gasses, or hazardous material. Mostly gasoline, propane, and natural gas will be what you find tankers hauling. Refrigerated trucks are for transporting ice, produce, milk, meat, or anything else that requires a constant chilled temperature. Automotive transport vehicles can refer to those multilayer big rigs that can hold over a dozen cars at once, or it can also refer to the wide load trucks that carry huge military or construction equipment.

The cargo that these trucks haul is usually pretty benign. But dangerous materials also need transport. And with added risk to the driver, there is also extra pay. This pay increase is called hazard pay. It comes into play with explosive, chemically active, or radioactive materials. In the event of a collision or spill, the driver is much more likely to be injured or killed. That is why special hazardous material transport license. There is also better pay for over sized loads, driving in hazardous conditions, or long hauls. Regardless of the method truck driving can be dangerous. But the drivers are compensated accordingly. They can make 70k a year before bonuses, so the business can be very rewarding. Just make sure you practice and study for your licensing exam.

Ready to start your career in trucking? Contact DSW Drivers, your trusted Tucson trucking company.

How to Deal With Time Away From Family While You’re Trucking

There are many benefits to building your career as a truck driver. You have flexibility to choose the type of hauls you want to make. You can see so many new parts of the country that most people never get to lay eyes on. You have a stable income that can move with you if you want or need to relocate. You can often qualify for excellent benefits, including medical and dental. But there is one downside – you will spend a lot of time away from your loved ones.

Stay Connected
Experienced truckers ay the most important aspect of dealing with spending long hours and days apart from your family is to stay connected. Just because you cannot be physically present does not mean you are unable to stay connected. In fact, with wonderful new mobile tools you can almost feel like you are right there with your loved ones! Here are tips for staying connected.

  • Talk with your spouse about how to handle finances. This can help you avoid one of the biggest causes of marital conflict – unattended finances.
  • Plan phone time so you can be sure you can reach each other. This way you can be sure you will be able to connect.
  • Check in spontaneously. If you have a free moment,a quick text or call call to say “I love you” is a great way to stay connected.

Think of the Positives
While there are undoubtedly some downsides to your trucking career, the truth is that there are just as many positives! You are earning a good living at a time when many families are struggling. You have a job you love – and happy spouses are better able to weather temporary issues like being apart. You can also bring back amazing stories from your time away.

Plan Time Together
Finally, the most important aspect of surviving time away from loved ones is to plan quality together time when you are home. This will give all of you something to look forward to!

Looking to begin a career in trucking, or just in need of a new truck driving job? Contact DSW Drivers in Tucson, Arizona.

How Old Is Too Old To Learn To Drive A Truck?

Many people have always dreamed about driving a truck, but they think that they are too old to learn. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as being too old to be a truck driver. In fact, many people do not start driving a truck until they are well into their 50s. The key to being a great truck driver at any age is to keep yourself healthy. You must also maintain a good driving record.

In order to ensure that you are healthy, you will be required to pass a department of transportation, or DOT physical. You need to have good eyesight, hearing, normal blood pressure and normal use of your legs and arms in order to be a good truck driver. You will also be required to get formal training before you can get your commercial driving license.

People who are healthy with a clean driving record should not worry about being too old to become a truck driver. There are people in their 80s who are working as truck drivers. However, there a few other things that you need to consider before you become a truck driver.

One of those things is your family. You will be required to spend a lot of time away from your home if you are a truck driver. In fact, you may go six to eight weeks at a time without seeing your family. Some trucking companies will allow you to take one passenger with you, so you can bring your spouse or one of your children or grandchildren. However, children need to be at least 10 years old before they can ride in the truck. Some companies require that children be at least 12 years old.

It is also important to note that this type of job can get very stressful and lonely at times. However, if you can handle the demands of being a truck driver, then you should not worry about your age.

Ready to begin your career in Trucking? Contact DSW Drivers, the standard bearer in Tucson trucking today.