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May

The NSTS Team

2022-05-20

Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent. All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial driver's license (CDL). Qualification requirements for a CDL vary by state but usually include passing a knowledge test and a driving test.

<h2>How to Become a Truck Driver?</h2><p>Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent. All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial driver's license (CDL). Qualification requirements for a CDL vary by state but usually include passing a knowledge test and a driving test.</p><p>Drivers can obtain supplements to their CDL to prove their ability to drive specialized types of vehicles. Drivers of hazardous materials trucks (HAZMAT) must have a Hazardous Materials Driver's License (H).</p><p>Many prospective drivers attend professional truck driving schools, where they take training classes to learn how to drive large vehicles on the highway or on crowded streets. During these classes, drivers also learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate truck driving.</p><h2>What does a Truck Driver do?</h2><p>Truck drivers transport goods from one place to another. Most truck-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and drive trucks that total more than 26,000 pounds of cars, passengers, and cargo.Some truck drivers have one or two routes on which they drive regularly, and other drivers drive many ways across the country. In addition, some drivers have routes that include Mexico or Canada.Some long-haul truck drivers, also called owner-operators, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves.</p><h2>Strict requirements for truck drivers:</h2><p>Many people think that truck driving is an easy job. And the only reason people become drivers is that they lack talent. It's quite the opposite. The job of a trucker requires a lot of effort, which is why there are such strict requirements for drivers. This is one of the reasons why there is currently a shortage of drivers in the industry.</p><ul><li>Physical</li></ul><p>Driving requires multitasking, which requires alertness. To be alert, you need to be in good physical shape. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires all drivers to pass a DOT medical examination before obtaining a commercial driver's license. During the physical examination, a doctor checks general health and every body system, marking it as normal or abnormal. This includes checking your urine, blood pressure, eyes, and hearing. At the end of the examination, you get one of three answers - you are allowed to drive for two years, you may be allowed to drive but with periodic monitoring, or you may be denied the right to drive a truck because you do not meet health standards.</p><ul><li>Psychological stability</li></ul><p>After that, candidates undergo psychological tests that test their mental fitness for the job. Truck drivers must be patient and flexible. They can be on the road for ten hours a day, many days in a row. They may not see their family for months. It takes mental strength and adaptability. Also, unlike a regular office job, they won't be surrounded by people on the road. Drivers need to feel comfortable alone and not let loneliness overwhelm them.</p><ul><li>Mechanical knowledge</li></ul><p>Last, but not least - knowledge of mechanics. Truck drivers should have a basic understanding of the truck's engine and mechanics, so they can fix minor problems, such as changing a light bulb. In most cases, drivers don't have a manager or supervisor they can ask for advice in the event of a breakdown. They have to be on their own and find a solution on their own. The more a truck driver knows about mechanics, the better for him and his package.</p><p>These may seem like common requirements, but they are only the most basic of necessities. It's funny when you think about the fact that a huge part of the economy depends on people with these characteristics. And it has become a problem. According to various reports, the industry is currently short 50,000 to 90,000 drivers. However, according to the American Trucking Association, there will be a shortage of 175,000 truck drivers in the United States by 2026. And that shortage of drivers is already causing order delays and making goods more expensive as trucking rates rise.</p><p>If, after all, you still dream of jumping into your truck and rushing to wherever the customer tells you, then you are exactly the right person for us!Our New Sound Trucking School will properly prepare you for the challenges of being a real truck driver!</p>

May

The NSTS Team

2022-05-16

Professional truck drivers are a vital part of America's economy. Not only do they transport our necessary, everyday goods, but they also complete the supply chain. The shortage of drivers in the industry has been an issue for a long time, and recent events have only made it harder for delivery companies to get the job done.

<h2>How can you take advantage of increased driver pay?</h2><p>Professional truck drivers are a vital part of America's economy. Not only do they transport our necessary, everyday goods, but they also complete the supply chain. The shortage of drivers in the industry has been an issue for a long time, and recent events have only made it harder for delivery companies to get the job done. As a result, many carriers are using this time to offer drivers record salaries and incentives to attract new drivers to the profession.</p><h2>Truck Driver Salary Overview</h2><p>According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for a professional driver in 2005 was $35,000. At that time, there were 1.625 million working truck drivers in the country. The American Trucking Association also reported that there was a shortage of truck drivers for the first time in 2005. The driver shortage disappeared after the Great Recession of 2008 when trucking volume declined and slowly began to reappear in 2011. Since then, the driver shortage has grown steadily, with the number of shortages reaching more than 60,000 in 2019. Meanwhile, the median wage has only increased by $12,400.</p><h2>Future and Salary of Drivers</h2><p>Numerous driver shortages have forced carriers to rethink their recruitment efforts. One recruitment measure that has shown positive results is increasing driver compensation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 percent of professional drivers earned more than $69,480 in 2020. Along with this high pay, many carriers offer additional incentives, including sign-up bonuses and local routes to get drivers home every day. The government also passed a law lowering the age of obtaining a CDL to 18, hoping to increase the number of new drivers.</p><h2>NSTS Wants You to Take Home this Increased Salary</h2><p>NEW SOUND TRUCKING SCHOOL can help you begin this new career in as little as four weeks! Our Class A CDL Training Program utilizes a balance of classroom instruction and hands-on, behind-the-wheel training. Our graduates have completed their training with their CDL and were offered job opportunities with our employment partners through our job placement assistance program. We also provide multiple tuition assistance programs to help ease the stress of beginning a new career. Let us help you earn a salary payout of up to $70,000 as soon as possible! Fill out the form on this page, or call us at 253-210-0505 to reserve your spot in our next class!</p>

May

The NSTS Team

2022-05-06

Please, check our previous article if you did not read it yet.

<p>Please, check our previous article if you did not read it yet.</p><ul><li>Fact #11: Semi Trucks Can Cost Up To $200,000</li></ul><p>All the engineering and power which go into making a great semi truck doesn’t come cheap. Not many people can afford to buy a semi to work as a freelance trucker, which is why so many people who work in the trucking industry are signed up to work for logistics companies.Brand new big rigs will cost a minimum of around $80,000 but can be much more expensive, up to $200,000 for the top-of-the-range trucks.And that doesn’t even take into consideration the often prohibitively high cost of insurance for truck drivers and the high fuel costs involved in operating an 18-wheeler.</p><ul><li>Fact #12: Truck Driving Is One Of The Most Dangerous Jobs</li></ul><p>Driving commercial trucks isn’t just expensive if you decide to go down the freelance route, it is also one of the most dangerous professions out there, regardless of whether the driver is working for themselves or for a larger company. In 2017, 852 truckers lost their lives in road accidents while they were at work. It isn’t just the risk of serious injury from collisions which threaten the health of truckers, their sedentary lifestyle and tendency to eat junk food means that they are also more likely to be obese, and suffer from diabetes, heart disease, and other serious diseases.</p><ul><li>Fact #13: Takes Two Football Fields For A Semi To Come To A Stop</li></ul><p>Heavy vehicles aren’t just tricky to handle, they also carry a great deal of forward momentum which makes coming to a sudden halt difficult and dangerous, even with the mandatory ABS brakes rule.A fully-loaded semi truck, weighing in at 80,000 pounds, and traveling at 65mph will take 525 feet to come to a complete stop – that’s the equivalent of the length of two football fields, and twice the distance it takes cars to come to a halt.Drivers should remember that next time they are driving near a semi truck on the highway or interstate, and make sure that they give truckers the room that they need to stop safely.</p><ul><li>Fact #14: Semi Trucks Are Fitted With Speed Limiters</li></ul><p>As well as ABS brakes being mandatory on trucks built after 1997, many 18-wheelers are also fitted with speed limiters, which makes it impossible for the drivers to go over the speed limit, even accidentally.These speed limiters are mandatory on trucks in Europe, but are not yet enforced across the US.The domestic trucking industry is in favor of using these limiters, which would stop commercial vehicles going over 65mph, as they have been proven to help keep their drivers and other road users safe, and ensure that truckers don’t get into trouble with the law for speeding.</p><ul><li>Fact #15: Only 6% Of Truckers Are Women</li></ul><p>A lot of professions which were traditionally dominated by men are becoming more gender-balanced, but trucking isn’t one of them. Of the 3.5 million truckers working in the US, just 6% of them are women, and this has only increased by 1.5% in the last 15 years. There’s no physical reason why women can’t become truckers – they are perfectly capable of managing even the largest 18-wheelers – and yet the trucking industry is having trouble persuading more women that driving semi trucks is the right career for them. Trucking is a well-paying job, but women still don’t like being away from home for days or weeks at a time.</p><ul><li>Fact #16: Many Semi Drivers Also Live In Their Trucks</li></ul><p>The US is a big country, even bigger when you take cross-border journeys to Canada and Mexico into consideration. Driving a truck from the east coast to the west coast could take several days, and drivers need to make sure their journey is as efficient as possible. That means sleeping only when they are legally required to, and keep moving the rest of the time. The best way to save time when it comes to resting up is to sleep in your vehicle at truck stops up and down the country. Modern trucks can actually be quite luxurious, with proper beds, kitchenettes, and even a small bathroom.</p><ul><li>Fact #17: Why Are They Called Semi Trucks?</li></ul><p>Considering that semi trucks are so big – up to 61 ft in length for some larger models – “semi” doesn’t seem a very appropriate name for them.Not many people know where the name semi truck comes from, and even some truckers don’t know from where the term actually originates.The name "semi truck" actually comes from the type of trailers these trucks tow all over the country, which are semi-trailers in the sense that they only have wheels at one end, and need to rest on the chassis of the cab unit at the other end before the truck can get underway.</p><ul><li>Fact #18: Semi Trucks Require Special Driving Skills</li></ul><p>Many motorists are under the impression that driving a semi truck is just like driving their regular car, only on a larger scale. While there are similarities – both cars and trucks have steering wheels, brakes, and transmission sticks – there are too many differences to allow motorists without the proper training to just jump into the driving seat and start towing loads all over the US. Before you can start work as a trucker, you need to undergo proper training, both in the classroom and behind the wheel with an instructor in tow, and then pass a driving test to get your hands on a commercial driver's license.</p><ul><li>Fact #19: Responsible For Transporting The Majority Of Goods In US</li></ul><p>To some people, the idea of transporting goods by semi truck probably seems old-fashioned. A very 20th century way of doing things in this era of electric vehicles and self-driving cars. And yet the logistics industry has simply not been able to find an alternative to semi trucks which works as well or as efficiently. In 2017, trucks transported nearly 70% of domestic freight, as well as the majority of imports from both Canada and Mexico. Truck freight amounted to an impressive $676.2 billion in 2016, with semi trucks and other commercial vehicles transporting a whopping 10 billion tons of freight that year.</p><ul><li>Fact #20: Semi Trucks Are Gas Guzzlers</li></ul><p>We may still rely on semi trucks to get goods from A to B, but in some respects, these valuable vehicles are a little out of date.In an era when more and more consumers are turning to hybrids and even electric cars for their own vehicles, semi trucks have continued to unapologetically guzzle gas.Semi trucks run on diesel, which is at least a little better for the environment than gasoline, but their fuel economy figures would make an environmentalist weep. Big rigs make up just 7% of the vehicles on America’s highways, and yet they consume 25% of the country’s oil.</p><p>Our students' first step toward becoming professional truck drivers is to enroll in a high-quality truck driving school. You will develop skills and learn the techniques needed to become a safe, competent, and productive commercial truck driver with NSTS. Making a new career option in this competitive employment market is a life-changing experience for the majority of people who take the plunge.</p><p>Join Us Immediately! For additional information about acquiring your CDL, call our Admissions Department at 253-210-0505.</p>

April

The NSTS Team

2022-04-27

When it comes to what people know about semi-trucks and the lifestyles of the truckers who drive them, most people have got the bulk of their information from the movies. However, films are not always exactly true to life and give viewers a rather inaccurate idea of what life on the big rigs is all about.

<p>Check out the list below for some surprising facts that most people don't know about semi-trucks.When it comes to what people know about semi-trucks and the lifestyles of the truckers who drive them, most people have got the bulk of their information from the movies. However, films are not always exactly true to life and give viewers a rather inaccurate idea of what life on the big rigs is all about.</p><p>If you want to know amazing and intriguing facts about semi-trucks, try talking to a trucker - or check out the list below. These are truly impressive pieces of equipment, capable of covering huge distances over a long career on the road. Not only that, but many serve as temporary homes for their drivers, who may spend days or even weeks away from home.</p><p>And if you've never thought about trucks before, now is a good time to think about how different your life would be without their national and even international distribution network, bringing food and other goods from the other side of the country to your local store. Without trucks, our grocery store shelves would be empty!</p><ul><li>Fact #1: The Engine Can Last For One A Million Miles</li></ul><p>Most cars can drive an average of about 200,000 miles before they need serious maintenance on the engine and other parts. For most drivers, this is equivalent to about 11 years of driving. For truckers, however, 200,000 miles will be covered in just a couple of years, so truck engines are designed to be stronger and more durable and last much longer. In fact, the engines in the new semi-trucks can last up to a million miles, which is a serious number for the truckers who work on these 18-wheelers.</p><ul><li>Fact #2: Semi Trucks Have Up To 18 Gears</li></ul><p>As we've heard before, there are some significant differences between driving a passenger car and a semi-truck, even if the basic engineering is the same. Perhaps the biggest difference is in the transmission. While most cars in the U.S. have automatic transmissions, semi-trucks have manuals, and some large models can have up to 18 gears. It can take a lot of practice to get used to operating all these different gears, especially since some trucks have more than one lever, and to learn to understand when it is best to use each gear offered.</p><ul><li>Fact #3: Semis Were Initially Created To Transport Cars</li></ul><p>In the early days of semi-trucks, no one saw their potential for transporting goods around the country. Those first truck cabs were designed to transport cars from the manufacturing plant to the dealership or local garage, and only later did some bright spark realize that other loads could be transported in exactly the same way. Modern car carriers still use the same truck cab, but they are now capable of transporting many more cars at a time, all of them apparently precariously balanced on a specially designed trailer section.</p><ul><li>Fact #4: Most Trucks Registered In Three States</li></ul><p>Semi-trucks travel long distances during their journey, traveling from coast to coast and from border to border. Therefore, we can expect these trucks to be registered all over the country, since there is no one place where they logically begin their journey. And yet, the vast majority of U.S. semi-trucks are registered in just three states: Florida, California, and Texas. In 2015, more than 14 million trucks were registered in California, while nearly 13 million were registered in Texas and 7.7 million in Florida.</p><ul><li>Fact #5: Semi Trucks Drive 140 Billion Miles Each Year</li></ul><p>As you can see from the number of trucks registered in just three states, there are plenty of 18-wheelers driving on American highways and interstates, as well as in our cities and towns. In fact, in 2015, there were 140 million trucks registered in states across the country, each making weekly long-distance trips. Thus, trucks travel a huge number of miles each year: 140 billion miles, to be exact. It has been estimated that the U.S. semi-truck fleet travels an average of 140 billion miles annually on domestic trucking alone.</p><ul><li>Fact #6: Each Semi Drives An Average Of 45,000 Miles Peach Year</li></ul><p>But how many of those 140 billion miles does each trucker drive himself? The U.S. trucking workforce is thought to consist of about 3.5 million drivers (although this figure does not include all the mechanics who keep the trucks in good condition and the valuable administrative staff who keep the loads moving. So 3.5 million drivers and 140 billion miles driven means that each truck driver drives an average of 45,000 miles per year. Some, of course, drive well over 45,000 miles, depending on which routes they choose, while others may prefer to stay closer to home.</p><ul><li>Fact #7: Average Weight Of A Semi Truck</li></ul><p>Not only are semi-trucks much longer than regular cars, but they are also much heavier. In fact, the average weight of a loaded semi-truck is 80,000 pounds. However, some commercial vehicles can be much heavier, including semi-trucks used for trucking in South Dakota. There are no weight limits on out-of-state roads in the state, which means companies can attach as many trailers as they want to their trucks as long as they have the proper license. These South Dakota mega-trucks can weigh up to 170,000 pounds.</p><ul><li>Fact #8: Top Selling Semi Brand Is Freightliner</li></ul><p>Several companies produce semi-trucks for sale in the U.S. domestic market and export overseas, but the sales leaders are the trucks produced by Freightliner.This company is a division of Daimler Trucks North America, which bought Freightliner in the 1980s.However, the history of Freightliner goes back long before the deal with Daimler: the first trucks were developed back in the 1930s, but large-scale production did not start until the 1960s. In 2015, Freightliner Trucks held 37.5% of the semi-truck market, well ahead of second-best-selling Peterbilt, which had a mere 15.9% share.</p><ul><li>Fact #9: Anti-Lock Brakes Have Been Required Since 1997</li></ul><p>In recent decades, the trucking industry has seen many changes to improve the safety of semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles. One of the most significant changes came in 1995, when the Department of Transportation announced new regulations making anti-lock braking systems mandatory for trucks built after March 31, 2017. ABS brakes made trucks much safer for drivers and other road users because they could help prevent rollovers if truck drivers had to brake sharply. The industry initially opposed the measure because of the extra cost, but now such safety changes are widely accepted by drivers and supervisors alike.</p><ul><li>Fact #10: First Semi Truck Created In 1898</li></ul><p>Semi-trucks have a longer history than most people think: they date back to 1898. The invention of the semi-truck belongs to Alexander Winton of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a car manufacturer and wanted to find a way to transport his cars to new owners without subjecting them to wear and tear along the way. Eventually, Winton began manufacturing these semi-trucks/vehicle transporters to sell to other automakers. This first semi-truck was not much like today's big trucks: first, the semi had only two wheels, not 18 wheels like today's trailers.</p><p>Read about the other 10 facts in our next blog article…</p>

April

The NSTS Team

2022-04-13

You may ask why we are so confident of this? It's because consumer demand is expected to return to normal in 2022, which will increase the need for trucking jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 231,100 trucking jobs in 2022.

<h2>Why should you become a trucker as soon as possible?</h2><p>You may ask why we are so confident of this? It's because consumer demand is expected to return to normal in 2022, which will increase the need for trucking jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 231,100 trucking jobs in 2022. That's what makes 2022 the perfect year to start a new career in the trucking industry. Don't you think so?</p><h2>A Rise in Trucking Demand</h2><p>According to the American Trucking Association, as supply chains return to normal, the amount of freight transported will increase by 22%. This will lead to a 66% increase in trucking industry revenues. Drivers can expect to benefit from this increase as rates paid for work increase per load. In addition, many trucking companies are offering fringe benefits such as sign-up bonuses and tuition reimbursement programs.</p><h2>Your Truck Driving Career In 2022</h2><p>The truck driver shortage that consistently affects the trucking industry will continue into 2022. To help combat the shortage and ease the burden on the supply chain, the White House has unveiled a new action plan. Some steps taken include helping states to speed up the licensing process for CDL drivers, implementing a registered apprentice program for truckers, expanding coverage and recruiting veterans, and launching a pilot program for 18- to 21-year-olds. The main goal of these programs is to shorten the time it takes for those over 21 to obtain a CDL, while at the same time allowing those under 21 to cross state lines through the apprenticeship program.</p><p>In addition, the ELDT Mandate, which sets new CDL training standards for all schools and students, goes into effect on February 7. The purpose of the Entry Level Driving Mandate is to make drivers safer by standardizing training and requiring all schools to register with FMCSA.</p><h2>Benefits of a Truck Driving Career</h2><p>Truck driver efforts are attracting more and more public attention, which increases the expected benefits for drivers. Driver salaries and benefits increased steadily throughout 2021 and will continue to grow in 2022. The starting average salary for truck drivers has risen to $60,000+, and benefits now include expanded health care options, additional vacation time, and retirement options.</p><h2>Conclusions</h2><p>As you can see, everything in 2022 screams for you to become a trucker. And the number of perks is far from the number described in this post. That's why we're waiting for you at our NSTS school. We'll do everything to make you change your life for the better, and start traveling and earning more money ASAP! And all thanks to the work of a trucker.</p><p>As for us, there's nothing to think about! You should just do it!</p><img src="blog_img/2022-04(Apr)-13_1-min.jpg">