What are the Different Types of Trucking Jobs?
The trucking industry is a massive one, with thousands of different jobs available. Each job has its own set of requirements, duties, and responsibilities. If you're trying to find the right position for yourself, it can be difficult to know where to start looking. Luckily, we've outlined some of the most common positions here!
Dry Van Hauling
Dry van hauling is one of the most common types of trucking jobs. You may have heard the term “dry van” before, but you might not know exactly what it means. Dry van hauling is a type of freight-hauling trucking that involves dry goods or items that are not temperature-sensitive and don’t need to be kept in refrigeration or heated for safety reasons.
Dry van hauling refers to open deck trailers that are used for hauling non-perishable products like lumber and food items across long distances. These trucks are usually equipped with a sliding side door on each side, which allows easy loading and unloading of cargo onto docks or other delivery locations without having to open up the entire back end of the trailer.
Freight Trucking
Freight trucking, also known as long-haul trucking or long-distance hauling, is a type of trucking job that involves transporting goods over long distances. This type of trucking job typically involves the transportation of freight or cargo between destinations at least 150 miles apart.
Freight truck drivers can find employment in many industries. Some common industries include:
Automotive industry
Construction industry
Retail industry
In addition to these types of positions, there are also opportunities for people who want to work for themselves rather than for an employer. Freight brokers typically act as middlemen between buyers and sellers — they purchase large shipments from manufacturers or wholesalers at a discount rate and then sell them to retailers at full price (or higher) once they reach their destination point.
Oil/Gasoline Tankers
Tankers are the most common type of trucking job. They carry liquid cargo, usually oil or gasoline.
Because these loads are so heavy, tankers must be oversized to accommodate them. The capacity of a tanker can be more than 50,000 gallons, which means that multiple types of liquids can be transported in one trip.
Tanker trucks may also come with refrigeration or heating systems depending on what they're carrying — this helps keep the product cool or warm during transport, so it doesn't spoil before reaching its destination.
If you drive this type of vehicle — you typically pick up shipments at gas stations or ports and transport them across state lines or internationally according to predetermined routes mapped out by customers or shipping companies like UPS or FedEx Express.
Refrigerated Goods
When you think of refrigerated goods, what comes to mind? Maybe it's milk and eggs at the local grocery store. Perhaps you imagine a basket of cold cuts in a deli case. These are examples of refrigerated goods that are transported around the country daily for consumption.
Refrigerated goods are transported in trucks and trailers with cooling units that keep their temperatures below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
Non-refrigerated goods can be shipped as well, but they don't require special equipment for transportation or storage at destination points — rather, they can be stored at room temperature until they reach their final destination — which may still involve some kind of refrigeration during transit (like when shipping eggs).
Flatbed Trucking
Flatbed trucking is a type of trucking that involves transporting large, bulky items that can't be stacked. Common items transported by flatbed trucking include construction materials, large machinery, and even vehicles.
Flatbed trucks are usually described as a "highway-legal" version of the tractor-trailer because they have two axles and are designed to operate on highways rather than city streets.
Flatbeds also differ from straight trucks in their lack of cargo capacity; in fact, many flatbeds do not have any enclosed cargo area at all!
However, flatbeds do offer great visibility for drivers and are available with optional equipment like sideboards which provide more safety for both driver and load than open-top trailers would provide (although sideboards do cost extra).
Regional Jobs
When it comes to trucking jobs, regional jobs are for drivers who don’t want to be on the road for weeks at a time. Regional drivers can expect to stay in one area for a few weeks and then move on to another region of the country with no downtime between trips. These jobs often require you to live near your base location so you can make runs from there as needed.
Hotshot Trucking
Hotshot trucking is a type of freight trucking that involves hauling goods from one location to another. As with other types of trucking, hotshot drivers are usually independent contractors; they're not employees of a company or business and don't work under any kind of contract.
Hotshot drivers typically haul goods on a short-term, temporary basis, meaning that the driver only picks up goods at one location and delivers them to another over an extended period of time. Instead, he picks up goods at one place for delivery elsewhere for just a few days or weeks before returning home again with no fixed schedule in mind.
Drop & Hook
In the drop and hook industry, drivers are generally assigned a certain route and delivery schedule. They receive the load, "drop" it at its destination, and then pick up a new load, or "hook."
The driver may also be responsible for helping unload and load the truck. This can include everything from accepting paperwork to making sure that all of your cargo is properly secured. Drop and hook drivers usually work a set schedule, with nights off, so they can sleep during the day.
Drop and hook drivers typically have a route they travel every day or week. This route may include several stops at different businesses or warehouses, where they drop off and pick up goods. They may also be responsible for making sure that all paperwork is complete before unloading the truck.
Related post: How to Find the Best OTR Jobs & What to Expect | 5 Things you need to Know About Drop-and-Hook Trucking
Landing A Job
The trucking industry has many different jobs, and you can find one that suits your needs. People with no experience driving large vehicles on the road can get started in this field, but it will be easier for those who do have some experience.
Related post: Why Truck Driving Jobs Are in High Demand
If you need help paying for CDL school, Doug Andrus Distributing offers financial grants and student loan financing. They also offer tuition reimbursement.
Trucking can be a great job, especially if you are someone who likes to work outside. It’s also an industry that is always growing and needs more people to help keep up with the demand.