Given how truck drivers haul anything and everything around the United States, it’s no wonder they’re an essential part of the supply chain, and why many say that trucking can be a lucrative business if you play your cards right. There are different trucking jobs available, so all you have to do, besides becoming a truck driver in the first place, is decide what sort of job you’re looking for.
For example, you may be looking for a day cab truck, but is a day cab job the one for you? To help you decide, let’s take a look at the difference between day cab jobs and sleeper cab jobs, and the requirements for the former.
Day Cab vs Sleeper Cab
Semi-trucks can have either a day cab or a sleeper cab, with the latter typically being more expensive, regardless of condition. That’s because a day cab has only a single compartment located over the truck’s engine. Meanwhile, a sleeper cab has a separate compartment attached to the cabin, and that’s used for resting and sleeping.
There’s a need for this distinction because trucks with day cabs take on different jobs compared to those with sleeper cabs. In many locations, it’s more likely that you’ll see a day cab truck plying the roads because these are usually used to transport cargo to different locations in a day or less. Someone driving such a truck might haul products from one city to another nearby, and such a drive might take only a few hours.
A truck with a sleeper cab, though, is designed for longer hauls – that is, those that take more than a day. Since truckers can only work a certain number of hours as per the Department of Transportation, that meant looking for a place to rest after hours. Most drivers didn’t want to book a room at a motel, and that led to the rise of sleeper cabs.
Requirements to Drive a Day Cab
If you want a trucking job that lets you come home every night, then a day cab position is your best bet. But before you get to that point, you first need to become a licensed truck driver.
To do that, you need to be at least 21 years old, with a high school diploma or the equivalent of one. Second, you’ll need a commercial driver’s license, or CDL. There are three classes of CDL, though, and these determine what kind of commercial vehicle you’re allowed to drive because of your training. A Class A CDL means you can drive tractor-trailers, truck and trailer combinations, flatbeds, and tank vehicles, among other things, so this is the type of license you’re going to need.
As far as employment requirements are concerned, a clean motor vehicle record is always a good thing, as is at least a year of commercial driving experience. Some companies may have an additional age requirement. Others may require prospective truck drivers to be able to read, write, and speak English fluently, or even require that you hold a current and valid medical card. These may vary among employers, however.
As you can see, it takes some time and effort to become a truck driver, let alone one driving a day cab truck. But if you want a potentially lucrative trucking job that doesn’t need you to leave home for weeks at a time, then this is one that’s worth looking into.
On top of that, you have an option to become an owner-operator and truck driver at the same time. You can start a trucking business and manage your own time and clients. This might seem an ambitious step if you don’t have the capital to procure your own vehicle, but you can connect with institutions offering financial assistance to get some funds.
Or, instead of getting a brand new truck, you can consider purchasing a second-hand semi that is still in good condition. Visit this website to browse a wide selection of used day cabs for sale.
