• Planning trips; mapping a route to optimize travel time, fuel costs, and potential hazards; ensuring adequate fuel stops, rest stops, and layovers to prevent fatigue
• Maintaining information/documentation, including daily log and trip data, by recording data electronically (on-board computers, fax, cellular)
• Demonstrating defensive driving skills, particularly in extreme conditions
• Performing pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip vehicle inspections
• Backing and docking tractor-trailers; coupling and uncoupling trailers; securing the load and judging path and trailer clearances
• Managing and adjusting vehicle speed as well as performing visual searches in various types of traffic
• Reading and interpreting cab instrumentation and control systems
• Identifying and reporting malfunctions; dealing with and reporting collisions
• Preparing documents including driver's daily log, expense reports, customer documents to facilitate border crossing, and bills of lading to document cargo

• 18 years old with valid Ontario AZ license; those driving into U.S. must be at least 21
• 2,000 hours of training, including 40 weeks on-the-job and 12 weeks mentor training
• This is a voluntary trade, so a certified apprenticeship is recommended but not required

• Non-standard hours, often driving alone on long-distance trips
• Requires strong sense of spatial orientation, visual acuity, night vision, and excellent driving record
• Must deal with high traffic volumes and various driving conditions
• Strong demand for this job expected to continue
• Employers include owners-operators and commercial fleets of all sizes

Apprentice wage increases with skill and experience. Fully qualified drivers earn an average of $25.00-$35.00 per hour.

Tractor-Trailer Commercial Driver (638A)

If you checked YES to the majority of these questions, a career as a Tractor-Trailer Commercial Driver (638A) may be for you!

You might want to look at these similar trades as well;

• Truck Dispatcher
• Dock & Warehouse Operations
• Truck & Coach Technician