Welcome to our blog. Today, we are going to talk about some facts about the big rig you see every now and then on the highway. If you are the one interested in driving the big truck, you’ll need to study for and obtain a CDL, or commercial driver’s license, in order to drive the truck legally. If you don’t have experience of any kind driving a truck, it’s necessary you receive the required training at a truck driving school. This blog will tell you what the industry expects out of you and what you should be expecting in return. We will give you an overview of the amount of driving that is required, the type of pay to expect, the minimum age requirements and general terminology are essential before you contact a school or consider driving a big rig as a career.

Legal Driving Time:

Truckers are typically required to drive 11 hours followed by a 10-hour break. You can’t drive more than 14 hours, without taking 10 hours break no matter how many miles you actually covered. You are allowed to drive up to 70 hours in an eight-day span. You cannot overtime after 40 hours. If you’re off your post for 34 hours, you can again reset your hours in order to accumulate up to 70 hours for eight days’ worth of driving.

Payment:

Truckers are usually paid per mile. Therefore, it’s important to drive as many miles as possible in order to obtain a fairly sizable check. Drivers are not paid if they’re sitting in a dock waiting to load or unload a shipment or while stopped in traffic. You as a driver will be paid only when you’re actually moving. Depending on your experience and other variables, you can expect to earn anywhere from 19 cents to about 44 cents per mile, or from around $300 to $1,200 per week.

Age Requirements:

Drivers who want to drive 18-wheelers cross-country must be 21 years old. For anyone who wants to drive an 18-wheeler locally or within a state, the minimum age requirement is 18. However, because insurance companies do not favor covering younger drivers, many trucking companies like to hire individuals who are 23, with many preferring candidates who are 25 or older.

Aspects of Communication:

Truckers normally do not have to use a telephone very much, if at all. Most 18-wheelers come equipped with satellite systems, which allow the trucker to receive messages from their customers via a computer in their truck. Each message tells the trucker when to arrive at his destination and the details of the pickup or shipment. It also relays the mileage and directions. These satellite communication systems are also used to track the driver’s whereabouts, the speed at which he’s traveling and the amount of time he’s been moving on the road. Also, this system provides you with measure gas consumption, idle time and engine RPMS as well.

Cost of Trucks:

The overall cost for a new truck is generally from $80,000 to $120,000, with new trailers running from $30,000 to $60,000; therefore, if an individual decides to buy a truck and work independently, he may finance a truck for as high as $200,000, or close to it. Common brands of big trucks include Peterbilt, Freightliner, Kenworth, Volvo, Mack and Western Star.

General Terms to be remembered:

When we talk about the common terms you need to remember is, Bobtailing and Jackknifing.When the trailer is not hooked to the cab of the truck, the trucker is said to be “bobtailing,” or driving his truck without the trailer attached. This practice is especially dangerous in wet or icy weather conditions. When a truck is jackknifing, it means that the trailer has exceeded a 45-degree angle and is going faster than the truck or has gone into a skid, causing the trailer to come into contact with the truck. Jackknifing accidents usually happen in wet or icy weather conditions, although they can occur if the driver is carrying an empty trailer in dry conditions as well.

So keeping in mind the ups and downs, trucking is a good experience for people who are sure of the consequences and who knows what they have to face and keep in mind to deal with various trucking situations. And do remember, when you start trucking, form 2290 and IFTA are two tax you would be liable to pay/report to the IRS if you are driving a heavy vehicle or crossing into various jurisdictions. For more information or updates, you can reach our customer support or the tax experts sitting at our office dealing with our online portal Taxexcise.com, a prime product of ThinkTrade Inc. They are the best people to deal with your tax. Ring us at 866-245-3918 or send them a message via live chat. For 24/7 assistance, email at support@taxexcise.com.