How to Become a Certified Truck Driver

Select One, Inc. is a family-owned reefer company founded in 2014. Based in McCook, IL, Select One, Inc. primarily operates east of The Rockies. The company has built successful business relationships with owner-operated truck drivers.

Getting started as a truck driver isn't as difficult as many think. The first step is earning a Class A commercial driver's license (or CDL). This license is necessary for all tractor-trailer driving positions.

To obtain the Class A CDL criteria, the candidate must be 21 or older and must hold a commercial learner's permit (CLP) for a minimum of 14 days before obtaining the CDL. To get a CLP, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license, pass an exam covering fundamental trucking skills and knowledge, and pay a fee.

Before obtaining the CDL, the candidate must first obtain the CLP and pass a road skills test. There are several ways to earn CDL practice hours on the road to gain the experience required to pass the exam. The first is to attend a truck driving school. These programs are usually at community institutions and cost money.

Another possibility is to enroll in a truck driving program hosted through transportation companies and comparatively cheaper. With some of these programs, the companies guarantee job opportunities post-completion of the CDL training.

 

Dealing with Empty Backhaul Miles

Select One, Inc. is a trucking company based in Alsip, IL. It focuses on high-density lanes across the United States. Primarily, Select One, Inc. operates east of the Rockies. One of the services offered by the company is freight transport.

Driving an empty truck when returning from delivery not only leads to lost revenue but is unsustainable. Unfortunately, a sizeable number of dedicated and private fleets have no alternative but to drive empty backhaul miles.

Data from the Department of Transport indicates that about 20 percent of the miles are driven during empty truck backhauls. Backhaul miles refer to the return trip a truck has to make after delivery. In most cases, these are covered with no cargo and are traditionally known as empty miles.

Truck carriers and freight brokers have traditionally tried to reduce the empty miles by scheduling individual pickups and drop-offs, but this has proved time-consuming, unwieldy, and often highly inefficient.

Freight AI has come up with a natural language AI platform to solve the last mile dilemma for truckers. The platform links with freight databases and communicates and through automated text messages to drivers, so they can conveniently find loads for their backhauls.

Truck Drivers’ Physical and Mental Health

The McCook, IL-based refrigerated freight company Select One Inc. has been operating since 2014. Select One Inc. builds relationships with truck drivers to provide timely and safe service. Here are ways to ensure truck drivers’ physical and mental health.

The working conditions truck drivers face result in unique physical and mental health challenges. A 2018 article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health discusses the relationship between sleep and mental health disorders. Truck drivers face an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Mentally, they face issues like prolonged social isolation and a heightened tendency to self-medicate compared to the general population.

Complicating matters is comorbidity, one medical condition that increases the risk of developing another, such as insomnia and depression. About 90 percent of people experiencing insomnia have clinical depression. Additionally, depression is a risk factor for insomnia.

It's important to treat truck drivers’ physical and mental health issues simultaneously. Employers can leave ample time for sleep in their schedules and compensate those who work at night. They can partner with occupational health physicians to educate workers on the effects of poor sleep quality, work performance, and mental health. Incorporating screenings for sleep and mental health disorders can ensure employees’ well-being without incurring significant additional costs.

Purchase Programs Operate in Trucking?

Select One, Inc., is a McCook, IL, freight transport and logistics enterprise with a commitment to superior service. Maintaining a dedicated fleet of late-model tractors with reefers trailers, Select One, Inc., offers contracted drivers lease-to-purchase deals that combine competitive financing with full logistics support.

Lease purchase programs enable independent truck drivers to ultimately become owner-operators. A lease purchase truck driver holds the same basic responsibilities as a company driver. These include delivering a set quota of freight to a specified destination on time and following the safety protocol of the contracting company.

In general, the amount paid for this work is at the higher owner-operator rate, which is designed to accommodate the driver’s fuel, insurance, and repair and maintenance costs. This allows the driver to make agreed-upon lease payments on the vehicle, through the carrier.

One thing to be aware of is that lease operator and lease purchase programs are not the same. The former typically do not have any money-down requirements, and the vehicle is returned to the carrier after the contract ends. Lease purchase agreements, on the other hand, typically involve a substantial down payment coupled with higher continuing payments. The long-term benefit of this more capital-intensive approach is full ownership of the truck when the contract ends.