If you have recently completed CDL training and are ready to start your career as a truck driver, you picked a great, in-demand profession. There is a huge demand for truck drivers for both long-haul routes as well as shorter, more routine routes. Being a truck driver is a unique profession, so here are a few tips that will help ensure your success. 

Tip #1: Be Ready to Work Up 

Just like most careers, your first year or so on the job, you may not land the ideal route that you want to drive. You are going to have to start at the bottom and work your way up. In your first few years on the job, you may end up with routes that other drivers don't want to take on. You are going to learn a lot about being a safe driver in your first year on the job. Don't get frustrated if you feel like you are starting at the bottom; the more experience you gain, the more lucrative and higher-paying routes will become available to you.  

Tip #2: Focus on Learning the Rules 

Even though you completed your CDL training, learning the rules and regulations for trucking doesn't end when you get your license. It is an ongoing process. You will spend your first year on the job really learning all of the rules and regulations and what it is like to apply them in practice. You will learn both the formal and informal rules of the road, such as how to effectively plan your trips or when you should take your breaks. This is completely natural, as truck driving is a complex job.  

Tip #3: Stick with One Company 

When you start out, it can be tempting to just jump from one higher-paying offer to the next. However, there is value in finding a company that you want to work with and sticking with that carrier for a couple of years. Many carriers offer a lot of opportunities to advance your career, so jumping from one carrier to the next result in more money upfront but may burn more bridges in the long-run. Additionally, building-up your experience is important in the first few years of your trucking career. Trying to find a good company and stick with them for a while. 

Tip #4: Define Your Career Goals 

Finally, you should figure out what your career goals are. The trucking industry offers a lot of different avenues for your career. Do you want to run routes that are close to your home? Do you want to take on the highest paying routes? Do you want to earn additional certifications? Figure out what your career goals are so you can work towards those goals. 

When it comes to starting a career as a truck driver, you need to be ready to spend your first year really learning the rules and regulations of the job. Find a carrier you want to work with and work to define your career goals.

For more information about trucking jobs, contact a company like CMAC Transportation.