Specialized Trucking Transport Education and Training

Get the proper training for specialized transportation service

Specialized trucking companies transport millions of products around the country quickly and cheaply every day and our economy relies on these trucks to get goods where they belong. To make this happen, specialized trucking companies hire drivers with specialized transportation training to move goods from dirt to hazardous materials in everything from dump trucks to triples.

Having a simple commercial driver's license (CDL) will enable you to drive tractor trailers and other types of commercial vehicles, but in order to transport some products (or drive some trucks), you'll need a special license or endorsement on your CDL. Consider the following when looking for specialized trucking transport education and training:

1. Obtain a haz-mat transport endorsement. Many companies require this for all drivers, so it's best to get it out of the way so you'll be able to accept more jobs.

2. Gain experience driving doubles and triples. This type of specialized transportation comes with more risks and extra training is required.

3. Consider getting other types of specialized transportation training. This includes trucks like dump trucks and tankers.

 

Obtain your endorsement for haz-mat transport

Any kind of hazardous materials transport requires a hazmat endorsement. A hazardous material is defined as anything that can cause harm to humans, animals or the environment. Many CDL programs offer the endorsement in conjunction with the CDL license, but if you don't already have it, you can get it through a separate course. You should check to ensure that you don't have a disqualifying felony offense on your record before you sign up for a class.
Try: Use the hazardous materials course from TestQuestionsAndAnswers.com to prepare for your hazmat endorsement exam. CDL Digest also offers an affordable study guide and details disqualifying offenses.

Train for oversized trucking to drive doubles and triples

When a driver pulls more than one trailer, it is known as a longer combination vehicle, or LCV. Most drivers just refer to them at "doubles" and "triples." A special endorsement is required for this since there is so much more to worry about when backing, turning and coupling while driving doubles and triples.
Try: If you don't already have your CDL, consider the program at Lackawanna College, which offers a doubles/triples endorsement with its CDL training course. Take the free practice tests at Trucker Country to help reinforce the material that will be on your endorsement exam.

Get qualified for other types of specialized trucking transport

There are other types of specialized transport services that may require extra training. For example, driving and operating a dump truck requires knowing about shifting, braking, general operation and backing. There are numerous types of other specialized truck transportation, so if you're interested in one of them, sign up for a training course.
Try: Consider enrolling in one of the dump truck driving courses from West Coast Training. Residents in the Midwest might consider taking the tanker truck training class at Clark State Community College. Or you can find a school in your local area using the search feature at JobsInTrucks.com.

 

• Oversize transport includes both overwidth and overweight vehicles. The regulations for oversized transport services vary from state to state, but most require the driver to have a permit. Although no special training is required for this, the driver should at least have an escort team as well as be familiar with local road closures and construction areas.

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