Expedited Trucking Education and Training

Get your career moving with expedited trucking education and training
By Tara McClendon, Freelance Writer/Editor Tara McClendon Expedited trucking provides truck drivers with the opportunity to make long hauls using straight trucks. Expedited shipping offers a ground-based solution to shipping products across the country on short notice. Because of the rush, the job usually requires a two-person team.
 

Many drivers can use expedite freight training for other jobs in the trucking industry, so it is a good idea to determine what other types of vehicles you might drive before you pursue training. Before you start your career:

1. Get the requisite permits, such as a Class B driver's license or the license that best fits your career goals.

2. Work with expedited freight companies offering training.

3. Stay current with expedited freight companies that offer on-site training.

Secure the appropriate permits needed for expedited transport

The required permits you need to work in expedited freight depend on a variety of factors, including the company you work for, the routes you plan to travel and the types of trucks you plan to drive. In some cases, a company may lease you a truck, which comes with the required permits to operate in specific states; however, the company may include the cost of the permits in the lease price.
Try: Expedite Info offers an article database on Getting Started in the business. It includes links on the essential requirements you need to transport products legally. Prime offers a paid commercial driver's license (CDL) program for drivers who stay with the company for a year. The company lists the base requirements, such as a regular driver's license, on its website.

Let expedited freight companies pay the bill

Expedite trucking companies often offer training for potential drivers, so it can be a good idea to see who is hiring and what training they offer before paying out of pocket for education.
Try: Expedite Solutions recruits independent contract drivers and provides training in the expedite transport business. It provides three levels of training, which you can review online. Expedite Recruiting.com provides profiles of expedited trucking companies and matches independent contractors to companies who are willing to train drivers.

Stay current on expedited transport training

Use online resources to stay up-to-date on the locations and types of expedited transport training available. Some companies host on-site training at various locations throughout the US, which might be more cost effective than traveling to another state to get training--especially if a training session will be in your city soon.
Try: Expedite News maintains a current calendar of event for expedited freight training courses and seminars. ExpeditersOnline.com offers free classifieds to help connects drivers with companies. Several of the companies advertising for employees offer ongoing expedited trucking education and training.

• Some expedited transportation training programs are scams that take your money without delivering the promised certification. Always research a company's reputation before paying any money for training. Forums, blogs and review sites can provide information on current scams.