Driver - How to Become a Courier Driver

Have you ever wanted to become your own boss, set your own schedule to work when and where you want? Do you like the idea of not sitting behind the desk all day but driving around the city and providing great customer service? If so consider becoming a courier driver or operating your own courier business. The startup costs are relatively low and your success will mostly be determined by your own efforts. However, there are some things to consider as you start, and this guide hopes to show you the kind of things you will need and the pitfalls to avoid when going freelance and becoming a driver.

How to Become a Courier Driver

Education

Courier drivers typically enter their occupations with a high school diploma or equivalent. In most cases, this is the only educational requirement for couriers. The exact educational requirement varies by company.

Training

Companies train new courier drivers 1 month or less on the job. This may include driving training from a driver-mentor who rides along with a new employee to ensure that a new driver can operate a truck safely on crowded streets.

Licenses, Certifications

Courier drivers need a valid state-issued driver's license and possess a clean driving record.

Choose The Right Vehicle

To start your courier service you will need a reliable source of transportation. Many couriers choose cargo vans for this type of business as they provide the largest amount of cargo space to transport the items that you are carrying for customers. Some courier drivers start with their own car (sedan). This is doable, but larger vans will allow you to transport larger loads, and thus charge more.

Insurance

Courier insurance is important for new owner drivers. There are three types of insurance you need to look into:

Contact a local commercial insurance broker to find out how much it will cost to insure your business. This cost may vary based on location, types of deliveries you make, and the perceived risk.

Marketing Your Courier Services

The first step is getting yourself listed in local directories - the Yellow Pages and Thomson Local directory are a good start, you can do this all online. Digital marketing and advertising can also be a low cost and effective way to target business owners. Google Adwords and Facebook both have easy to use self serve platforms

Find loads on Courierbrokers.com

There is only so much you can do operating by yourself. Some common challenges you will face are finding new customers/loads, building trust, accepting payments. Courierbrokers.com is a platform that connects courier and truck drivers to people and businesses who need an on demand courier or trucking service. You will not only find loads and get hired for jobs on our website, but you will also have your business in the national directory and own a web page to promote your service. Courierbrokers will do all the marketing for you. Keep finding unlimited jobs.

How to Become a Truck Driver

Becoming a truck driver can be a reliable career, even in the toughest economic times. It can provide stability for you and your family without having to invest in a college education or expensive training. With that being said trucking is not for everyone. The below guide is to help you avoid the pitfalls of being a trucking driver.

License

To receive a commercial driver's license (CDL), a truck driver must pass a driving and knowledge test. License endorsements are available for transporting dangerous materials and operating specialized vehicles such as hazardous material loads, tanker trucks. Qualifying for endorsements involves passing a background test and gaining an additional education. Drivers must also pass the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) exam that includes a physical sight and hearing assessment and a written section on federal traffic laws. Each type of CDL endorsement requires a passing grade on a skills test and/or a written test. You may hold a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) to gain on-the-road experience under the guidance of a CDL-licensed driver.

Education

To qualify as a truck driver, a person must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, complete training at a professional truck-driving school and have a commercial driver's license.

The easiest way to learn everything you need to get your CDL is to go through professional truck driver training at a trucking school.

There are two main types of trucking schools-private and public. If you choose a privately owned trucking school, this will be a standalone training center dedicated solely to CDL training. Meanwhile, public schools include community colleges and technical institutes that provide truck driver training along with regular subjects.

Both private and public school truck-driving programs teach students on federal regulations and laws related to interstate truck driving and how to drive large trucks in crowded areas and on highways.

When obtaining CDL, The first thing is to look at the types of careers, such as hauling truckloads over the road, regional driving between depots with mixed loads, etc. The CDL classifications of A, B, and C determine the maximum size and type of vehicle that you will be legally allowed to operate. Find out which one you will need and what endorsements and restrictions will apply; that will determine the details of your plan to acquire your CDL.

Training

Once hired by a trucking company, new drivers are paired with driver trainers (Driver Mentors) for over-the-road training. During this phase, driver trainers introduce the “ways of the road” to new drivers. Because OTR trucking can be a drastic lifestyle change, OTR training helps new drivers get accustomed to the demands of the job. New truck drivers generally receive between one and three months of on-the-job training where they learn what they're transporting and the type of trucks they drive.

Vehicle

You will need to find a suitable vehicle in which to take the driving skills test, one that meets your CDL classification requirements. CDL classification you apply for will determine not only the type of vehicle you are allowed to drive but also which endorsements you may be required to obtain. The type of vehicles you may be able to operate include Tractor-trailers, Flatbeds, Straight trucks, vans, HAZMAT vehicles.

Insurance

Truck drivers, Owner Operators with their own authority are responsible for getting all the insurance which includes: liability insurance, physical damage, cargo, and non-trucking liability insurance.

Find Trucking jobs

Truck-driving associations and organizations offer job boards and career mentoring for their members. Some online loads boards provide listings of available loads. Also, there are general online job boards like Indeed or Monster that post openings based on location, driving experience, and training.

Find loads on Courierbrokers.com

Courierbrokers.com provides a platform for shippers to connect with carriers, owner operators, brokers. It helps drivers find loads and increase their loaded miles. And Courierbrokers.com offers much more than just load boards. To increase your business’s online exposure, you will also have your business in the national directory and own a web page to promote your service. Courierbrokers will do all the marketing for you. Keep finding unlimited jobs.