Have you always had a passion for the open road? Does the thought of getting behind a big rig appeal to you? You could turn this interest into a living by studying trucking at college. Before you know it, you’ll be on the road in no time!

Truck driving is a competitive field and those with the best opportunities will be the ones who have gone to school and studied the rules of the road. There are various trucking programs to choose from, such as Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Advanced Tractor Trailer Driving, Class A CDL Preparatory Driver Training, Class B CDL Driver Training, Commercial Truck Driving, and Tractor Trailer Driver Training.

What does truck driver training involve? Typically, students will learn about city and highway driving regulations, basic and advanced driving, safety precautions, driving offenses, defensive driving, and emergency repairs.

The US Department of Transportation requires those who seek to pursue a career in truck driving to be at least 21 years old, have at least 20/40 vision, good hearing, be able to read and speak English fluently, have an outstanding driving record, and be in possession of a Commercial Driver’s License.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the current openings for truck drivers are ‘favorable’. To put this into numbers, heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving opportunities will increase by 13.7% through till 2016, while light or delivery truck driver opportunities will increase by 16.7%. This increase in job opportunities is due to the number of workers who are either retiring or switching career paths, as well as the increase in goods and products to be transported across the country.