So Youre Thinking About Becoming A Truck Driver

So Youre Thinking About Becoming A Truck DriverAs weve said so many times on this site, if youve got a long attention span, a tolerance for a demanding schedule, a drivers license and a love of life on the road, trucking can be the perfect job for you.Nearly half of all Americans know someone who works in the trucking industry, so odds are you already have a professional contact googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832551951-0) ) Long-term driving can involve from 2-4 weeks away from home on the road, which can be hard on a familybut for a born nomad, its a match made in heaven. You spend a lot of time aloneso introverts have an advantagebut truck stops are open 24/7 and there will always be colleagues on the road to talk toSkills RequiredWhen asked about the crucial qualifications for their job, most drivers most often cite long haul skills focused, experienced driving, the ability to adapt to all kinds of weather and other challenging conditions, and prof iciency in basic servicing for your vehicle. Maintenance of your truck and being responsible for your own sense of professionalism often boost truckers self-respect and can even translate to other career fields down the road.Here are some of the skills and certifications many employers currently look for in their professional driving staff. You can acquire the basics, like a CDL license, at any of the reputable driving schools in the country. Source WantedAnalyticsCompensationOne of the major benefits many truckers mention is the freedom to pretty much live anywhere along their main route. And while these salaries represent the lower end of the scale, many drivers report income as high as $70K within three years of regular, full-time driving. Source WantedAnalyticsJob OpportunitiesTop employers include, no surprise, companies with long distance shipping needs like Lowes, Walmart, Nestle, and Costco. You can also function basically as a freelancer when you work with an independent companydispatchers will put out calls for drivers and if youre available, you can snag the job.Some states are even exploring lowering the interstate driving age the current regional age is 18 in many areas, but drivers arent allowed to cross state lines. Current legislation may change all that.And if youre in search of perks, some trucking companies are investing in high-end, luxury-packed vehicles.You may find theres no place like home, and that home just happens to be on four wheels and pulling a trailer.Future prospects when youre ready to get off the road might include being a dispatcher.Dispatching rigs requires many of the same road-savvy skills as driving, with an added layer of multi-tasking and organizational strategies.3 Sample Job PostingsJob postings for truck drivers are fairly simplemostly they need to know whether you can show up to pick up your load and deliver it on time.TRUCK DRIVERAthens, NYVillage Oil is looking for a competent fuel truck driver. Full time seaso nal (winter) to start, could lead to year-round employment. Salary based on experience/ability. JAYLOR TRANSPORTATIONis looking for OTR drivers. We have a Team and single loads available. Loads are straight out and back. Loads are no touch, no drops. Experience necessary, clean driving record a must. Mecical benefits available. Vacation pay after the first year. Well-maintained equipment.LOWESPosition Description Responsible for planning and executing delivery activities, preparing delivery loads, following planned delivery routes, and assisting with merchandise installations or returns, unloading, installing, and checking appliances and store equipment. Also responsible for the cleanliness and standard maintenance of delivery vehicles, observing safety procedures regarding Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, Hazmat, and power equipment tools, maintaining DOT and CDL certifications, and complying with reporting.Job Requirements Requires morning, afternoon, and evening av ailability any day of the week. Physical ability to move large, bulky and/or heavy merchandise. Physical ability to perform tasks that may require prolonged standing, sitting, and other activities necessary to perform job duties.Minimum Qualifications Valid Class A (with air brake endorsement) license Ability to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction). Minimum 21 years of agePreferred Qualifications 3 months experience operating a forklift or Moffett onloading/offloading a vehicle. 1 year experience driving a semi-truck/trailer OR certification from a driving school. 6 months experience performing in-home delivery OR retail customer service.Whether you find the prospect of long hours of your own company appealing or want to landsee more of the country before settling into a driving occupation closer to home, explore truckingsee if its the right lane for you

Having a Bad Day at Work 7 Hacks for Transforming Your Mood

Having a Bad Day at Work 7 Hacks for Transforming Your Mood We all go through ups and downs in life. Its completely normal to have a schwimmbadeanstalt day here and there, even at work. But when it does happen while youre at the office, you cant always remove yourself from the source of the situation that is bringing you down.This tends to leave people feeling strapped or stuck. Whetherit is a less-than-ideal performance review, a missed deadline, a conflict with a coworker oryour boss, sometimes a resolution for your lousy day isnt readily available or even possible.This is where your emotional intelligence comes in. You may not be able to control the situation thats bringing your down, but you can control the degree to which it affects you and how long you feel this way. This philosophy is one of the fundamental principles that make up positive psychology.Turning a bad day aroundHere are seven ways to cope when you are having a bad day at work and cant get away1. Play your favorite music or podcasts.If you dont have the luxury of having your own space or officeand lets face it, most of us dontyour headphones are your best friend. Put on your favorite tunes on Spotify, block the world out, and get lost in the world of music. Another way to improve your mood is to listen to a light or humorous podcast. One good choice for taking your mind off of your bad mood is WNCYs 2 Dope Queens.2. Make yourself a cup of your favorite tea.I keep a box of herbal tea with six different flavors at work. I save each different flavor for a separate occasion, and I reserve my favorite one for the most difficult moments. There is something sacred and special about making my favorite flavor of the tea. I find the process of making the tea and watching the tea leaves relax and float in steaming hot water very relaxing and soothing.3. Talk to people who need you.Do you have family members, friends, colleagues, or other people who always come to you for advice or lean on you when they need someone to listen to them vent? plek up the phone and call them. Talking to people who need you and your advice is always a good mood booster.4. Meditate or journal. Or do both.Even if youre not in the habit of meditating or journaling, and even if you have given it a try in the past and didnt find that it had much of an effect on your mood, just do it. Theres something about submitting to a simple, predictable action and going through the process of completing the action that is satisfying in itself.When you journal, try to write down 10 things for which you are grateful in your life. Gratitude produces happiness. Over time, the habit of meditating or journaling will build up your shield against emotional turbulence and help keep you balanced and clear-headed, even when youre having a bad day at the office.5. Create a simple to-do list (preferably including only mindless tasks), and crank the items out.We all have tedious tasks at work that we put off until the last minute, wh ether its logging data into a spreadsheet, taking mandatory employee training and learning programs, or deleting files from your computer that are taking up too much storage space. When you need your mind to let get of the persistent, negative feelings, completing mindless tasks and checking them off your to-do list is a good way create a sense of accomplishment.6. Do something nice for someone else.When we are trapped inside our own thoughts and focusing on our misery or bad experiences, we are only thinking about ourselves. But humans are social animals, and we thrive on collective joy and the joy of others. So take a moment to make someone elses day a little bit better. Go to a Starbucks and pay for the next customers drink. When you head out to lunch, bring a box of donuts back to work for your coworkers. Write an email to a coworker, complimenting her on an accomplishment. When you create a positive experience for others, youll be able to take pleasure in the happiness of other s and your own spirit of generosity.7. Watch 10 minutes of Animal Kingdom Kitten Cam.This is the penicillin for everything that could possibly go wrong in the world.At the end of the day, remember that you have control over how you feel, even at work. In face of difficult, annoying situations that leave you feeling icky, focus less on resolving the issue in the moment and mora on how you feel or react in response. There are some problems and setbacks that are beyond our control, but developing the ability to cope with challenging situations can keep them from overwhelming you.--Jessica is a writer, a digital marketer, social media aficionado and a lifestyle blogger at