9781422271490

An owner-operator with his truck.

they must pay for expenses such as fuel, vehicle insurance , and equipment purchases and maintenance. Many independent drivers begin as salaried drivers for trucking companies or other employers before launching their own businesses. Here are some of the main duties of truck drivers: • receive their assignment from a dispatcher, and stay in contact with them during the trip to be aware of any sudden changes in the delivery assignment and to report any incidents (accidents, traffic jams, bad weather, vehicles, including brakes, tires, lights, and turn signals • ensure that their cargo is properly secured by using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers and, if transporting perishable goods, making sure that refrigeration systems are functioning properly malfunctioning equipment, etc.) they encounter on the road • conduct pre-trip, en route, and post-trip inspections of their

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Careers in Infrastructure: Truck and Transportation Drivers