Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Typical job duties performed with this occupation include:

TASK DUTIES
Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
Give directions to laborers who are packing goods and moving them onto trailers.
Inventory and inspect goods to be moved to determine quantities and conditions.
Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.
Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
Remove debris from loaded trailers.
Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers.
Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid or performing minor repairs.
Follow special cargo-related procedures, such as checking refrigeration systems for frozen foods or providing food or water for livestock.
Install or remove special equipment, such as tire chains, grader blades, plow blades, or sanders.
Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.
Operate trucks equipped with snowplows or sander attachments to maintain roads in winter weather.
Drive electric or hybrid-electric powered trucks or alternative fuel-powered trucks to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
Operate idle reduction systems or auxiliary power systems to generate power from alternative sources, such as fuel cells, to reduce idling time, to heat or cool truck cabins, or to provide power for other equipment.
Plan or adjust routes based on changing conditions, using computer equipment, global positioning systems (GPS) equipment, or other navigation devices, to minimize fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.
Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers, CB radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to exchange necessary information with bases, supervisors, or other drivers.
Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.
Wrap and secure goods using pads, packing paper, containers, or straps.
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*Note: Not all occupations will have a full list of Task Duties or associated programs

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Training for this occupational program or those in a similar family of programs can be located at the following postsecondary institutions in the State of Kansas. Please check with a program advisor at the postsecondary institution for more information on the particular focus of each program listed. Programs nearest the local area appear first. Click on the program to find more information.

INSTITUTION NAME	CITY	INSTITUTION TYPE	PROGRAM TITLE	AWARDS	HOURS
Washburn Institute of Technology	Topeka	Public	COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CCOMP	15
Washburn Institute of Technology	Topeka	Public	COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	16
Fort Scott Community College	Fort Scott	Public	TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT/COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	16
Salina Area Technical College	Salina	Public	COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CCOMP	12
Salina Area Technical College	Salina	Public	COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	16
Cloud County Community College	Concordia	Public	COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING CERTIFICATE	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	16
Seward County Community College	Liberal	Public	ENTRY LEVEL TRUCK DRIVING	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CCOMP	10
Northwest Kansas Technical College	Goodland	Public	COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CCOMP	6
White Line CDL Training	Topeka	Private	CDL TRUCK DIVING TRAINING-FLINT HILLS JOB CORP	Certificate - CERT
White Line CDL Training	Topeka	Private	CDL TRUCK DRIVING TRAINING	Certificate - CERT
White Line CDL Training	Topeka	Private	CDL CLASS A TRAINING REFRESHER COURSE	Certificate - CERT
Kansas Truck Driving School LLP	Wichita	Private	TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FOR CDL TRAINING	Certificate - CERT
Kansas Truck Driving School LLP	Wichita	Private	DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE	Certificate - CERT
Kansas Truck Driving School LLP	Wichita	Private	REFRESHER COURSE	Certificate - CERT

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