Program Information
Classes enroll year round at both locations.
Poplarville Class
PRCC Poplarville Campus
(601) 403-1113
rejackson@prcc.edu
Hattiesburg Class
Woodall Center
(601) 554-4646
slclark@prcc.edu
Brief Description of Program:
Essential requirements of a person in this career field:
Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent.
All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Qualifications for obtaining a CDL vary by state but generally include passing both a knowledge test and a driving test. States have the right to refuse to issue a CDL to anyone who has had a CDL suspended by another state. Drivers can get endorsements to their CDL that show their ability to drive a specialized type of vehicle.
Truck drivers transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) must have a hazardous materials endorsement (H). Getting this endorsement requires passing an additional knowledge test and a background check.
Possible careers in this program:
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity—that is, the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo—exceeding 26,000 pounds. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states.
What a student can expect from a career in this field:
What a student can expect from a career in this field:Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following:
- Drive long distances
- Report to a dispatcher any incidents encountered on the road
- Follow all applicable traffic laws
- Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers
- Inspect their trailers before and after the trip, and record any defects they find
- Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations
- Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate personnel
- Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working order
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