Heavy truck drivers drive large trucks or tractor-trailers to transport goods and materials.
There aren't many things heavier than the Leibherr T 282B. This truck, designed in 2004, weighs in at 203 tons. And this is when it's empty. The truck's capacity is 365 tons, putting the cargo and truck together at well over 500 tons. The diesel-electric engine alone weighs 10 tons. The tires are over 6 meters tall (that's nearly 20 feet)! Can you imagine driving this machine? To do so, you have to climb stairs to get to the cab. (You might be relieved to know that the cab features air conditioning, AM/FM radio with cassette, and double lumbar support.) Fortunately, most trucks are not this big!
Heavy truck drivers begin their job by reading bills of lading and other instructions to determine how to transport cargo. They also read and interpret maps to determine the best route. An important consideration is safety. Heavy truck drives must follow strict safety regulations, both when handling dangerous cargo and when driving.
Heavy truck drivers park their trucks so they can be loaded easily. Parking trucks may require following hand signals from coworkers who direct them to the proper location. Once trucks are in the proper spot, truck drivers load items. They may help wrap large items before they are loaded, or cover the entire load if it is on a flatbed. Truck drivers secure some items with straps, ropes, or chains. Once trucks are loaded, drivers carefully inspect them to insure that they can be driven safely.
On the road, drivers concentrate on their driving and other drivers to prevent accidents. Many truck drivers have two-way radios. They use these to contact their supervisors and give updates on their position. Truck drivers must also keep their trucks filled with gasoline, oil, and other fluids.
Drivers keep several types of records and fill out forms. Some forms are used to prove that goods were picked up and delivered. Drivers have customers sign these forms when they receive deliveries. Other forms prove that trucks are being driven safely. Drivers also keep logs of what items they delivered, how much the items weighed, and when deliveries were made.