March 2012 – Page 3 – Blog

If you are contemplating earning a commercial driver’s License in order to become a truck driver, there are several factors to consider, including what type of trailer you will be working with. There are several different types of freight trailers, each with their own features and requirements. Learning about the various semi-trailers on the road will help you prepare for and select the best CDL job for you.

Dry Vans
Dry vans are the most common type of freight trailers hauled by commercial trucking companies. Dry vans are the “box” type trailers used to transport general commodities. There are several subtypes of dry vans as well. A curtain side van is a type of dry van with sides made of heavy fabric. You can move the curtains, allowing easier loading while protecting the load from the elements better than a flatbed trailer might. Refrigerator vans, commonly called reefers, are another type of dry van. These trailers require special fuel and have thermostats to control the temperature for perishable freight. No special CDL endorsements are required to pull a dry van trailer, unless you want to haul tandem trailers. If so, you will need a “Doubles/Triples” CDL endorsement.

Tankers
Tankers are tank-shaped freight trailers used to haul liquid, gas or dry bulk freight. If you wish to drive a commercial tank truck in the U.S., you must apply for and receive a special “Tanker” endorsement on your CDL. This endorsement will allow you to haul dry bulk or liquids in a tanker, such as milk, juice or grain. To drive a tanker carrying fuel or other hazardous materials, you will also need a “Hazardous Materials” endorsement, which includes fingerprinting and a background check as well as an extra exam.

Flatbeds
Flatbeds are another type of freight trailer commonly used in the transportation industry. These trailers consist of a flat bed with no sides. Flatbeds are often used to haul building materials, heavy machinery and over-sized freight that would not fit into a dry van trailer. There are a few flatbed subtypes, such as lowboy and drop-deck trailers. These trailers have lower beds than standard flatbeds, making them easier to load with very heavy items such as construction equipment. Drivers must strap freight onto flatbeds and are often required to cover cargo with a tarp as well. While there are no special CDL endorsements needed to haul a flatbed, securing loads is a highly time- and labor-intensive undertaking.

Dump Trailers
Construction companies and related businesses often use dump trailers to haul aggregates, such as rock, gravel and sand. Other types of freight hauled in dump trailers include produce direct from the grower, such as potatoes or fruits. End-dump trailers have hydraulic lifts and dump the freight out the rear of the trailer. Belly-dump trailers, also called bottom-dump trailers, have an opening in the bottom of the trailer from which freight is dropped. No special CDL endorsements are required to pull a dump trailer, unless you want to haul tandem trailers. If so, you will need a “Doubles/Triples” CDL endorsement.

Millions of people around the world drive automobiles daily. People use automobiles for countless reasons, such as a commute to work, errands or pleasure. If you do not have a car, you may feel immobile or intimidated by your surroundings. There are many types of places in the world that allow you to live comfortably if you are not a driver.

Cities with Good Public Transportation Systems
If you do not have a car but need to travel long distances quickly, you will want to live in a city with a good public transportation system. A good public transportation system will allow you to reach most corners of a city by way of trains and buses. London, Paris, New York, Chicago, Hong Kong and Moscow all have fairly good public transit systems. Depending on your needs within a city, some will be better than others.

Cities with Low Crime
If you will be walking around a city without a car, it is important to consider the crime statistics for that area. A perfectly safe large city is impossible to find, but some cities are statistically safer than others. Some of the safer big cities in the United States are Austin, Colorado Springs and Portland. However, city-wide statistics may not be personally relevant if you will concentrate your life in a small selection of neighborhoods within a city. In this case, it is wise to talk to residents of those neighborhoods about any safety concerns you might have.

Bike-friendly Cities
Bicycles are a great way to move around any area, but biking in some cities can be quite dangerous. Some of the best cities in the United States for biking are Portland, San Francisco, Madison, Chicago and New York. As a city gets larger, it is more difficult to accommodate bikes throughout the entire city. Chicago and New York, for example, have certain areas that are much better for bikes than others, though both have strong bike-centered communities.

Small Towns
If the demands of your life are not excessive, a small town might be the best place for you to live without a car. Depending on the layout of the town, it could be extremely easy to get around the entire area by foot or bike. Some small towns, however, are extremely spread out. In this case, a car is actually a useful thing. Research the layout of the town before deciding to live there without a car.

Farms and Other Self-Sufficient Communities
There are many other living situations that provide sustainable conditions for non-drivers. Farms, while often involving some sort of machinery or vehicles for getting to places like a market, can be wonderfully self-sustaining in the right setting. There are also thousands of alternative communities and towns around the world that provide the necessities of living close at hand, eliminating the need for a car.

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