Truck Driver
Truck drivers efficiently and safely pick up, transport and deliver feed, ingredients, equipment or livestock to processing facilities. They operate and drive primarily tractor-trailer, long-combination vehicle and straight-body trucks over long distances. During their deliveries, they complete pre-trip inspections, monitor all goods during the trip and document all activities.
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Observe all government and company regulations at all times
- Monitor livestock conditions on the trip and take appropriate action when needed
- Plan trip logistics and determine the quickest routes for delivery
- Ensure the tractor and trailer is cleaned and maintained in a safe working manner
- Communicate with dispatcher, other drivers and customers using communication devices and on-board computers
- Perform a pre-trip, en-route and post-trip inspection of vehicle that includes tires, fuel, turning signals, cold storage, etc.
- Check before loading to ensure that the compartments are free of feed or ingredients
- Ensure the tarp cover is securely fastened and protecting ingredients from contamination
- Collect samples of ingredients for quality assurance testing
- Complete delivery forms and forward the documentation for timely processing
- Load and unload trucks when at a destination
- Drive livestock to and from market/slaughterhouse and the farm
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education, especially agricultural mechanics
- auto/power mechanics
- mathematics
- focus on sciences such as animal science and biology
Education/Training Required:
A high school diploma plus a commercial driver’s license (CDL) certification is required. Truck drivers may also require further certification depending on the loads they are hauling (ex. hazardous materials). Many truck drivers also attend professional truck driving schools where they take courses to learn how to drive large vehicles on highways or crowded streets.
