Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

• Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
• Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
• Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
• Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers.
• Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
• Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
• Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
• Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
• Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
• Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.
• Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
• Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
• Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
• Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid or performing minor repairs.
• Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
• Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.
• 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.
• 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.
• Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.
• Remove debris from loaded trailers.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.

• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.