Highway Truck Driver

Job Description

At the beginning of each shift, the worker will make an inspection of the truck. He will check the oil and water under the hood, check the tires for flats, check the brakes and adjust them if needed, check the lights and clean the mirrors and windshield. During the shift, some of these items may be done again.

Also during the shift, the worker will throw straps over the loads and tighten them down. He will drive the load to another  location and loosen the load so a fork lift driver may unload the truck. The Driver must be able to move, turn, unfold and roll out tarps. Breaks are every two hours.

Physical Demands

Sitting – Sitting is on an Air-Ride seat, for up to 2 hours at one time, up to a total of 11 hours in one day. Sitting is interspersed with standing and walking, and accounts for about 70-80% of the workers time.

Standing – Standing is on asphalt, packed gravel, concrete or bare dirt, for up to 2-20 minutes at one time, and is interspersed with sitting and walking. Standing accounts for about 10% of the workers time.

Walking – Walking is on asphalt, packed gravel, concrete or bare dirt for a maximum of 125 feet at one time. Normally, however, the worker will only walk a few paces at once, and then intersperses standing and sitting. Walking accounts for about 10% of the workers time.

Positions – The worker may change position at his own discretion.

Lifting/Carrying –  The worker lifts items such as: Straps (5 pounds), Winch bar (8 pounds), Hammer (2-3 pounds), 2 by 4s ( 5-7 pounds) and various small hand tools and cleaning rags, etc. Depending on the load, he could lift and handle 40 straps per load. Up to 20 to secure the load before transport, and up to 20 taken off of the load at the other end of the run. The winch bar is used to tighten and loosen each strap on each load. He makes an average of 1-2 loads per day. (10 hours per day) The hammer is used to check the tires, (by thumping them to see if the tires are flat, and this could be done 2-3 times per day). The 2 by 4’s are not used on each load, but would average 4-8 per load. A wrench is used to set the brakes, and the rags are used to clean windows or mirrors and to wipe the oil stick when checking under the hood. (See distances in walking.)

Driver is required to be able to move and position tarps weighing approximately 110-130 lbs. Driver will move tarps by lifting end over end and position tarp to be unrolled or unfolded (forklift operators at the shipper’s location should be utilized to place tarps on top of loads).