OCCUPATION: TRUCK DRIVER

Name: Tom Horne Company: Ron Harding Moving Service Inc. Thumbs up: “Trucking is a very lucrative business. You get paid well. And basically you are your own boss. The work is all outdoors--you’re not stuck in an office all day. And the travel itself is exciting.” Thumbs down: “The thing I dislike is traffic. Periodically there is also the problem of not being able to park or get close enough to a loading area. When that happens, you’ve got a job that will take a couple of hours longer because you have to unload merchandise from blocks away. It will also mean several parking tickets because you have to double park on the street, and you’re issued a citation every 30 minutes until you move. But the major thing is still traffic. . . . That can be a lulu.” Advice: “If you’re married, get your spouse’s permission first . . . because the long hauls can take you away for weeks at a time and the insurance bills are high. But I still suggest getting into the business. There will always be freight, and there are only two ways to deliver it: truck and train. And most companies prefer trucking because it is less expensive.” Salary range: In Orange County, light and delivery route truck drivers earn between $4.75 and $15 hourly; tractor-trailer drivers are paid between $6.50 and $25 hourly. Hours: Long-distance drivers frequently drive at night, and most work the maximum number of hours allowable under federal regulations. Trips frequently keep drivers away from home several days at a time. Local drivers work more regular hours, but tend to have a lot of overtime. Educational and training requirements: Light truck drivers must have a Class 1, 2, or 3 California driver’s license depending on the type of truck. Qualifications and standards for tractor trailer drivers are established by state and federal regulations. Drivers of trucks designed to carry at least 26,000 pounds or that carry hazardous materials must obtain a California Commercial Driver’s License from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Applicants must pass a knowledge test and demonstrate that they can operate a commercial truck safely. Size of work force: Very large. In Orange County, 9,990 to 12,360, or 0.9% of the labor force, work as light truck drivers, and 7,730 to 9,500 people, or 0.7% of the labor force, work as tractor-trailer drivers. Expected demand: A faster-than-average growth rate is expected through the end of the century, but escalating insurance costs make it difficult for people under 25 to obtain jobs. One of the better ways to get started in the industry is to apply directly to companies for work as a driver helper, warehouse worker or dock loader. Job description: Light truck drivers and delivery and route drivers drive vehicles with a capacity under three tons; they deliver or pick up merchandise and may load and unload trucks. Heavy, or tractor-trailer drivers drive tractor-trailer combinations or trucks with a capacity of more than three tons to transport and deliver goods, livestock, or materials in liquid, loose or packaged form. Advancement: Very limited promotional opportunities beyond dispatch supervisor, driver trainer or supervisor. For more information: Call the California Trucking Assn. in Sacramento (916) 373-3500. Or for a list of certified truck driving schools call the Professional Truck Driver Institute of America in Elk Grove, Calif. at (916) 686-5146. Researched by DALLAS M. JACKSON / Los Angeles Times