In Celebration of July 4th, 2015: Southwest Truck Driver Training's Veteran Truck Wrap

If you've been following us on Facebook or Twitter lately, you have seen photos of our recent truck wrap designed with veterans in mind. We feel that the photos of this incredible work of art need to be collected all in one place, and what better time to do so than right before this 4th of July weekend! Given the nature of the designs, pulling them together now is a great way to reflect on what makes America special: the men and women serving in uniform who work so hard to sustain our freedoms. We hope you take a few extra minutes this weekend to enjoy these images and get in the spirit of the holiday. Happy Independence Day!!

Getting Your CDL Endorsements: HazMat, Tanker, and Doubles and Triples

Have you already received your commercial driver's license, and are now looking for ways to broaden your job opportunities while also increasing your earning potential? The best way to do this is by having endorsements. These may be earned after you complete the requirements to obtain your CDL. Truckers who have been in the field for a while will tell you that you might as well get all of your endorsements up front. The cost is minimal to take each exam, and your ROI is very good, even if you only end up using one of them. Plus, you never know what roadblocks might appear years later. You might say now that you would never want to have to transport hazardous materials, or navigate the road with two trailers in tow, but there may be times when one of these loads is available and you need the work, but are passed up for the job just because you weren't properly certified.

At Southwest Truck Driver Training, we can help you obtain your HazMat, Tanker, and Doubles and Triples endorsements at the Arizona and Nevada campuses. Each endorsement exam is optional, and does cost extra ($86.50 / test). In addition, the background check for the HazMat endorsement will cost anywhere from $80 - $110. General information towards each endorsement is covered in class. Should you decide to take one or all of these additional exams, we do have study guides that are more specific to each test.

How OTR Truckers Successfully Maintain Relationships Long Distance

If you are a trucker (or a trucker's loved one), you know the sting of having to spend a holiday apart. While a holiday like the 4th of July may not be as tough to get through as Christmas, it still isn't easy to mark off those dates alone. If you're creative, however, you can still find ways to feel connected over holidays, as well as any regular day, enough to where you feel as though you are right there with your favorite people. Thanks to modern technology, we are fortunate enough to have many different options for keeping in touch with those who matter.

Top Blogs and Forums that Truckers Love

Being a trucker is a unique but often lone-wolf occupation. Some days you may feel like Rambo, trying to navigate your way through your route, defeating all the obstacles that come up along the way. Believe it or not, there are lots of people just like you who can relate, and a few of them are sharing their stories along the way. There are also forums available that allow fellow truckers to ask each other questions, rant about traffic, and rave about restaurants or truck stops on their routes. We have scoured the internet and found some of the great forums and blogs that we think you'll find entertaining and useful. So next time you're stuck waiting on a load, you won't lack for something to do.

How to Safely Share the Road with a Semi Truck

Just as big rigs are a staple of our nation's economy, they are also a staple of its roads. It is difficult to avoid sharing highways, freeways, and even city streets with them, since their contents are what keep businesses stocked with the things we need. It may help to keep the latter in mind next time you get stuck behind one. Lots of space, and patience, are key to safely maneuvering the road with an 18-wheeler around.