Our job center is the web’s #1 free resource for job seekers in search of an adventure — and a paycheck.

This week, I am focusing on drive away jobs, which can mean anything from long-distance truck driving to local delivery jobs to mechanic work and more. You can learn more about transportation-related jobs from JobMonkey’s extensive sections on truck driving jobs and driveaway jobs.

1. Trailer Mechanic Job, Werner Enterprises, Omaha, NE

The Nebraska-based Werner Enterprises is seeking a trailer mechanic to repair or replace brakes, drums, hubs, seals, etc. as well as to perform miscellaneous maintenance. Applicants must have knowledge of all trailer repair systems and diagnostic skills, as well as experience in trailer body repair. The mechanic will be expected to provide all his or her own tools.

2. Driver Manager Level II, Swift Transportation, Frederick, MD

The Maryland-based Swift Transportation is seeking a manager to manage and retain a minimum fleet of 50 manned tractors. The job responsibilities will include establishing good working relationships with each driver, creating personnel schedules, performing morning and afternoon checks on trucks, performing monthly driver  reviews, managing driver performance and taking disciplinary action when necessary, and ensuring payroll for assigned drivers. The ideal candidate must have managerial experience, knowledge of the transportation industry, and the ability to work and solve problems in a high pressure environment. At least four years of past work experience — or a B.A. degree — are required as well.

3. Road Driver Job, ABF Freight System, Inc., Various Locations

ABF Freight System, Inc. is seeking 25+ year old drivers with at least two years of verifiable tractor/trailer experience and a CDL with double/triples and hazardous materials endorsements. Additionally, drivers must have a good driving record and pass pre-employment drug screening and medical requirements. Working conditions include new tractors (less than 18 months old), with power steering and air conditioning.

Didn’t find the internship or job of your dreams on our hot jobs lists this week? Be sure to check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!

If you’re interested in truck driving work, or even being a local delivery driver, then you’ll love the new Truck Driving Job Board.

The trucking industry faces a serious shortage of drivers, which translates into lots of job openings. There are jobs posted for school bus drivers, long-haul and local delivery drivers, and hazardous load (HAZMAT) drivers. In our trucking section you can learn all about the industry and you’ll find profiles of the major U.S. employers such as UPS, FEDEX, and many others. Perhaps you’ve read about ice road trucking or watched the popular show about that sector of the trucking industry. The JobMonkey truck driving job section includes information about these jobs too.

As always, we encourage job seekers to explore the free information on JobMonkey and then search our job center for positions of interest. Now, you have this new job board too. (link above) Let us know if you have any questions about the trucking industry!

With over 15 million parcels transported every day – with nearly 21 million being picked up and delivered every day around the Christmas holiday season – the company prides itself on making every second count where the transporting of packages is concerned. These time-saving measures begin with the ignition keys to the truck. Because it takes two seconds to put your keys away and another three seconds to take them out, the company stresses this time-saving trick while training its employees. With an approximately 160 stops throughout the day, having the keys out before you get back to the truck saves a total of fifteen minutes every day. This is time that can be used to deliver more packages. New employees must also graduate from a month-long safety training course that includes written safety and driving tests. Be sure to search our free truck driver job board while you’re visiting JobMonkey and researching career opportunities.

Good Workers Benefit from Working at UPS

Employees who drive for UPS are treated well by the company when they do their jobs properly. The company pays top-union scale salaries that let drivers earn up to $70,000 annually with senior drivers earning up to $85,000 – and more. Senior drivers also receive up to nine weeks of paid vacation every year. All full-time employees qualify for company-paid health insurance benefits including flu shots and such industry-specific healthcare programs as knee and back therapy sessions. Employees working for UPS need to be able to multi-task and have a very friendly and professional way about them. Because many of the driving jobs at the company require a certain amount of daily stress, all employees need to be aware of the way the customer views the company through its employees. Being able to adapt to an ever-changing workplace is also critical during your time at UPS. Employees who can thrive in and enjoy a fast-paced work environment that requires planning, adapting and executing a planned delivery route will find UPS jobs very challenging and rewarding.

These concerns seem to be pretty wide spread, according to this recent article from the Virginia Times Dispatch.

And they are motivating a lot of high school students (and college graduated career-changers, for that matter) to pursue technical education.

What are the benefits of a two-year (or less) vocational-technical training program over a traditional four-year degree? The time commitment is far shorter, the tuition is significantly cheaper, and the fields you study tend to pursue readily employable.

In other words, if you pick the right program, you will have a job waiting for you when you finish — in a career that is relatively recession-proof. A major plus given the current economic situation. Plus, as one young woman interviewed for the story pointed out, if you still want to pursue a four-year degree but need to pay for it yourself, these training programs give you access to well-paying jobs in the meantime.

So, just what are these magical, recession-proof fields? According to the article, some of them include:

- Auto and truck mechanic
- Cosmetologist
- Professional chef
- Electrician

Do you want to learn more about being a diesel mechanic or professional chef? Follow the above links to the JobMonkey section on that topic.

I think time passes more quickly in the winter — it must be because we are all huddled up and hunkered down inside, trying to stay warm.  Man, is it cold outside!  Of course, those blustery winds mean less temptations to blow off your job search, right?

Nonetheless, if you find yourself needing a break from all that hard-core resume sending, check out some of these great articles that I found this week.  Hopefully you will discover a kernel of inspiration, or just some good advice.

>> @Nine Ways to Improve Your Resume @ B’More Jobs

B’More is a free weekly publication, dedicated to employment advertising and educational opportunities in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area.  What I like about this post is that it reminds us to think of our resume as a work in progress.  Just because you’ve sent out your resume 250 times the way it is doesn’t mean that you can’t make some changes or just fine-tune it a bit.  In fact, if you’ve sent it out 250 times and still don’t have a job, perhaps that’s a sign that you should definitely change things up a bit!

>> 11 Things to Do Immediately When You Get Laid Off @ Amateur Asset Allocator
Kyle’s blog is really a personal finance blog, but there is great advice in here for the job-seeker, too.

I really, really hope that you don’t have this problem (unemployed due to a lay-off), but let’s face it: The economy isn’t great these days.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment in October was at 6.5% and more than 240,000 people lost their jobs.  Which is my depressing way of saying that even if you haven’t recently been laid off, it’s still worthwhile to check out this article.  You just never know.

>> Cover Letter Critical Errors @ The Employment Digest

Here are so great tips for correcting cover letter goofs.  If you’re still struggling with your cover letter after reading this, review our post from last month with six tips for writing a cover letter.

>> How to Find a Job During a Recession @ CNN.com

>> How to Write About Unpaid Experience @ Blue Sky Resumes

This is a great little Q&A, and especially relevant to my recent posts about volunteering jobs and transferable skills.  Take some time to read through the rest of Louise’s blog — she has great tips for resume-writing and more.

>> Top 100 Companies for Working Mothers @ The Glass Hammer

Yes, the job market is tough right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should take the first job offered. As this post says:

Juggling a job and its requirements with the responsibilities that come as being a parent can be extremely frustrating, especially when it feels like you have to shortchange one to fulfill the other.  While not every company recognizes the need to offer benefits like flextime, telecommuting, on-site childcare, and paid parental leave, the number that do is growing every year.

Check out the post and be sure to click over on the link to the Top 100 Companies.  Good stuff!

That’s it for me! Have a great weekend and see you back here on Monday!

If the present trend continues, the gap will only grow further. Over the next ten years, shipping is projected to grow 71.2 percent, which means the shortage of drivers will grow to 539,000.  The greatest shortage will be in long-haul drivers.  This week’s spotlight therefore is taking a look at the highly in-demand profession of long-haul trucking.

What is Long-Haul Trucking
As the name implies, long-haul drivers transport goods in rigs, tankers or tractor trailers over hundreds or thousands of miles. Long-haul drivers will stop for rests every few hours, but typically do most of their driving at night when traffic is lighter. There is a set amount of paperwork required in the job, most of it mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as well as the manufacturer.
Private Carrier Firms vs. Owner-Operated
Long-haul drivers typically work for one of two different kinds of firms. Large enough companies have their own fleet of trucks and other companies subcontract large trucking firms.  Both of these options are known as private carrier firms.  Owner-operated truckers own their own trucks and subcontract their services to companies with cargo to haul.

Education and Training
While a specialized degree or certification is not necessarily required for long-haul drivers, you might be able to get a leg up on your competition by attending a course in truck driving.  A growing number of technical and community colleges offer these kinds of courses.  Many drivers also have experience and/or specialized training in mechanics.

Most long-haul drivers have experience driving for local truck companies.  Once hired for long-hauls, they may be mentored from more experienced drivers for a brief "probationary" period before being qualified for solo long-haul routes.

Requirements for Long-Haul Drivers
As per the Department of Transportation, long-haul drivers must be at least 21-years old and pass a standard physical examination (which, among other things, tests their vision and hearing). Individual companies will often have more stringent standards; most, for example, now have an age cut-off of 25 years. 

Drivers also have to pass state-issued commercial driver license and Department of Transportation safety regulation tests.

Job Conditions
As mentioned above, most long-haul drivers drive at night, when traffic is at a minimum.  In addition, they can be behind the wheel up to sixty hours a week, per the Department of Transportation.

Salaries
The median salary for long-haul, tractor-trailer drivers is $16.11/hour. Many drivers start out making $50,000/year. The highest paid drivers are earning more than $24/hour. In addition, employees of private carrier firms may earn benefits like health insurance and paid vacations.

Autonomy
If sitting behind a desk and working in a cubicle sounds like your personal definition of torture, then a career in long-haul truck driving might be especially appealing for you.  Drivers typically have a lot of autonomy and little direct supervision.

There are also a growing number of opportunities for women, immigrants and young people just starting out in their career.

Benefits to Owner-Operated Driving
While working for a private carrier firm is a popular choice about drivers, a growing number of long-haulers are choosing to go the owner-operated route, which gives them more flexibility and greater earning potential.  Some industry associations suggest that owner-operators can earn up to $220,000 a year — more than 4 times the average salary of a private carrier driver. There are a few downsides to owner-operated, however: uncertainty in routes, which equals an uncertain monthly income, the high cost of fuel (which cuts into earnings), and the need to manage the business side of your job while also driving your routes.

If you want to learn more about a career in truck driving, long-haul or local, private carrier or owner-operated, check out JobMonkey’s section on Truck Driving.