If you love driving and being on the road for long periods of time, then you may want to consider becoming a professional truck driver. Even if you have already thought about this, you may not know that there are different types of semi-truck driving jobs. One of these well-paying jobs is working as a hopper bottom driver. These drivers will have hopper bottom attachments to ship cargo. Usually, grains, other foods, sand, or construction materials are shipped this way. However, you cannot just apply for the job without any training.
Get a CDL
Before you can even think about applying to become a hopper bottom driver, you will need to earn your CDL (Commercial Driver’s Licence). Most employers, even those who are hiring out contracted drivers, will require a Class A CDL. To earn this, you can take CDL classes. It will take several weeks (and there will be an upfront cost for the classes), but once you earn your license you will be qualified to be a hopper bottom driver. Getting a Class A CDL will also qualify you to take on many other types of large vehicle driving jobs.
If you already have a CDL, you can still do some other things to bolster your resume. Having job experience in related fields (like other large vehicle driving) will make you stand out from other applicants. The more previous job experience you have, the better your resume will look. If possible, take out contracted jobs often.
Find Jobs with a Company or by Contract
Once you are qualified, there are two general ways to get hopper bottom jobs. The first way is to find employment with a trucking company. To do this, you can look at the job listing online as you would for any other kind of job. Submit a job application and your resume and hope to get an interview. Assuming you have a CDL, this should be a fairly simple process. The other way to get a job is to work as a freelance contractor. If you do this, you will not be working for one company. Instead, you will work for yourself and take out contracts (either long or short-term) with various trucking companies or with businesses that need a hopper bottom driver. You can also search for contracts online, or you can let companies near you or near your usual driving routes know that you are looking to take on new clients.
Working as a hopper bottom driver can be a rewarding career. If you love driving and are looking to spend more time on the road, get your CDL and start applying to jobs as soon as possible!
