I think it's fair to say that good driving habits come from good instruction. Operating heavy trucks and vehicles with passengers take additional care due to the size, weight and loads they may be transporting. To qualify to drive a bus or tractor trailer requires a commercial driver license (CDL). These licenses can be obtained through some colleges as well as truck driving schools. That's where the truck driving training instructor comes in to teach these new drivers the responsibilities or operating these larger vehicles in a safe manor. This is an important job as you are helping to ensure the safety of the drivers and those that share the road with them.
To become a truck driving instructor you must possess a valid CDL. Most states will require a minimum of two years of CDL driving experience. Depending on the state you are in there may be an age requirement to qualify. Standards are set high to be eligible to become an instructor and only the best drivers are selected to be instructors. You will need to have a good track record with safety and minimum moving violation infractions. You should be able to obtain an application at your local Department of Motor Vehicles to become a CDL instructor. Once you have passed the written exam you can start searching for positions.
The truck driving instructor job will entail more than just showing a class how to operate the vehicle. Your duties may also include in class learning as well as hands on, behind the wheel driving training. As a truck driving training instructor you will need to be well versed on the traffic laws and how they apply to students when they are on the road. A challenging aspect of the job will be making sure your students are engaged and learning. People learn differently and you will need to be intuitive enough to recognize how to adapt your teaching styles for different students. Again you are teaching these future drivers how to be safe themselves and ensure the safety of those around them.
Now that we've covered some of the duties of a truck driving instructor you may be wondering where you can find these types of jobs. A good place to start would be a truck driving school. A quick search on the internet should produce a list of a few schools that may be in your area. Private trucking companies will sometimes provide their own driver training classes and these jobs can be found on most job boards. You can also reach out to your local job agency to help locate jobs in your area. Once you have applied and if your skillset matches the company's job requirements, you may receive an offer. Then you will be ready to begin your new CDL venture and use your expertise to teach others.