Are there any online certifications I get to help advance my trucking career?

Just throwing some thoughts at the wall.... Something may stick for you.

May depend on your location and Physical health.

Fire department?
Engineering test driver for one the truck/bus manufacturers?
Trucking product driver based review writer?
CDL instructor like at community college?
LOL Get a job training the Autonomous truck AI.

Could park by a major road and look for local companies who run Day cabs.
Could look for industries that shut down for the weekend.
Ag supply places -- which would require Hazmat.
Yard hostler/spotter type jobs, especially at ports.
Pickup and delivery type places.
Relay type jobs may work -- take a loaded trailer drive about half a shift and swap trailers with another driver then head home.
Soda, beer, and Tater Chip distributors.
Major bread bakers.

Around the PNW the sand and gravel trucking companies advertise 5 day work weeks cause they primarily pick up at quarries which are typically 5 day a week operations. Lumber mills tend to shut down for maintenance at least one day a week.

Equipment rental yards are also typically 5 days a week for Pickups and Deliveries.

 

Well, why can't you drive for 6 months? If you already have driving experience, why would you need book learning? Experience in the seat is what a company is looking for to hire you.

 

why can't you drive for 6 months?
What endorsements do you have?
what area do you live?

I got into HazMat tanker which was somewhat less hours and more money, but you have to drive differently in tanker and some veterans just refuse to do ANYTHING differently than what they've done for their whole career. You either driver tanker like you are supposed to or you ride in an ambulance. Generally drivers are paid to drive and not much else, you aren't around the office to do anything else. You can't supervise over a phone and you aren't supposed to do anything behind the wheel but drive.

 

Hazmat, TWIC, double/triples, maybe passengers if you can dig up a bus for the test, school bus would work.

 

When I was in truck school we had a guy getting his cdl in order to operate a crane. But I don't know if that was so he could transport them or simply operate them. I also don't know if that's a 40hr per week job.

 

Depending on your future trucking goals & aspirations...the following MAY prove of some use to you:

https://www.jjkeller.com/shop/cargo-securement-handbook-for-drivers

If you have 6 months of "limbo"....& can go back to driving afterwards -- during that "limbo" time -- the above might well prove to be a good read/study.

The "problem" with your original query -- any valid answer is very likely to be very situation-specific -- & thus, if you have no interest in later pursuing those areas....that suggestion is quite likely to be a waste of your time.

For example: the above posted link is probably of very little real use to most other drivers -- beyond those involved in flatbed/open deck.

Recently -- I witnessed a flatbed rig parked beside the road, with TWO state police vehicles parked behind him...blue lights still flashing (of course).

The flatbedder was COMPLETELY REDOING his load tarping & securement (it was a load of steel products).

If looks could kill -- you should have seen the expression on that driver's face.

-- L

 

If you're not fully endorsed then study to get your endorsements. I always recommend hazmat and tanker, but it wouldn't hurt to have the doubles endorsement as well, especially if you live out west.

If you want to haul livestock you could become BQA and TQA certified.

If you want to work in the oilfields you could get certifications for PEC Safeland, and you could also take an H2S safety class.

Or just in general you could take the OSHA 10 hour course, or even the 30 hour course.

But the smartest thing to do would be to go get yourself certified for first aid, CPR, and AEDs.

Edit: regardless of what kind of trucking you want to do, go take the Smith System driver safety course. That'll look good to every carrier you apply to.

 

Follow-up:

If you should decide later to do hazmat tanker....pulling propane loads (or related)....the following on an application should fast track you to the top portion of the application pile:

LPG Certifications

-- L