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

 

1. Be teachable. And prove to your company (or a new company your'e "courting")
2. Get a mentor preferrably at your current company. Find someone in management you can trust to help you, give sound advice and shoot straight with you. (Then get to work and do it).
3. As you go through other training no matter what that is, check in with your mentor and let him/her know you are having success.
4. Some potential ideas:
a. Learn forklift certification. Maybe get a dock job especially at an LTL. R&L Carriers is closed almost every weekend. Some have to start on Sunday night, but they get a significant part of their weekends off as well as holidays. Another poster suggested Yard Jockey jobs. Great idea. Usually stay on private property, which means no CDL required. Some want it because of off-site parking; others because you may have to deliver a unit for maintenance.
b. Also, HAZMAT certification especially deep dive into it. You can check with local hazmat cleanup companies and local fire companies what they're required to have. Someone offered a link to J.J. Keller and they do have some good solid training on hazmat.
c. Thirdly, look into supervisor positions, dispatchers, sales reps, customer service agents or routers at trucking companies. It will take a minute to get used to being in the office, but you understand how freight works. I would say go to your current company or other companies and ask their opinion especially with someone you respect and will be forthcoming to you by shooting it straight. Be ready to write down their recommendations, follow through and share your progress. This should impress the hiring folks so that when you're ready to return, you have been groomed by the company and you have laid the groundwork for a new position. Just saying that if you can talk to someone who can help you navigate a change, they get to keep an experienced employee, and you get the reduced hours you need.

For reduced weekend work, I suggest looking at companies that are closed on weekends or at positions that are not filled on weekends (quite often office job positions) except dispatchers. Good luck to you! I hope you find what you're looking for.

PS added tip - if you're off for 6 months due to heart issues, make sure to include healthy walking habits into your new job routine. It is the best exercise for getting healthier and is easy on the joints. Many companies offer free or drastically reduced cost gym memberships!
PSS - if you're off due to a work-related injury, make sure the company helps you make a transition. I would even get a lawyer consultation on that. I wouldn't be interested in suing, just getting advice on my rights and using that leverage to be retrained at no cost to me.