A conversation with ...
A Trucker, Scott Malozi

Explore Port Careers

All about...Trucking

What a trucker does . . .

Trucking companies complete the voyage for many of the products that enter the Port of Baltimore from all parts of the world. Every day hundreds of trucks enter and leave the Port, pick up or unload cargo, and scurry on their way to the surrounding neighborhoods or take routes throughout the nation. 

Trucks working out of the Port handle all kinds of cargo, especially containerized shipments, where the container can be directly loaded onto a truck chassis and driven away.  The beauty of the design of the containers is that they were developed to fit exactly on a truck chassis or a specially-modified rail car, making it unnecessary to unpack cargo at the Port, saving time and money in the process.

Truckers must have a commercial driver’s license and an excellent driving record.  In addition, if they handle hazardous cargo, they must have special endorsements to do so. Some truckers own their own trucks, while others work for companies who own the trucks they drive.

Career Tidbits

• The Maryland Port Administration has identified a career in trucking as a position where a young person out of high school who likes mechanics would most likely find a job at the Port.
• The Federal Department of Transportation says that trucks can be (at most) 102 inches wide, 13.5 feet in height, and 80,000 lbs gross weight. Individual states have the right to issue temporary oversize/overweight permits.

A trucker typically has:

These skills and abilities:
Good driving skills, physical strength and ability, mechanical ability, the ability to concentrate and stay calm under pressure, good communication skills

This knowledge:

• How to load and unload a truck
• How to troubleshoot problems with the truck or the cargo it carries
• Good safety practices
• How to communicate effectively

This training:
Truckers who operate large trucks are required to have a commercial driver’s license.  If they handle hazardous cargo, they must be trained to do so, earning a special endorsement on their driver’s license that has to be renewed every five years. Other training is also recommended and available.  This training includes defensive driving techniques and using GPS technology.

This education:
This position does not require a high school diploma or a college degree. However, there are community colleges and other institutions that offer truck driver training.