The great state of Florida can offer major economic opportunities to tractor-trailer drivers because of its strong aerospace, agricultural, logistics, and trade sectors.
A significant aerospace industry has developed from the presence of NASA and the military in the state. This high-tech sector needs trucks to deliver equipment and supplies to it and to transport its products.
Florida is, of course, a major agricultural state, producing tomatoes, oranges, bell peppers, strawberries, and other produce. Seasonal opportunities exist for truckers to transport this produce to distribution chains or directly to grocery store chains.
Miami International Airport carries more cargo by volume than any other U.S. airport. PortMiami is one of the largest cargo ports in the country. Tractor-trailer drivers are in demand to transport shipping containers from Florida’s seaports to warehouses or distribution centers and to transport cargo from Miami International Airport to various inland destinations.
One of the most important trucking routes on the East Coast is Interstate 95, which runs northward to Washington, D.C., New York City, and Boston and then to the Canadian border in Maine. Other important trucking routes include Interstates 4, 10, and 75; U.S. Routes 27 and 441; and State Route 91.
To be allowed to drive semi-trucks or tractor-trailers in Florida, you should obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This type of CDL will allow you to operate combination vehicles with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, in which the towed vehicle weighs more than 10,000 pounds.
All aspiring commercial drivers, regardless of the class of CDL they’re applying for, must first obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) to practice commercial driving. For that, they must submit to a medical examination and pass the official General Knowledge test on general commercial driving theory.
Aspiring Class A semi-truck drivers like you must also pass the official Combination Vehicles knowledge test. The official Florida Commercial Driver License Manual (Florida CDL Handbook 2024) contains all the information covered by the official knowledge test. However, you may find this study guide hard to learn from. One better study tool is our set of Combination practice tests like this one. The structure and content of this free Florida CDL Combination practice test are similar to those of the official test. It’s also up to date as of November, 2024. On this practice test, you’ll find 30 questions and answers on such topics as basic driving techniques, combination air brake systems, coupling and uncoupling, and pre-trip inspections. But unlike the official test, each of our practice questions includes a helpful hint and an explanation of the correct answer.
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