Smith & Solomon Driver Training

What You Need To Know About Workplace Safety

From forklift training to OSHA-certified hazardous waste training, Smith & Solomon provides the training programs you need to protect yourself, your coworkers, your customers, and your employees. To help get you started, here are some terrific resources from around the Web that pertain to workplace safety:

• This article from the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights will give you more information about aerial lift safety.
• While this forklift safety guide is no substitute for professionally administered forklift training, it can be a nice supplement to your classroom training.
• OSHA.gov discusses the importance of proper training and certification.

For more information about forklift training or online OSHA courses, contact Smith & Solomon Driver Training at (888) 293-3764. 

4 Facts About Forklifts

The forklift is the backbone of the shipping and material-handling industry. As a result, it’s unquestionably one of the most utilized pieces of heavy equipment. Because the forklift is such a critical piece of industrial equipment, many employers prefer to hire individuals who have completed the necessary forklift training programs.

If you’re planning on enrolling in a forklift training course and want to set yourself up for success, then start by familiarizing yourself with the following facts about forklifts:

• Variety of Machines – While you may already have an image in mind when you see the word “forklift,” there is in fact a great number of different machines that are used for various industrial applications. The most familiar type of forklift is the sit-down model used in warehouse and distribution centers, but there are also narrow aisle trucks, operator-up units, aerial work platforms, and more.
• “Green” Forklifts – In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of electric forklifts being manufactured and sold around the world. Besides the environmental impact, companies are converting to electric forklifts to save money on propane and maintenance costs.
• Load Capacities – Each forklift will have a different load capacity depending on the unit and the specific attachments being used on that particular machine. In general, a standard sit-down forklift will have a load capacity between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, but some heavier equipment can have load capacities in excess of 20,000 pounds.
• Operator Requirements – OSHA requires that all forklift operators be certified before they may use a forklift in an industrial setting. Fortunately, certification lasts for three years. Forklift training includes classroom certification and hands-on evaluations.

If you live in the Philadelphia area and want to learn how to safely operate a forklift, then contact Smith & Solomon Driver Training today. Our forklift training program focuses on the theory of OSHA-compliant lift truck operation, capacity and stability, steering and maneuvering, loading, unloading, and more. For more information about our forklift training program, or dial (888) 293-3764.

What You Need To Know About Getting a CDL Education

Top-tier CDL education prepares your employees for the rigors of interstate transportation. Individuals who seek to travel can pursue CDL certification to meet their own career goals. Contact Smith & Solomon today at (888) 293-3764 for more details.

• Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics online for information about opportunities in the truck driving profession.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation lists the steps necessary to obtain CDL certification.
• Log on to The Trucker website for an inside look at the professional transportation industry.
• Autos.com instructs prospective truck drivers on how to choose a CDL driving school.
• eHow.com breaks down the basics of how to become a certified semi-trailer operator.

Top Reasons to Get Your CDL

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required to perform most professional transportation jobs. The perks and opportunities available to drivers make CDL training well worth the effort.

• Diverse Career Options: Certified professional drivers transport important goods across the nation. Their journeys take them to diverse locales and introduce them to a variety of interesting characters. Heavy truck drivers move loads weighing over 26,000 pounds. Their routes even carry them across international borders. This career appeals to those looking to chart their own path across the American countryside. Delivery drivers provide pickup and drop-off services within city or intrastate locales. This career is great for drivers looking to stay local. Specialized drivers are trained to transport unusual and potentially dangerous cargo. Drivers looking to mix their love of travel with their marketing talents should investigate sales routes.
• Growing Employment Opportunities: Data from the United States Department of Labor shows optimistic growth for the commercial driving industry. Almost 300,000 new driver jobs are projected to be available by 2018. Increased interest in domestic U.S. goods is part of the driving force behind these new occupations. Heavy load positions in particular are expected to grow at a rate of 8% over the decade between 2008 and 2018. Incentives for new drivers are likely to increase as the American economy continues to rebound.
• Competitive Wages: The U.S. Department of Labor also provides averages of typical truck driver salaries. Heavy load truck drivers earn between $14.00 and $22.00 per hour. Pickup/drop-off drivers earn between $10.00 and $17.00 an hour. Sales route drivers bring home between $8.00 and $16.00 an hour with commission. Pay depends primarily on experience, type of load, and miles driven.

Visit Smith & Solomon online to hear from our alumni. Find out how your love of travel can inspire a new career by dialing (888) 293-3764.

Hear Smith & Solomon Alumni Highlight the Benefits of Attending Smith & Solomon Driver Training!

The right driver training program builds confidence in its students. This video illustrates why students who graduate Smith & Solomon have the confidence to excel behind the wheel.

Several alumni describe their experience finding and attending Smith & Solomon. They laud the school’s faculty and curriculum. The video also highlights the career and placement opportunities that await Smith & Solomon graduates.

Bus, truck, and forklift proficiency open broad opportunities in exciting fields. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is the key to opening those doors. Find out how Smith & Solomon can put your future in your hands by calling (888) 293-3764.