Truck Transportation

Truck Transportation merit badge requirements

1. List the major truck lines serving your town.
2. Do the following:

   a. Describe the role of truck transportation within commerce (the movement of goods, funds, and information).

   b. Describe how trucks fit into a company's supply chain. This could be a manufacturer, importer, wholesaler, or retailer.

   c. On paper, map out how goods that are manufactured overseas are transported to a retailer in this country.

3. Describe the difference between the gasoline engine and the diesel engine that power trucks. List the advantages of each.
4. Visit a truck terminal and complete items 4a through 4e. After your visit, share what you have learned with your counselor.

   a. Find out what kind of maintenance program the company follows to help keep its fleet, drivers, and the roadway safe.

   b. Find out how dispatchers maintain communication with drivers on the road.

   c. Talk with a professional truck driver about safety. Learn about the truck driver's rules of the road for safe driving. List five safe-driving rules every professional truck driver must follow.

   d. Review the driver's log and find out what kind of information the log contains.

   e. Learn about important federal regulations that help ensure public safety.

5. Do the following:

   a. Outline the general organization of a trucking company. Describe what each department does.

   b. List five positions with trucking companies and describe each one.

6. Name five government agencies that work closely with the trucking industry. Describe their role.
7. List five different kinds of trucks. Tell the service each provides.
8. Assume that you are going to ship by truck 500 pounds of goods (freight class 65) from your town to another town 500 miles away. Your shipment must arrive within three days. Explain in writing:

   a. How to prepare the shipment

   b. How to compare at least three carriers for time in transit and rates

   c. How to choose which carrier to use

   d. How to insure the shipment for damages

9. Define the following terms: bill of lading, ETA, logbook, intermodal, containers, tariff, shippers, carrier, consignee, drayage, cartage.
10. Learn about opportunities in the field of truck transportation. Choose one career in which you are interested and discuss with your counselor the major responsibilities of that position and the qualifications, education, and training such a position requires.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2014 Edition (BSA Supply No. 33216 - SKU# 619576)

A FREE workbook for Truck Transportation is available here! with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Truck Transportation requirements.

meritbadge.org has PDF and DOC versions of Boy Scout merit badge workbooks, Webelos workbooks, and Cub Scout workbooks.

• Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." Pamphlets (books) are at local Scout Shops and online at ScoutStuff.org.
• "Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster." An online, printable Word doc file version is available.

• Boy Scout Merit Badges: American Labor - Automotive Maintenance - Drafting - Farm Mechanics - Graphic Arts - Home Repairs - Painting - Plumbing - Surveying - Truck Transportation - Woodwork
  
• Webelos Activity Badges: Craftsman - Handyman

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: List of how many boys have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)