Driving a semi-truck that weighs 80,000 pounds over a mountain pass while a blinding snowstorm is an entirely different story. In a situation such as this one, the safety of your cargo, your driving career, your life, and the lives of the other drivers in the area are all in danger.
For this reason, it is usually preferable to seek tips for truck drivers from truckers with a lot of expertise. In this post, we will give truck driver tips and additional insights from current and retired truck drivers with decades of experience in the industry.
It’s a veritable treasury of information that would take inexperienced drivers years to amass on their own. Because we have organized everything and are easy to understand, you won’t have to worry about any of that, which should be a significant relief.
What Do You Need To Do First?
In your future career as a commercial driver, deciding how to get your commercial driver’s license (CDL) is going to be one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make, and this is the first thing you have to do. You can attend a commercial driver’s license school that is either privately run or sponsored and managed by a large trucking company. In most circumstances, you can do either.
Truck Driver’s Ultimate Resource Guide & Tips
The following is a list of specific topics that give tips for truck drivers:
NEW TRUCK DRIVERS TIPS
1. Choose Wisely Who You Drive For
Driving for a top-notch carrier with the right equipment, consistent freight, and a dedication to treating new drivers like professionals is the most effective strategy to reduce the stress experienced during the first year of driving. When establishing a list of potential companies, you should inquire for referrals from CDL instructors and experienced truck drivers.
2. Establish Basic Expectations
Establishing basic expectations is good relationship advice, and it also holds for the following trucking-related areas:
- Monthly Income
- The lifestyle
- Receiving courteous and professional treatment
You shouldn’t put up with being mistreated like a doormat; instead, you should prepare yourself for the worst and keep your hopes crossed that things will turn out okay.
3. Avoid Job Hopping
Many shipping companies will not hire drivers who frequently change employers. It necessitates a significant sum of money and time to hire new CDL drivers, and applicants with steady employment have a better chance of being hired when they apply for jobs. If the working conditions at your first employer aren’t intolerable, it’s in your best interest to acquire a year’s worth of driving experience before looking elsewhere.
SAFETY TIPS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS
1. Wear Your Seat Belt All The Time
There is no exception to this rule, and you must ingrain this idea into your head since doing so will protect you if unforeseen events occur.
2. Take Enough Sleep
Even the best trucking safety advice will only help if you get enough sleep. Always make an effort to take advantage of the DOT Hours-of-Service regulations. When you’d instead be driving, you might need to sleep and relax, but most of the time, you’ll have enough time.
3. Always Stay Alert
When driving a commercial truck, being aware of your surroundings is essential. Keeping one’s alertness entails:
- Keep your eyes on the road well in front rather than simply in front of you.
- Frequently checking your mirrors.
- Being aware of what is going on in your blind spots.
4. Always Drive Responsively
You are responsible for driving safely as a commercial driver. Tips for defensive driving include:
- Following all posted speed restrictions.
- Maintaining a safe following distance between you and the vehicles in front of you.
- Paying attention to your surroundings.
5. Keeping Slow And Steady
One of the best methods to prevent accidents is to drive at safe speeds. It will also benefit your health and pocketbook greatly. Doing this decreases the chance of receiving a ticket and lowers stress levels. These truck driving ideas into your everyday routine since they apply to novice company drivers and seasoned owner-operators.
TIPS TO SAVE MONEY FOR NEW TRUCKERS
1. Set A Budget
The setting of a budget is at the top of the list because it is effective. It is fine to talk about ways to save money, but writing down your approach is the most excellent way to make a living frugally, less of a pipe dream and more of a reality. Discussion is fine, but writing down your strategy is better. Save your receipts, and schedule some time to record your purchases at the end of the day.
2. Bring Your Own Food
Before leaving on a long drive, stock up at the local grocery store on bottled water and other non-perishables like tuna, canned fruit, and pretzels. Remember that most items are marked up significantly more at truck stops.
3. Give Your Equipment A Good Care
If you take care of your equipment, it will look after you. This is another proverb that holds for independent contractors and contract drivers. You may maximize your revenue while decreasing stress and idle time by prioritizing preventative maintenance, driving slowly, and taking good care of your rig.
4. Inquire About CDL Discounts
Ask for commercial driver discounts at restaurants, petrol stations, casinos, and motels. You may also qualify for lower auto insurance premiums, saving your family hundreds of dollars annually.
5. Cash In With Points And Reward Program
Almost every truck stop offers rewards programs that can use for free goods and showers. It makes sense to participate in these initiatives
because paying money at truck stops is unavoidable.
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING AWARENESS WHEEL-SIDE
It is quite dangerous to doze off while behind the wheel. To maintain your energy when behind the wheel:
- Avoid relying too much on coffee and energy drinks, and choose to eat more frequent, smaller meals.
- Take a quick “cat nap” before you go; pause every so often to take a 10- or 15-minute stroll; and listen to interesting audiobooks, podcasts, or news programs.
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