Truck Driving Tips For New and Experienced Truckers

Being a company truck driver or even an owner operator is not nearly as simple as just driving and watching for changing road conditions in bad weather, although many probably hold that assumption. In addition to needing to know how to properly maneuver a commercial truck, you need to gain a great deal of industry knowledge and keep your knowledge up to date on changes throughout your career. In this article we will be exploring some valuable driver tips and driver safety beyond your CDL training in truck driving school for both new and experienced drivers in the trucking industry.

Tips for New Truck Drivers

Don’t expect the world right out of the gate

There is a great deal of potential in the trucking industry but it is far from a get rich quick scheme. It takes time and dedication, but if you give it your all you can be very successful in trucking. Just don’t expect it to happen overnight!

Avoid Drugs and Alcohol

While this may seem like a given at any time, we include this here because as a new driver it becomes even more vitally important. Your driving record is always important to keep in a positive light but if you have any blemishes holding a connection to drugs or alcohol while you are a new driver this will look extremely bad and can have many strikes against you making it hard to move forward in the industry.

TWIC Cards

It may prove beneficial for you to get a TWIC card early on in your first year depending on what type of loads you plan to haul. A TWIC card is like a security clearance to get you into sensitive areas for loads that you might not want to miss out on. This includes shipping yards and docks with container freight.

Roadside inspections

While most truck drivers are not a fan of getting pulled over to the side of the road or into a parking lot and going through these, inspections will be a regular part of your job in the long haul trucking industry with the DOT. Slow down and pay attention to the regular flow of how DOT inspections work and take note for the next time. The more you make it convenient on the inspector the quicker you will get through and back on your way. Keep in mind that by regulating the driving conditions for professional drivers it weeds out many of those who are unfit to be professional drivers as well as considers the safety of others on the roadways outside of just the truck driver.

Year one goal: no accidents

Safe driving is key. When you are a full time driver accidents can be expected, however, you want to avoid any accidents at all costs within your first year. This will really set the tone of your professional record and will make it extremely tough to gain affordable insurance coverage and even booking some loads with a blemish on your record so early on. You will need to be proactive in this area as operating big trucks through heavy traffic with multiple blind spots is not the easiest of things to do on a regular basis.

Know your career goals

Where do you ultimately want to be in trucking? What is your goal? It is important to consider these questions. It is important to understand what your ultimate goals are and to match your daily actions to put you on course to get there.

Obey the hours of service regulations

Don’t start your career on the wrong side of the law. Violations tend to stick with you and many shippers will not want to work with you if you do not obey them. The hours of service are geared around your safety as well as those around you on the roadways.

Tips for Experienced Drivers

Keep a clean and tidy truck

This may seem like common sense to some but we have all been on a road trip and know how quickly stuff can accumulate in our vehicles. Imagine being in there day after day and even sleeping in there. You can imagine that your work and living space within your truck can get overwhelming very quickly if you let it. Working and living in a cluttered space can lead to not only unsanitary conditions but mentally drained conditions as well that make your time in the truck harder to endure than it should be. Do yourself a favor and make an effort to keep this in check and you will notice a positive difference in your day to day.

Vehicle maintenance

Our trucks are our livelihood in this industry and for that reason we need to make sure they stay running properly. Sometimes with experience you can get a little bit lenient, letting certain things go a little bit longer than they probably should. Making sure that maintenance items are done on time and kept up can not only keep you on track, but also keep you on the road. When your truck is not moving, you are not making money, so keeping up with this is wise, no matter how long you have been in the business.

Cook your own meals

The more we are on the road it just becomes more convenient and easy on us to pick up some food. However, the food available to drivers is often not a very health conscious selection. Additionally, fast food and such tends to add up very quickly making it a financial burden on your bottom line.

Exercise

We tend to overlook the toll that sitting in a driver’s seat for hours on end, day after day, takes on us. Minimal physical activity over an extended period of time paired with the less than optimal nutrition options can leave you in some bad health, especially in the long run. Make sure to keep this in mind as your goal. If it is part of your daily plan it will be much easier to keep up with and make a positive habit.

Set financial goals

Obviously the main reason you are in the business is to make a living. Your driver’s seat is also your office and it can become rather easy to overspend on small things or underestimate the finances at times, leaving you a bit off of where you would like to be. Do yourself a favor and establish financial goals of what you want and need to be to make it all worth it, and allow you to grow your business. Take time to think this over and make goals that make sense for you and your business specifics. It can often prove beneficial to work with a professional that can help you come up with those realistic expectations.

Safety Tips for Truckers

Regular tune ups

Want to make sure you stay safe on the road? It doesn’t all come down to just how safe you drive, although that does play a large part. You also need to make sure that you are operating safe equipment on the road. In a truck that has not been kept up with appropriately, it may not matter how safely you drive at all and the unthinkable could become inevitable. Much of this can be avoided if you get your equipment in for regular inspections and tune ups to keep it all in optimal running conditions.

Tires

As we talked about keeping your truck and equipment in good condition, the tires on your truck and trailer are a large part of that as they take quite a bit of wear and tear on a daily basis covering the roads across America in their various conditions. We can’t help the conditions of the roads which do play into how quickly our tires wear, but we can stay on top of the conditions of our tires and make sure they are in good shape for each and every trip we make. If you own the truck, get tier 1 tires. It will more than pay off in terms of lasting much longer, as well as fuel efficiency.

Try to eat healthy

Well balanced and healthy meal choices will provide you better levels of nutrition and energy to keep you feeling better day to day. Nothing is worse than being stuck in the driver’s seat while you feel cruddy!

Get enough rest

Making sure that you stay well rested is vitally important to keeping up with your long hours on the road safely. Even if you struggle getting enough sleep make sure that you take time to rest your body and mind in your down time so that you have more energy during your shifts. Being tired can and will affect your ability to make safe and appropriate decisions on the road.

Get a hands free set up for cell phones

Weather safety in a commercial vehicle is important to consider. The changing weather conditions pose a greater threat to large trucks and trailers than personal vehicles. For this reason you will want to make sure that you keep an eye on the forecast, and if there is significant weather coming through your route you will be able to plan and react accordingly to keep you and others around you safe.

Miscellaneous Tips for Truck Driving

Be aware of speed limits

This is not just to make sure you are not speeding but also so that you can more appropriately react to other vehicles that may be adjusting their speeds more rapidly around you. If you are aware of the speed changes you will be quicker to react and more alert to those around you.

Pay attention to the weather

Weather safety in a commercial vehicle is important to consider. The changing weather conditions pose a greater threat to large trucks and trailers than personal vehicles. For this reason you will want to make sure that you keep an eye on the forecast, and if there is significant weather coming through your route you will be able to plan and react accordingly to keep you and others around you safe.

Miscellaneous Tips for Truck Driving

Be aware of speed limits

This is not just to make sure you are not speeding but also so that you can more appropriately react to other vehicles that may be adjusting their speeds more rapidly around you. If you are aware of the speed changes you will be quicker to react and more alert to those around you.

Look for truck driver tax deductions

What is better than saving money on your bottom line? There may be some extra deductions out there to help you lower your taxes due or even get some money back. Be sure you are looking for these and may even be a good idea to talk to a tax professional that can help you.

Take advantage of perks

Keep an eye out for free perks for truckers. For example, some fueling stations offer free drinks or refills with the purchase of fuel. Better to get a free drink now than making a stop down the road and paying for a drink then. Rewards programs can also get you access to free showers, food, and discounts. Many of the top truck stops have their own mobile apps that make it easy to track progress and reserve parking spots/showers.

Keep everything locked up

You never know who is hanging around truck stops at night. Be sure that you keep your doors and any hatches locked to prevent anyone trying to break in or make away with any of your tools or equipment while you are sleeping or not paying attention.

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