There is a significant shortage of good drivers. Anyone who gets into truck driving can count on-demand and have a secure future, says the American Trucking Association. If you are careful with your CDL license, truck driving most definitely is a promising career you can rely on. There are things you should know before you start a truck driving career, and for that reason, we created a list of 10 Things You Should Know Before You Start A Truck Driving Career.
Driving Skills And Basic Maintenance
One of the top priorities is safe driving when it comes to driving skills in the trucking industry. Maneuvering a large vehicle requires a lot of practice and the correct driving technique. Essential maintenance and mechanical knowledge are also necessary when you’re on the road all by yourself. Solving problems without additional assistance can be valuable to the company as it prevents delays or extensions of the travel time.
CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) Protection
Drivers must meet many requirements to remain qualified to operate equipment that requires a CDL. Serious violations include: excessive or reckless driving, following too close, or driving a CMV (commercial motor vehicle) without having a CDL. 5 major CDL offenses are driving under the influence of alcohol or refusing to undergo testing; driving under the influence of a controlled substance; leaving the scene of the accident involving a CMV; using a vehicle to commit a felony; using the vehicle in the commission of a felony involving the manufacture, distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance.
Organizational Skills
A truck driving career involves a lot of paperwork. A lot of documentation needs to be filled out, and all of your applicable licenses, permits, paperwork, and expenses should be organized and accounted for. This makes the transition from one contract to the other much easier for both the company and the driver.
Navigation Skills
With modern technologies, we often lose track of how we used to do things before—reading the maps, for example. Nowadays, we turn to the GPS, type in the address, and we’re done. Technology sometimes fails, and we need to turn to good ol’ maps to get our bearings. Good truck drivers know their routes and plan the trip, understanding the highways and interstates along the way.
Communication Skills
Excellent communication and people skills make a great employee and colleague. By improving our communication skills, we are making our communication effective and transparent. Successful communicators are the ones who bring solutions, drive change, motivate and inspire their colleagues.
Family / Relationship Maintenance
It is not easy being away from your family and loved ones for potentially long periods. That’s why making the most of the home time is essential for both the family and the truck driver. Regular video-calls with the partner, kids, and friends make truck loneliness a bit easier. Excellent communication skills are essential for conveying not only information but also emotions.
Motivation / Why
Truck drivers that are good at their job and are well respected by the company they work for all share the same thing: They love their job and are highly motivated to do it the best they can. Keeping the motivation can seem challenging at times, but if you try to maintain a positive attitude towards the job, you are already half-way there. Reminding yourself why you’re doing your job, its positive sides, and why you enjoy it is an excellent method to keep you motivated during the driver’s blues.
Spending On The Road
Many professional truck drivers stick to a budget and limit their spendings on the road. The most considerable expense on the road is the food. If you manage to shop for food and prepare your meals you can significantly reduce your spendings. With the modern apps that help you log all your expenses, it is easy to track the money flow. Sticking to a budget can lower your trucking expenses and increase your savings.
Stress Management
Handling the truck driver’s lifestyle doesn’t come easy to everybody. That’s because we react differently to things, and different things trigger our feelings of stress. It’s essential to understand how you respond to stressful situations and explore how not to react to them stressfully. Various breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, and listening to calm music are all techniques that can help you reduce stress.
Focus
Focusing on the road is directly connected to stress management. People who tend to have peaceful reactions to stressful situations find it easier to focus on the job at hand. Focus makes us alerted to what’s going on the road, and it’s significant for quick-thinking decisions that need to be made in the split of a second. Focus also means not reacting to distractions and keeping eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times.
We hope we shared some interesting points of view for you to think about before starting a truck driving career.