If you have selected the career of professional truck driving then just like choosing a career path in any field, being successful in your profession should be an important aspect. While at first glance it may seem that trucking is as simple as driving from point A to point B, but in reality, there are so many parts of the trucking industry that can create a level of frustration and there is a lot of responsibility that comes with the profession so we have listed some of the top ways to guarantee that success is in the trucking career.
One: Always Follow Federal Regulations
As a truck driver, one of the most important parts of the job is to understand the proper rules and regulations that are put in place to ensure safety on the road. It is critical to always be following the rules as well as be aware of all federal regulations in order to keep a safe road environment. By doing this, it will help to keep the roads safe and allow you to avoid accidents and potential fines that could have a negative effect on your trucking career. It is such an important habit that all trucks should be implementing as it is important to better understand all the ins and outs of the federal regulations and laws associated with trucking.
Two: Safety Should Always Be Main Priority
Being safe on the highway should always be the main priority, driving a truck you must always be extra cautious and alert as your turns and significantly wider and it will take longer to stop if an accident occurs. Driving safely and being aware of all things happening on the road will help prevent accidents, protect you and ensure your safe return for your family as well as protecting your company. Aside from just assuring the safety of yourself and your truck while en route it is important to also be consistent with pre and post inspections to work to maintain an accident-free record. If you work as an owner-operator or are considering singing on with a company directly, your safety record is the most important thing.
Three: Be friends With Your Dispatcher
One of the most beneficial relationships in the trucking industry is that of a driver and a dispatcher. Establishing a strong friendship with your dispatcher can be an important asset to the success of your trucking career. Dispatchers are able to notify the driver of potential loads and keep track of the customers information, fill out paperwork, provide truck stop information as well as pick up and delivery times. Establishing a good relationship with a dispatcher can reduce a lot of the stress for a driver as your dispatcher will allow you to focus more on driving and safety and they will take care of the rest.
Four: Work- Life Balance
Perhaps the best kept secret in trucking is that it Is very important for the driver to maintain a work-life balance. Having a strong work-life balance is important in any career as allows you to detach from the stress of the job and spend some quality time with the family. If you allow yourself to make your work your life then there can e consequences attached with it. It is always important to take some time to rest and rest both mentally and physically so that you don’t allow your job to prevent you from things that are important.
Five: Manage Time Effectively
Time management is an important skill in this profession as there is always a strict schedule to when it comes to pick up, drop off and delivery. Drivers need to consider possibly uncontrollable circumstances such as an accidents and bad weather. It is also important to factor other things that are time consuming such as needing to get gas, eat meals as well as maintain personal hygiene and maintaining a log book can all be very tedious. That is why it is a key to success to learn to manage time effectively to ensure all appointments are met and that there is additional time for taking care of yourself.
While there are so many different kinds of equipment to operate in the trucking department it is beneficial to understand the different types of trucks that you can drive as well as the different styles of trucking that can related in terms of distance. While everyone wants to be successful in their career, the beginning key to success is to find something you love, that your good at and follow the regulations, always be safe, make those beneficial relationships and keep a good work life balance and you will be able to manage your time effectively but most importantly be successful in your craft as a truck driver.