How to Be a Stand Out Truck Driver
While commercial truck driving can be a very fulfilling career, like other professions it comes with pros and cons. A truck driver’s job requires a great deal of skill and patience. For instance, maneuvering a multi-ton truck through heavy traffic and watching out for other drivers and obstacles around you is no small feat. Then there are the tasks of parking in tight spots, driving solo for long hours and enduring various weather and road conditions while still making delivery deadlines.
Although the importance of truck drivers is often overlooked, they are responsible for transporting at least 70% of all goods across the United States. In fact, without truck drivers, store shelves would be empty within three days. Whether you’re considering a career in truck driving or already have your license, the job is far from boring. In addition to required skills and knowledge, there are other interesting details and dangers involved as well. Let’s take a look at some of the insider information that new and experienced drivers should know in order to stand out above the rest.
What A Truck Driving Career Looks Like
A career in truck driving involves so much more than driving a truck. While that is certainly a primary task, a stand out truck driver will have great communication skills, patience, self-discipline, and organizational skills.
A few key components that make this an attractive career to many people include the opportunity to travel to new places, enjoy a flexible schedule, and manage your own time. As a truck driver, basic mechanical skills are also important and add diversity to the job. Good organizational skills are crucial too. However, without strong morals like trustworthiness and reliability, finding success as a truck driver could prove very difficult.
Challenges Truck Drivers Face
At some point in a truck driver’s career, he or she will face some type of difficulty.
Long Hours
Perhaps one of the main challenges is enduring long hours on the road. Driving, in general, can be dangerous because so often people are in a hurry and making careless decisions. However, long-haul trips increase the potential for accidents. Long hours behind the wheel can sometimes be stressful and lead to health issues without a proper diet and exercise program.
Uncontrollable Delays
Oftentimes, drivers experience delays at warehouse and customer facilities that are unavoidable. These delays undoubtedly add to the pressure of meeting a delivery deadline, but you need to learn how to handle them with professionalism and quickly notify clients/colleagues when they occur (or when you think they might).
Health Problems
Sitting behind a steering wheel results in a sedentary lifestyle, which may be one of the reasons why research indicates that sitting is the new smoking. The lack of physical activity can lead to a plethora of health issues such as obesity, stress, depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues and chronic disease. Fortunately, the risk of encountering these problems can be circumvented by eating healthy and exercising regularly.
Lack of Parking
Finding a place to park a 65-foot transport truck is a challenge that truckers often face. Whether searching for a space in a busy city to make a delivery or parking somewhere safe at the end of a workday when it’s time to sleep, practicing navigating and parking in tight spaces is a must.
What Makes A Truck Driver Stand Out?
Being a professional truck driver requires so much more than getting behind the steering wheel and moving cargo from point A to B. Drivers that really stand out possess these important characteristics.
Independence
Truck drivers must be self-motivated, responsible decision-makers. Unlike office workers who have supervisors available right around the corner, a truck driver is working solo most of the time. It’s not uncommon to encounter challenges along the way, such as dangerous road conditions, traffic delays, or mechanical issues. A great driver will have the skills and knowledge to problem solve and make the best decisions in order to get the job done.
Reliability
Exceptional truck drivers follow through on commitments. They recognize how their actions impact others from the manager to the customer and everyone in between. A stand out trucker takes pride in their work and goes above and beyond in getting the job done.
Mechanically Skilled
Great truck drivers are able to perform basic repairs and are proactive in spotting and addressing minor issues before they become big problems. Taking care of simple mechanical repairs not only helps prevent delays, it also ensures the truck is up to par in safety and compliance.
Excellent Driving Record
Maintaining an excellent driving record is key to being an excellent driver. Such performance displays responsibility and professionalism, making these drivers preferred by employers and customers alike.
Start Your Driving Career Today
Whether you’re interested in learning more about becoming a truck driver for the first time or you’re a veteran driver in search of a new employer, consider contacting TCI Transportation today. TCI has been in business for more than five decades and has 16 locations across multiple states, all dedicated to creating an awesome work environment for our staff. Visit TCI Careers for more information.
