4 Tips For ALL Truck Drivers To Keep In Mind

There are many things truck drivers learn in training and some they learn along the way. Education is important in any industry to stay up-to-date on current regulations as well as lifestyle habits. Here are some important tips to keep in mind no matter what stage of your truck driving career you are in.

1. Safety always comes first

This is true whether you are following the rules of the road or making sure that you meet all OSHA guidelines. If you don’t focus on safety as your main priority, many things could go wrong. Some trucking companies don’t consider safety their number one priority, which is an issue for employees and other drivers. Whether you are employed or own your truck, make sure YOU follow all safety laws and regulations. Take care of yourself, too, because your health will help you stay safe.

2. Keep in touch with your family

Truck drivers are often alone on their routes. Some enjoy solitude while others find it difficult to handle. Whichever you prefer, it’s good to keep up with your family! They will miss you as much as you miss them, so it is helpful to schedule times to call or video chat with them. Use the following tips to help you with your family time.

• Stick to your schedule to create a structured lifestyle for yourself, just like you would at home. This will help you maintain good mental health too.
• Play games with your family. There are plenty of options you can choose from like card games and digital games.
• Don’t drive dangerously. If you can use hands-free devices, this is fine, but don’t video chat or hold your phone while driving.
• Take pictures and videos of the places you visit. Then, share them with your family so they can feel connected.

3. Parking doesn’t have to be complicated

We don’t necessarily mean physically parking your truck, which is hard enough. One of the things many people don’t consider is where to park your truck. Here are some ways to make parking easier.

1. Arrive at your destination early: Peak traffic times will make parking difficult, no matter how skilled you are. By getting there before everyone else, you can ensure a good parking spot more easily.
2. Research where you are going: Doing this can help you prepare and avoid surprises. See if the place you are delivering to has a good parking lot and check traffic reports of that area.
3. Try not to get stressed: Staying calm will help you in any situation. If you’re angry while parking, you are more likely to make mistakes. The process could end up taking longer, too.
4. Don’t park near entrances or exits: You won’t have to worry as much about other drivers by doing this.
5. Avoid backing out: If you park somewhere early, this trick is easier to manage. Driving forward is almost always easier than backing out of a spot.

4. Don’t drive your truck if you’re too tired

This is a safety tip, but it bears repeating. If you are too tired, do not drive. This means that if you are halfway through a shift or assignment, you still need to stop. Being well-rested means you can handle daily tasks and time management, as well as maintain safety. Having a regular sleep schedule (even if it isn’t the 8 hours at night you are familiar with) is vital.

Working with Kimrad Transport, LP

At Kimrad Transport, we truly value our employees! We offer a variety of benefits to our truck drivers and team members, including insurance, retirement plans, updated equipment, paid training, and more! We have multiple locations as well to help keep drivers closer to home.

If you are interested in learning more About Us or Applying for a position, give us a call at 1 (866) 359-3882. You can also Contact Us by email to learn more.