The current age gap in long-haul truck driving
means there will soon be a shortage of young truckers in the country. The
reality does not board well with trucking companies. As a result, trucking
firms offer salary increments and other perks to attract young truck drivers.
In fact, these perks probably have you considering taking up a long-haul truck
driving career.
However, you must first attend a licensed trucking school
to qualify as a long-haul truck driver. Notably, you should understand that
long-haul is physically and mentally taxing. Therefore, truck driving
instructors must train students in practical and effective safety tips. Here
are pragmatic tips that newbie long-haul drivers should take extra care to
adhere to.
1. Observe Emerging Hours of Rules
When undertaking a truck driving course, students learn
about the hours of service (HOS) rules developed by the Department of
Transportation (DOT). HOS rules are crucial for the safety of truck drivers and
other motorists. Notably, HOS rules guide truck drivers on how long they should
drive and rest. Reputable truck driving schools keep up to date with emerging
HOS rules. Therefore, you can rest assured you will be equipped with the latest
HOS rules once you graduate.
For instance, a recent update to the HOS by the DOT is that
long-haul truck drivers must rest for 10
hours for every 11 hours of driving. Similarly, truckers should take a
30-minute break after driving for 8 hours. Therefore, it is essential to select
a driving school that teaches new drivers about updated HOS rules and how you
can stay up to date with them for easy and fast adoption.
2. Keep Your Communication Lines Open
Long-haul truck driving is a demanding career considering
the long hours away from home and friends. Such experiences can feel lonely and
physically taxing, especially for new truckers. Thus, experienced driving
instructors encourage new drivers to keep their communication lines open.
Despite the proliferation of mobile phones, which have
eased communication, most trucks still feature a Citizen Band (CB) radio.
The radio allows truckers to use the same airwaves to communicate and cheer
each other up. Besides, you will get lost during your trucking career, sp, keeping
communication lines open is vital for your safety and sanity.
3. Maintain Your Truck
Most trucking companies have a maintenance department that
inspects the fleet before and after every trip. However, one crucial aspect you
learn in driving school is that every driver is responsible for their truck.
You spend the most time with a specific rig and understand how it operates
better than any other driver.
A thorough check on critical parts, including brakes,
lights, fluid levels, and mirrors, is vital for safe long-distance trucking.
Inspecting your truck between stops and not just before and after every trip is
also advisable. Mid-trip maintenance checks help identify possible mechanical
issues sustained during a journey, which will help you prevent serious breakdowns
and accidents.
4. Refresh Defensive Driving Skills
In 2020, about 4,014 people
died in road accidents involving large trucks. The fact that 68% of all
fatalities were occupants of other vehicles outlines the importance of
defensive driving techniques for truckers. A defensive driving course teaches
newbies techniques to proactively anticipate and effectively react to different
road hazards that might lead to accidents.
Most truck driving schools offer a defensive driving
course, but drivers should undertake a refresher course every few years. A
refresher defensive driving course equips truck drivers with practical tips to
improve attention and anticipate situations. Most importantly, truck
drivers with good defensive driving skills are good at avoiding accidents.
Commercial Trucking School aims to produce qualified,
professional truck drivers who understand that road safety is paramount. Contact us
if you want to
learn more about a commercial trucking career.
