Most younger drivers want to get in their vehicles and drive nonstop. They want the independence of the open road and the chance to show their employer how amazing a worker they are. However, having a “must get it there” mindset may lead to errors or even accidents that waste time.
The capacity to approach a crowded place cautiously, scan it, and then decide how to turn, back up, and park in a truck stop parking lot is one skill that requires time to master. Truckers often use Google Earth to examine an aerial satellite picture of the client, truck stop, motel, etc. They organize their approach, entrance, docking, and parking. You will drive more safely, save time, and earn more money if you physically and psychologically slow down.
Reduce Unnecessary Hazards At Truckstops
Truck stops may be among the most hazardous locations for drivers of any experience level, much alone new solo drivers. I do not mean in sixth or seventh gear, but rather just travel slowly. I mean, at most, 5 mph. Choose a convenient parking spot and watch for any possible dangers.
Specifically in the East, many truck stops and rest facilities were constructed decades ago to accommodate shorter trailers. As a result, backing up and moving away might be exceedingly challenging. Create a list of the Walmarts, truck stops, rest stations, and other parking locations that are simple for you and a list of the challenging ones that you do not want to use again. Use Trucker Path, Google Maps, or other applications to keep track of your “Favorite” locations.
Always utilize the driver’s side while backing into an area with three or more open spaces to reduce the chance of hitting someone. Be careful to position your vehicle such that the nearest truck is on your driver’s side if there are two free spots. By doing this, the likelihood of rear-ending the other vehicle will be reduced.
From the location you choose, look across. Can you go out of this place at two in the morning? Is there a chance someone may block you by parking perpendicular to you? Is there a spot available where you could drive into the aisle and avoid turning or have someone block you by parking in the lane?
Check whether the open pull-through poses a greater risk than the four adjacent open spots you would have to back into. How little of a pull-through is that? If you swing right into the draw-through, are you far enough to the left? Is the exit aisle of the pull-through small, making exiting at night challenging? Take a look at the trucks in front of you. Is that long-nosed Peterbilt blocking the aisle to the point that it could be difficult for you to exit? Which turn would be simpler? Is there more room next to you, such as a garbage dumpster area, that would provide you with more room for pull-ups?
Safety in parking lots for customers
Approach clients in the same manner. Use the Google Earth tool to find out where you may turn to always be on the driver’s side. With Google Earth, check the area behind the building to determine whether there is space for a U-turn. Is it simpler to turn around right away and then drive back past the docks in a straight line so that you can back in on the driver’s side if there is no place to turn past them? Can you check in without getting in the way of trucks entering and exiting the docks if there is a parking spot nearby?
Slow Down And Focus On Specific details
Be mindful of taking your time, especially while doing paperwork. Rushing makes it simple to pick up the incorrect trailer, enter the incorrect parking lot, drive into a gasoline pump at an incorrect angle, or fail to notice a customer’s fault.
For instance, I received a cargo that had two stops in Texas. As I looked through the papers, I saw that just one of the destinations was accurate—Phoenix, Arizona—and the other was incorrect. The second Texas stop was completely absent from the bills. The load that was intended to be 400 miles ended up 1500 miles. I might have spent a lot of time waiting for a second stop that did not exist instead of moving on to the next good load if I had not seen the misunderstanding between my organization and the client.
I read my load assignment repeatedly to double-check the dates and appointment hours. One acquaintance misread the date and believed she had time to take a 34-hour break in the workload. She eventually arrived at the appointment seven hours late.
Did the client return your driver’s license after you presented your ID? A receipt for the lumpers; did you receive one? They may seem to be little details, but when someone is always pressed for time, they may become major difficulties. Take things gradually; fixing these problems might take time and money.
Every time I descend Tennessee’s Monteagle Mountain, which is just 6% over 4 miles, I see vehicles at the base with smoking brakes. I once saw a burning trailer. Even though I go slowly at all times, those individuals are either stopped on the side of the road or, worse still, are losing their jobs due to a fire. Do not drive like that.
Slow That Truck Down
So I have to move quickly! And “I can not earn money in a truck at 62 mph” are frequent declarations made by new or inexperienced drivers. I have never understood this notion, and maybe guys just have a desire for speed. My immediate worries were whether or not a novice driver should even be permitted to go at 62 mph in that 72-foot-long, 80-thousand-pound death machine. Remember that even regulated trucks will fly downhill, so control is required. Accident risk might increase if a driver lacks the expertise necessary to downshift swiftly while traveling at greater speeds.
I often consider all the locations with 55–60 mph speed restrictions whenever I hear similar comments about controlled speeds. Construction causes the country’s speed restrictions throughout the summer to drop to 45 or 55 mph. About a hundred miles of I-80 in Ohio and Indiana were under construction this year, which hindered traffic.
In California and most big cities like Nashville and Chicago, the truck speed limit is 55 mph. Anybody who has traveled to Atlanta, Dallas, Washington, and Baltimore will tell you that traveling 35 miles may take a couple of hours based on the time of day. Most cities are too crowded to go over that anyhow. The only way you could go at full speed in some of these locations would be if you were empty, given the mountains, hills bends, and multiple downgrades on both sides of the nation. 43,000-pound load, please? Forget to use top gear, whether ascending or descending.
Even the topic of winter driving eluded me. Even Atlanta and other portions of Texas had snow this year, while I-40 in Tennessee experienced a pileup of several automobiles on ice. I-40 was covered with ice as it crossed the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. There is no way I could be driving at maximum speed all the time with the fog, rain, wind, lake-effect snow, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other weather conditions. That just does not occur.
So what if driving unsafely and running the danger of an accident means I can drive 70?
Advantages Of Slower Speeds
Several businesses reward fuel efficiency with gasoline incentives. I have to maintain my truck’s RPMs at 1,100 to do this. With my pickup, keeping a speed of 57–58 mph will allow me to obtain a few more miles per gallon than if I were traveling at 62 mph. My bonus is 3 CPM on average, but at its highest, it was 8 cpm. On average, my gasoline bonus is around $84 per week, and the highest I have ever gotten in a single week was $224. For traveling the same distance, not bad.
Another advantage is that I seem to my employer to be a safer driver who is less likely to get into an accident and will save expenses. For instance, I have hit two deer in the previous two years. I could downshift quickly enough such that the impact from the deer barely cracked my bumper by four inches. While I wanted to shower and there was blood and intestines all over, the mechanic seemed astounded. “Normally, the bumper underneath buckles upward when cars hit deer. “Very done!” I do not even need to change anything.
Even the slowest driver may not be able to get the greater fuel bonus since weight and location also impact fuel use. So once again, take your time and consider the effects of whatever you do. Even a list of the “Top 200 Drivers Most Likely to Have an Accident” exists at my workplace. Even without an accident, a few mishaps and locking it into high gear might put you on this list. So, slowing down a little bit might help you get more respect.
Others would counter that traveling slower wastes time on their 70-hour clock or that they can acquire another load if they can deliver early. It is accurate. Yet, being early at a client does not always entail being unloaded quickly. If you persist on traveling at full speed, they can still make you wait for hours over your scheduled appointment time, meaning the only thing you might lose is fuel bonus money.
Have patience and think long-term
Developing the judgment, self-assurance, and abilities necessary to do this job well takes a lot of time. Always aim towards the goal and look out for any dangers. Always try to do your assignment in the simplest possible manner.
Pay close attention to all the little details, including times, costs, locations, forecasts, and traffic conditions. Spending a little more time will save you money, worry about the consequences of an accident on your CDL, and it can make a positive impression on your employer thanks to the lower fuel and damage expenses.
Being cautious and avoiding taking needless risks will help you keep your license intact and earn you more money while earning the respect of your dispatch.
