As professional people in the commercial truck driving field, we are the best at understanding how anxious new truck drivers are before their first day on the job. We all want to excel in our careers, which is a fantastic place to start. However, you still have the support of your good old friends at Truck Driver Academy. These are our best advice for novice drivers!
Prepare Yourself Mentally
One of the main challenges you will encounter during your initial year as a truck driver will be getting used to the long hours. You will not stay in business for very long if you can not prevent acute boredom, highway hypnosis, lethargy, restlessness, and time away from home. The best action is to ensure you are exercising enough and taking adequate breaks. It will also be beneficial to have a decent variety of audiobooks, podcasts, and music.
Keep hydrated
Being an effective truck driver involves drinking adequate water. Although you do not want to have to stop often for the restroom, dehydration may rapidly turn into your worst nightmare. You can overlook the eight glasses of water advised for daily consumption if you are not paying attention. Drink up since this may result in tiredness and focus issues.
Be Aware of Your Blind Spot
There is a blind area in almost every car, and semi-trucks are no different. You will learn to spot them in any vehicle at your truck driving school. Once you are driving, you will need to turn around rather than merely glance in your rearview mirror to check your blind area. After some time, it also turns into a habit!
Avoid drinking and driving
This should go without saying, but it is nevertheless important to include in our list of tips for new drivers. Do not drive after drinking. The risks are much greater when you operate a semi-truck. Some individuals believe it is OK to have one drink and then drive two hours later; however, this is never recommended while operating a professional semi-truck. Remember that driving when buzzed is the same as driving intoxicated. Not worth the effort.
Set first-year objectives
If you have precise goals for your first year as a truck driver, you can stay focused. A handful of them needs to be on your list at all times. However, you may adjust them to fit your unique professional objectives. These consist of the following:
- No accidents
- Taking just large jobs (but fast jobs are nice, too!)
- Avoid overexerting yourself.
- Maintain an optimistic outlook.
Never Be Afraid To Request Help
Never be reluctant to ask a teammate or management for help if you have any questions regarding a particular component of the job, such as the route’s specifics or the unloading process. Your team wants you to succeed. Thus, it is preferable to take a little chance to embarrass yourself than to make a mistake. The majority of folks will not hesitate to assist you either.
Keep in mind your training.
Remembering your training is one of the most crucial advice for rookie truck drivers. You may have spent a year or more getting ready for this. You ought to have memorised it by now. Simply maintain your composure, and everything should be alright. Anxious people sometimes forget things.