When you drive a truck, you work long hours on the highway, hauling heavy loads at high speeds for endless hours. From simple mistakes to forgetting to strap a load, weve all made mistakes. In this career, as in others, you might have to work when tired or stressed. To help, some companies offer their drivers per diem to get them. According to the american trucking associations truck driver shortage analysis for 2015, the shortage of truck drivers has risen to. The main reason that rookie truck drivers go to truck driving school is to get a trucking job. Make your smart phone your assistant most every truck. Surviving your first 6 months by lucky i believe it was brett who wrote here in the truckers forum that a new drivers first year isnt about money, its about survival.
Common mistakes made by rookie drivers truck news i work as drivertrainer for a longhaul carrier in ontario. Here now, the truck drivers top tips to avoid becoming roadkill. Regardless of whether you are a new driver getting started out or you are the long seasoned veteran the role you play within the industry as a whole is a valuable one. You need endurance, knowledge, and quick thinking abilities. One of the worst rookie truck driver mistakes is not taking care of yourself while on the road. From competitive pay to vacation and the opportunity to be out on the open road. Posted on june 20, 2017 october 4, 2017 by mark walton.
Truck driving can wear out even the hardiest hard workers, especially in the rain. Now, we are all different and not everything that meant trouble for me will be presenting a issue for you. He hit the light post and had difficulty in backup until he got some help. They are the prime movers of our economy, literally. The truck driving veteran vs the truck driving rookie. Jacqueline rocha june 30, 2019 trucking, tips, rookie, trucker, truck driver, team trucking, millennials in trucking, cdl, cdl school, driving, new driver, payroll, paychecks comment. In this article im going to give you 22 of the most useful tips for backing up a tractor trailer. How to write a perfect truck driver resume with examples. Oh no look out it is a beginner cdl truck driver who does not now how to back up his rig. Being a truck driver isnt easy but it can be rewarding.
However, they are also interested in learning everything that they need regarding how to be a truck driver. Millennials in trucking is giving prospective drivers, new cdl holders, or those still in school, the tools and tips necessary to be successful in trucking. Its no secret that the commercial trucking industry is currently experiencing a dramatic shortage of truck drivers. Tricks of the trade and truckers money saving trade secrets. Rookie truck driver mistakes truck dynasty driving academy.
Rookie doing rookie things, pilot truck stop shower and reefer pre. All nominations are due in to truckers news by the close of business at 5 p. It is a lifetime skill many talented drivers have refined to an art form. If you like your set 9 to 5 every day with a specific schedule and weekends off, truck driving is probably the worst career for you. Some even say that the truckers first year is more about survival than anything else. Each year, more and more baby boomers are retiring, leaving a hole in the industry that, as of yet, younger generations have not filled. Proactive maintenance can also save both time and money by keeping a truck on the right side of the safety regulations and keeping jobs running smooth. Truck drivers have some of the worst health problems of any industry. Once the hose lines are stretched and charged, chase any kinks that may have occurred to maximize water flow. Rookie truck driver paperback march 23, 2008 by gary h. Tips for surviving as a rookie truck driver konexial blog. One is just starting out, another has been on the road for a while, and the third is a trucker looking to trade in the keys for the next step up. Learn the advanced tips of the truck driving career.
Experienced professional truck drivers have picked up tricks of the trade over the years to help them with the operation of their trucks some trade secrets are selftaught. When i started my truck driving career, my goal was to be the absolute best driver i could be. This is true no matter how many years of driving experience they have. Which means it is time to nominate your pick for the 2019 edition of the mike oconnell truckings next top rookie award. Follow the backing tips below and the 31 newbie trucking tips i wrote about before and. Here are the terms, tools, agencies, programs, and other details of the trucking business. Consumers should never forget that if they bought it, a truck driver brought it. However, if you keep your head up and follow these tips, you will get the hang of it in no time.
In just my first 6 months i have survived being lost, exhausted, confused, stressed out, bewildered, angry, bored, and lonely beyond belief. Before you read up on rookie driver tips, its important to find out if driving is the right career for you. Rookie truck drivers do some really stupid stuff on the roads. Hanging on to rails and straps in addition to tightening seatbelts is no way to respond. If the driver is more interested in texting and other distractions than driving well, he or she will always be a rookie. Traffic, drastic landscape and weather changes, law enforcement. Remember to employ three points of contact at all times when entering or exiting the tractor, trailer, or climbing onto or down from the catwalk. We at bottomley enterprises hope that the five mentioned rookie drivers trucking tips will be helpful for everyone starting out their trucking career. For those of you looking to join the trucking industry we encourage you to fill out our form and become a part of our team. Being a new driver can be an incredibly challenging and stressful experience. Rookie truck driver tips by truckin along with kearsey. Truckers news and its contest partners are looking for the best professional rookie truck driver in the u. With so many goods shipped throughout the country, most communities and businesses would not survive without truck drivers.
Inside the life of a trucker on the road video abc news. This years great american trucking show gats is just around the corner. One aspect of living as a truck driver is that you are constantly away from home and have to purchase all your meals on the road. Tips for trucking beginners truck drivers are an essential part of the shipping industry, transporting goods and raw materials to retail locations, distribution centers, warehouses, and front doors. Nominations are now open for the 2018 mike oconnell truckings top rookie award presented by truckers news ten finalists will be named july 30, and 2018s top rookie will be announced aug. Top 30 truck driving tips from experienced truck drivers. Here are some of the highlights i learned along the way. He believed that honoring a top rookie driver helped show new drivers they are appreciated by the trucking. My first lessons included good practices to make your day go more smoothly. I didnt get that information from a book, but from qualified trainers who took the time to cause me to think about the. The driver should assist getting the first hose line off the truck. The complete guide to a career in trucking rookie drivers. Back problems, knee problems, and all the health issues that come with being overweight are extremely common.
Trucker maintenance tips in trucking, the big costs are fuel, equipment, and maintenance. Lets look at the truck driver resume for people in the trucking industry. Becoming a truck driver offers access to a steady source of income and. So, as a service to all noobs and rookies, id like to get some of the more experienced drivers to chime in and give a few tips to those of you who have recently switched from driving a hyundai to a big fleet truck. This means always having both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand in contact with your equipment. Set yourself up for success by making sure you do things the right way from the very beginning. A rookie jumping into drivers seat wants to get there fast, but this increases the risk and amps up the crew. The search is on to award 2019s mike oconnell truckings top rookie award. Old school truck drivers lessons for rookie drivers, like me. Recognizing the top rookie driver was the idea of the late mike oconnell, who was formerly the executive director of the commercial vehicle training association. First of all, not everyone can hold a line like these two stunt drivers in a new volvo truck commercial, with jean claude van. Learning to drive an 18wheeler does not stop at making a correct left turn. Being a rookie truck driver and the beginning phases of your career in trucking can be a difficult time. The most valuable truck driving lessons i learned, were from old school truck drivers, back when i was first coming up in the trucking industry.