11/10/2022
Tips for New Truck Drivers:
1. You are a professional at driving, you're top tier. Not everybody can do what you do and your position gives you ACCESS to money without having a college degree. The cleaner your license is the more valuable you are.
2. Don't be a super trucker. If you have to think twice about an action or maneuver you probably shouldn't do it. If you think there's ice on the road, there's probably ice on the road. People stay in Trucking because of what they won't do, not because of what they can do.
3. Make Your Money and LEAVE. Being behind the wheel is not a lifetime deal. It's nice to know truckers have been in the industry for 20+ years. But everybody isn’t built for this work. You can have health problems because of the hours you put out.
4. It's OK to be late sometimes. No load is more important than your license and safety. Do not let dispatch, fleet manager or we brokers pressure you into a situation you're uncomfortable with. It's your license, not ours. It's your ticket, not ours.
6. Stay in shape. Get 8k-10k steps in a day, get some resistance bands, dumbbells and actually put in the work.
7. Relationships - There are people out there that have your best interest at heart and even more that don't. You can spiral in that lonely truck FAST, build solid relationships and let go of the bad ones.
8. Old heads - you don't have to listen to old heads for everything, however, if there's somebody making the job look easy, they might have good knowledge for you. Don't write them all off.
9. Mental Health - don't be afraid to see if you're insurance covers a therapist or something. Find some trucker friends. Find an outlet to get rid of those daily struggles. It's like sitting in solitary confinement sometimes.
10. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Some of those old dudes that look like killers, rednecks, convicts are the most upstanding people. They want you to win. Most truckers want Trucking to survive and that means making you better.
11. Make Yourself an Asset!!!! Get your hazmat, get your tanker license, twic card, passport. Get your doubles and triples, learn the basics of flatbed, re**er and heavy-haul. Every part of this industry has ups and downs... there's never a "down year" if you can do everything.
12. Relax. It's OK to get frustrated. We all have our off days, that stressed out mind will have you making simple mistakes for no reason other than you have too much on your mind.
13. Be sharp. You know the FMCSA wants to catch you slipping. Make sure your clock is good, make sure your paperwork is clean, make sure your truck is in good shape.
Now go out there and be the best you can be.
Safe trucking y’all.