It’s not hard to see why so many people choose to become truck drivers. The profession has some undeniable benefits, including the travel and compensation. But if you’ve recently started trucking, it may take you some time to learn the rules of the road. Here at Baltimore Freightliner, we’d like to make this easier for you by highlighting a few of the most common mistakes that new truck drivers make.
If you’ve recently started truck driving, it might take you some time to get up to speed. Here are the top mistakes new truck drivers make.
Believing Misinformation
You probably didn’t take the decision of becoming a truck driver lightly. You may have scoured the internet for whatever information you could find about the lifestyle. This is a good thing, and you must become informed about your profession. But you should keep in mind that, at times, being misinformed is worse than being uninformed.
Everything you read about the trucking lifestyle online should be taken with a grain of salt. Too many people on the internet and elsewhere will present you with an inaccurate picture of what it’s like. So while it’s good to research about your job, new truck drivers should be careful not to believe misinformation.
Neglecting Your Health
It can be notoriously difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you’re on the road. As a truck driver, you’re going to have to make a more concerted effort to take your health into your own hands than those in other professions.
Taking these two components of your health into account can make a huge difference: diet and exercise. As for the former, don’t fall into the trap of relying on fast food. Instead, stock up on healthy snacks like dried fruit and veggies when you’re at home.
Getting exercise is anything but easy as a truck driver. Try to squeeze in simple, bodyweight exercises as much as you can. You could even consider jogging around your truck in a parking lot—no need to feel insecure about how it looks.
Failing to Ask Questions
Some new truck drivers think they already know everything there is about the profession. Trust us—there is always more room to learn. Every year, truck drivers continue to build more and more knowledge about safe driving, efficiency, and everyday issues such as navigating loading docks.
For this reason, we believe that new truck drivers should ask as many questions as they can, and whatever questions come to mind. It’s best to do this during training than to wait until you’re on the road.
Also, you should keep in mind that not everybody’s experience as a truck driver will be the same. Ask some employer-specific questions once you get hired, such as their rules about bringing companions on the road—pets or otherwise!
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for all Your Trucking Needs!
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.