Semi-truck drivers are an essential part of the transportation industry and often face many challenges on the road. It takes a special person to handle these challenges and come out on top. In this blog post, we will explore some tips for semi-truck drivers to help make their job easier and more efficient. We'll discuss the importance of planning ahead, staying organized, and getting the proper rest, as well as other helpful advice. By following these truck driving tips, semi-truck drivers can make their job more enjoyable and successful.
Do Pre-Trip Inspections
Pre-trip inspections are required at the start of each trip, every 24 hours after you pick up a new trailer, and after 10-hour breaks. Doing pre-trip inspections is important and ensures that your tractor and trailer are safe to drive and are also helpful in preventative maintenance for your truck. Pre-trip inspections involve checking the lights and signals, brakes, tire pressure and tread, hoses and belts, fluid levels, and the frame. You should also check for any visible damage or loose parts and make sure that the trailer is properly secured to the tractor. It's important to check the air pressure of the trailer’s brakes and that the fifth wheel is properly secured. During the inspection, you should take notes of any repairs that need to be done and make sure that they are taken care of as soon as possible. Taking the time to do a thorough pre-trip inspection can help prevent accidents and keep the roads safe. Here is a pre-trip inspection form that you can use.
Get Enough Rest
One of the most important components of being a semi-truck driver is ensuring that you get a sufficient amount of rest and being able to stay alert while you are driving. The FMCSA has regulations around breaks and requires drivers to take a 30-minute break every 8 hours of cumulative driving, but ensuring that your sleep schedule is also sufficient is essential. Sticking to a sleep schedule will help your body stay on a natural rhythm to ensure you are rested enough to dive. You should set a 6 to 8-hour block in your driving schedule to set when you will go to bed and get up and start your next shift.
Practice Defensive Driving
Driving defensively is essential to protecting yourself and others on the road. You cannot create a safe driving space if you are being an aggressive driver. The two main pillars of defensive driving are creating a buffer between your truck and other vehicles on the road and increasing driver awareness. While driving, you should look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead of you to ensure that you are always aware of the upcoming traffic conditions. The DOT recommends leaving four seconds of buffer space between commercial trucks and other vehicles when you are traveling up to 40 mph. They also recommend adding one second to the following distance for every additional 10 mph of speed.
Another important part of defensive driving is knowing the correct speed to go. The posted speed limits may not always be the appropriate speed to be driving at. It is important to factor in road conditions, weather conditions, visibility, and traffic patterns when deciding how fast you should be traveling. Driving defensively may be one of the most important skills a truck driver can possess to help create safe driving conditions for everyone on the road. You can learn more tips about defensive driving here.
Stay Healthy
Being on the road for most of your days can lead to unhealthy eating and lifestyle choices. This includes ensuring you get enough sleep as stated above but also including healthy food options and exercise into your lifestyle. One key way to stay healthy is by drinking a lot of water and skipping drinking soda throughout the day, Staying hydrated helps maintain kidney and heart health. It is also important that you include fresh food in your diet. As a truck driver, you will find the easiest and quickest meals will be fast food or truck station food. Try to include nutritious foods in your diet as well, this article gives advice on how to cook meals in a semi-tuck. Lastly, make sure you include exercise in your daily routine. Even adding a 20-minute walk to your schedule can make a difference in your lifestyle. Try to block a time in your schedule to include exercise in your routine. A combination of these tips can greatly impact your health and help increase your life satisfaction.
Consider Purchasing a Dash Cam
Driving defensively will help you avoid accidents, but even the most experienced drivers can be in an accident. Having a dash cam can help protect yourself from being determined at fault in an accident. Having a dash cam equipped has saved many truck drivers from being put at fault in accidents. For the small investment, you can have legal protection and proof of proper driving if an accident were to occur. Some popular dash cams used in the trucking industry include:
- Matrack Dashcam
- Nextbase 622GW
- Garmin Dash Cam 66W
- Thinkware U100 4K UHD Dual-Channel Dash Cam
- Garmin Dash Cam Mini
You can compare these different options and learn more about their features here
Be Prepared for Different Driving Conditions
It is important to be prepared for different weather and traffic conditions. All truck drivers should have tire chains, blankets, flashlights, and other emergency items on hand for driving in winter conditions. It is also important to know when the weather conditions are unsafe to drive in and be able to make the decision to take a break from driving if it is unsafe. Outside of weather conditions, it is also important to be aware of ongoing construction on the routes you are driving. Being aware of oncoming construction gives you time to prepare for driving in trickier conditions. Using GPS that alerts you to upcoming traffic and construction can be super helpful in ensuring safe driving.
Choose Safe Spaces to Park Your Truck
Choose a safe truck stop when resting and a safe spot to park your truck when you are not driving. A sign of an unsafe truck stop could be poor lighting or the lot being empty. It is important to know which truck stop you plan to stop at and to park by other trucks if possible. For long-term semi-truck parking, it is important that your semi-yard is equipped with safety measures and is secure. Be sure that the semi-yard you park at when you are not working meets all of your safety requirements. This can include gates, fences, lighting, and security cameras.
STOW IT provides long-term semi-truck parking for truckers to park their trucks while they are not working. We work with individual drivers and fleet companies to provide safe, secure, and affordable semi-truck parking. You can view all of our parking options here.