When you’re a trucker, living on the road is just part of the job. Not all drivers are impacted by the nomadic lifestyle.
It’s mostly those that go outside of their home base – the long-distance operators on the road.
A professional driver struggles to manage a lot of things in his life, both personal and professional. There’s time with family, sports, recreational activities, and the long hours needed to finish the work.
We’ve created a list of trucking tips to guarantee your time on the road is efficient and also safe, whether you’re a rookie driver or have clocked well over million miles.
Commit to a daily schedule
If you allow it, a truck driving job may require 18 to 20 hours each day. One of the major advantages of the electronic logbook system is that it truly promotes quality of life when traveling.
Try to keep your schedule as near to regular or as similar to your home schedule as possible. Keep a consistent eating plan, fitness, recreational walks, sleep, and other activities as much as possible on the road.
You may be able to get away with overlooking these issues for a while, but not for long. Your health will undoubtedly suffer, and it will ultimately catch up with you. 7 to 8 hours of your 10-hour off-duty time should be spent sleeping, with the rest spent for leisure, exercising, and eating. Make the most of your free time by doing things that will help you.
Plan ahead
Before every drive, it’s a smart idea to conduct some trip research. Take a close check at the travel distance and estimated delivery timeline before accepting cargo from your dispatch.
Calculate things like traveling time, gas and lunch stops, and sleep time, as well as any unforeseen delays, to ensure you have enough hours to complete the delivery on time.
When you’ve decided on a delivery schedule, make sure to consider where you’ll eat and sleep. Check the weather for the trip as well. The importance of trip planning cannot be overstated. The driver’s stress level will decrease as the trip goes more smoothly.
Keep yourself hydrated
It’s not only about getting enough sleep to be alert. Maintaining healthy brain function requires sufficient hydration. Dehydration has been linked to a loss of attention and slower reaction times. Both of these things may be quite dangerous for a truck driver on the road.
To stay hydrated, doctors advise drinking 2 liters of water each day, or eight 8-ounce cups. So, have an extra cup when you think you’ve had plenty.