You’re fresh out of truck driving school and ready to hit the road. Now what? Here are some tips to keep you on track for an awesome career you’ll love. Start With The Future in Mind Keep your end goal in sight. Now that it is time to choose a company to drive for, do your research. Look for a company that has consistent work, a strong reputation and a solid benefits package. There are even lease to own truck driving jobs where they help you work towards owning your own truck. That is a tremendous opportunity and investment in your future. Timing is Everything Delivering your load on time is critical for success in the truck driving industry. Punctuality is not just courteous it is expected. If you run into issues that will delay you, make sure you communicate with your carrier and the receiver. Learn early how to plan your route accordingly so you arrive on time or early. Prepare Mentally Being a truck driver takes mental preparation. You will be dealing with hard deadlines and stressful situations. While on the road, you may experience delays that are completely out of your control. You may have mechanical issues with your truck, you may have problems with your load or you may get delayed by a big storm. Whatever the issue is, mental toughness comes into play. Being able to manage your receivers’ expectations with the reality of the situation is key to setting realistic goals for your deliveries. Another challenge can be the amount of solitude a truck driver experiences. For many, this is a positive but if you are a people person you’ll want to adjust your mindset and make time for social interactions during stops or in between loads. Following these tips early on in your trucking profession can ensure you get off on the right foot and have a long and fruitful career. |