What You Should Know About Being a Long-Haul Truck Driver

So you’re starting your career as a long-haul truck driver. Congratulations! While the job certainly isn’t easy, it is rewarding knowing you play an integral role in the supply chain. Over the road trips take getting used to and are incredibly tiring at first. Let’s take a close look at some vital advice for new truck drivers looking to start their careers.

Knowledgeable long-haul truckers know better than anyone that choosing the correct route can make or break a run. If you’re used to pulling out your phone, punching in an address, and listening to an AI voice guide you, you should break the habit immediately. While a top-notch trucking company offers custom logistics, many don’t.

Take the time to map out a route with filling stations, rest areas, restaurants, and other necessities for your wellness. You also need to ensure that oversized and heavy freight meets bridge clearance and road tolerance requirements.

One of the most common questions new long-haul truck drivers have is: how frequently should you take breaks when driving? Based on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulations, drivers must take at least a 30-minute break after driving for eight uninterrupted hours. However, many seasoned drivers break every two or three hours. Even if you only take a few minutes to get some fresh air, stretch your legs, get the blood flowing, and give your mind a rest, it’s sure to improve your driving and focus.

A long-distance driving tip that applies to all drivers is to be aware of what’s around you. Driving long distances can slow your reaction times and decrease your focus on other cars and trucks on the road. Be diligent and stay alert to your surroundings, especially blind spots, to make sure you’re not part of the all too many crashes that occur every year.

As you advance your career as a long-haul truck driver, recognizing road signs becomes second nature. But until then, a valuable piece of advice for new truck drivers is to pay attention to signage. Signs provide invaluable information about conditions, road closures, detours, and other pertinent information.

Keeping your truck in working condition isn’t just a good idea—it’s a necessity. As an inexperienced long-haul truck driver, you may want to get to your destination as quickly as possible and move on to the next job or head home immediately. But routine maintenance provides the care your vehicle needs to stay out of the shop off the shoulder of the road. A broken-down truck isn’t just useless—it’s costly.

Being a long-haul truck driver gets easier the longer you do it, but it’s never easy. Here are some long-distance driving tips and advice to help you prepare for the roads ahead.

You’ve probably asked yourself, “where do truckers sleep?” The literal answer is in the sleeper cab of their truck. But where the truck is parked is just as important. Long-haul truckers should only park on the side of the road in emergencies. A vital piece of advice for new truck drivers‘ sleep habits is to pull over at truck stops, secure parking lots, rest areas, or company-owned properties.

The FMCSA states that truck drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours daily. That leaves plenty of time for breaks, meals, personal care, and most importantly, sleep. Listen to your body; if you’re tired or groggy, pull over for the health and safety of yourself and everyone else.

Being a long-haul truck driver out on the road for up to weeks can get lonely for not only you, but also your loved ones. Take the time to keep in contact with them during your breaks. Establishing a routine of when you call, text, or FaceTime makes sure they answer and gives you something to look forward to during periods of loneliness or feeling homesick.

Irregular sleep patterns, poor dietary decisions, and remaining sedentary while not driving have long-term health consequences for long-haul truck drivers. Make time to get some exercise, stretch, and do other physical activities throughout the day. Even as little as 15 minutes of walking around can help reduce back pains and joint stiffness while you’re out hauling.

Even the most grizzled long-haul truck drivers make the occasional mistake, but the reason they happen so infrequently is that they learn and adapt with experience. One of the most beneficial long-distance driving tips is to not beat yourself up for missing an exit or running behind, but to figure out why it happened and correct the behavior.