Tips For New Semi Truck Drivers

Trucking can be a hard job. Long hours on the open road can wear anyone down, and it's even more challenging if you’re a new trucker just starting out. To make the transition a little easier, Utility Trailer Sales of Washington has put together some information to help you get a leg up.  

Manage Time Wisely

One of the first struggles that new truckers tend to experience is the problem of managing time. Your phone or GPS may say one thing, but between driving, refueling, meal breaks, and sleeping, a trucker’s timetable is rarely simple. Newcomers often feel like they have to skip meals or sleep time to complete the haul on schedule. 

This isn’t just unpleasant for the trucker, it’s potentially dangerous. If your basic needs aren’t being met, you can’t be expected to drive at your best. That is bad enough in a normal car or truck, but it’s even more dangerous when you are behind the wheel of several tons of metal and rubber. Scheduling your day ahead and giving yourself some “buffer time” can help keep you happy, healthy, and safe. 

Locate Services You Need

People with stationary jobs can count on access to food, restrooms, laundry services, drugstores, and anything else they need. New truckers don’t always account for these services being less plentiful on the road, with some routes being particularly barren. Once again, some forward planning can save you a lot of trouble. The internet makes checking your route in advance for gas stations with showers, laundromats, and places to buy food. Some refueling stations even offer you shower credits for using their services, so take full advantage of this opportunity!

At Utility Trailer Sales of Washington, we love to help out truckers. Between our four brick-and-mortar stores throughout Washington state providing just about anything a trucker could want and our 20 mobile service trucks on hand for when you need a quick repair, we’re your best friends on the road. Be sure to check us out!