Have You Got What It Takes to Be a Really Good Truck Driver?
On the face of it, truck driving appears to be a rather passive profession. After all, you simply need to sit behind a power-assisted steering wheel and point your rig in a straight line, as you ply your route for endless kilometre after kilometre. It might sound as if there's not much to this work, and you might consider pursuing it for this reason, especially if you have a love of the open road? As with anything else, there is, of course, much more to it than meets the eye, and you certainly need a variety of different mental and physical strengths if you are to succeed. Read on to find out what is really involved so you can see if truck driving is going to be up your street.
Independence
If you're somebody who doesn't really like to have their boss over their shoulder, this may be for you, as you will certainly have a good deal of independence. From time to time, you will have to make decisions to help you keep on track and may not have anybody to fall back to when the pressure is on. For example, if you come across an unexpected road blockage and you're on the clock, you have to figure out what to do without much delay.
Detail Oriented
You also have to be accountable, and this means filling in paperwork or tapping a lot of details into your smart device. Not only will you need to keep track of receipts, transactions, loading documents and invoices, but you must also maintain your driving logbook carefully. This is a very heavily regulated subject, and you could face fines or sanctions otherwise.
Fit for the Job
Sitting behind the wheel may sound as if it's passive, but it is physically demanding, and you need to be mentally tough, as well. You have to keep your wits about you at all times because you're driving a very large object that takes quite a bit of time to decelerate. Remember also that you may be required to load and unload the vehicle involving heavy products, so you must be agile.
Safety First
You are also responsible for the safety of your rig and will need to inspect it before and after each trip. If you come across any issues, you have to communicate with management and maintenance specialists so that it can be taken care of as soon as possible.
Talking It Up
Speaking about lines of communication, it doesn't pay to be recalcitrant in this type of profession. You have to be assertive and be used to talking with a variety of different people, from management to dispatch, from police officers to other motorists.
Your Next Step
As you can see, it's a demanding job, but it is also a fulfilling and an exciting opportunity. Always make sure that you are fully qualified before you apply for a position and get that all-important truck licence as soon as you can.