How to Becoming a Successful Truck Driver

9 Trucker Tips For Becoming a Successful Truck Driver

What does it mean to be a successful truck driver? It comes down to how you define success and the context of the question. Some aspects of success are universal, like safety and productivity, but others are more personal to the individual truck drivers, like job fulfillment and a road-home balance. In this guide, we share nine tips truck drivers can use to increase success in their careers.

1. Conduct Preventive Maintenance 

Preventative maintenance is not only the best practice, but it can also be life-saving. In addition to the pre and post-trip inspections required by DOT, Go the extra mile by handling maintenance concerns before they arise. Stay updated with regular maintenance activities like oil and brake pad changes, and take the time to get to know your vehicle well so that you can quickly notice if something is amiss. Communicate any needs with your team, and ensure minor issues are addressed before they worsen. It helps to work for a company that takes preventative maintenance seriously and uses data to create intelligent predictive maintenance schedules based on mileage, repair history, and other essential factors. A solid and consistent approach to preventative maintenance reduces downtime and increases safety, consequently improving your success as a driver. 

2. Practice Defensive Driving 

Defensive driving techniques help drivers mitigate risks on the road for themselves and other drivers. Defensive driving involves consistently and purposefully looking out for hazards and changes in driving conditions to anticipate potential dangers and take action to prevent issues. This proactive approach helps drivers make safe and well-informed decisions. To drive defensively: 

• Watch out for blind spots, particularly when changing lanes.
• Allow three full seconds to pass between the time the car ahead passes a landmark and your truck passes the landmark. In rainy or windy conditions, increase to five seconds; in icy conditions, increase to ten seconds. 
• Prepare for emergencies with an emergency kit, extra food and water, and clean clothes in the truck. 
• Stay calm because distress can make a bad situation worse.
• Use a signal always, even if you don’t see any other drivers, because a car could be invisible in your blind spot.

3. Don’t Rush

Rushing from one destination to another may increase short-term productivity but poses too many risks overall. Successful truck drivers know not to sacrifice safety for speed because safety is more important than any delivery deadline. Take your time, communicate thoroughly, and everything will be fine. 

4. Plan the Route  

To maximize the success of each grip, look ahead and plan carefully. Consider factors like construction, weather, stops, and anything else that will make the haul more pleasant. Research truck stops ahead of time, so you know when and where you prefer to rest and refuel. If you enjoy scenic vistas or local history, research ahead to make the journey more interesting. 

5. Learn the Lingo

Truckers have a whole host of terms to make communication efficient and fun. If you are new to the career, take the time to learn the lingo. Understanding trucker jargon will help you get to know other truckers and ensure you can stay in the loop with relevant information on the road. To learn more, read our blog 115 Trucker Lingo Terms to Know for Effective Team Communication. 

6. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle 

Healthy habits give you a head start on success because they make you feel good and make it easier to stay safe on the road. There are many things to integrate as part of a healthy trucking lifestyle, including:

• Find an exercise routine you enjoy and stick to it with some consistency. Consider muscling up with some push-ups daily, doing some yoga, or going on a walk or run as a break. Doing so can help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. 
• Do your best to eat nutritious foods and stay hydrated. If you’re finding it hard to eat a balanced diet with the truck-stop fare, consider stocking up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, healthy dairy, and hydrating beverages at a grocery store before you hit the road. 
• Connect with people you love! Whether via phone call, FaceTime, social media, or snail mail, take the time to talk with friends and family while on the road. It will make the journey less lonely and help you feel more connected while away. 

7. Have Fun on the Road

Another important ingredient in the truck-driving success recipe is having fun. There are many things truck drivers can do safely to make their driving and resting time enjoyable. You can listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and music while you drive. During breaks, you can explore the outdoors, maybe go on a walk or hike, take photos or videos, collect souvenirs, or journal about the sights you see. 

8. Have a Good Work-Life Balance 

Truck drivers must have an excellent work-life balance, usually called a road-home balance. This usually involves flexibility for scheduling and reasonable breaks from trips to spend time with friends and family at home. Achieving a road-home balance is essential for success because truck drivers need time to refuel themselves at home between hauls. 

9. Become a Trucker with QFS Transportation!

QFS Transportation is always searching for experienced drivers across the entire nation. As one of the largest and fastest-growing companies with over 60 terminals across the country, our dedicated team gives our Owner Operators what they need to succeed, including a dedicated safety team, a mobile app for drivers, road-home balance, and the freedom to choose the lanes you want to run. To become a trucker with QFS Transportation, apply today!