It’s time to take the reins behind the wheel and be able to test everything you’ve learned. Although in reality, experience is what counts, so this makes you a novice or beginner trucker. Here are some tips that can work for you before starting your journey and will protect you from making mistakes, avoid accidents and possible fines, and learn along the way.
Experience is wisdom, and listening to it will prepare you for any situation.
- Patience behind the wheel
A truck driver of a trucking company in New York can be excited, and the euphoria overwhelms you, so you should be twice as careful since small details can be missed if you get carried away.
You must be patient before starting the trip since you will have to be aware of your cargo, fill out or deliver documentation, check if you have all the tools, check the fuel, oil, and water levels, prepare your personal belongings, and know the best route to take.
During the trip, you must learn to drive calmly and patiently, be careful and begin to feel comfortable with your truck. After it, you will have to experience the entire process of delivering the cargo.
- Secure everything before leaving
As a truck driver of a trucking company in New York, the documentation, the cargo, the truck, the trailer, and more things you must be aware of and check and inspect before leaving on a trip.
- Stay calm and in control
Drivers must be experts in staying calm and in control, which is linked to patience; calm and control will help you better handle unexpected emergencies that may arise during the tour.
- Drive at a comfortable pace
High speeds can be a risk to your life, the lives of others, or even your business, so you should always drive at a safe speed, considering the load you are transporting.
Always respect the speed limits posted on the roads or highways and even if you feel like an expert in driving or see the road alone, do not trust yourself, drive consciously.
- Respect the signs
Respecting the signs will make you have a safe driving or even save your life; you have to know very well the types of signs that exist and differentiate when they are prohibitive, preventive, or informative.
These help us to know the prohibited actions, others help us be alert, and others inform us about specific aspects of the road.
- Pay attention to what surrounds you
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced trucker, you should always be aware of your surroundings and keep your senses alert. Many things happen on the roads that you should be aware of. It can be from a simple animal crossing the street or an accident that happens meters away from your truck.
You can achieve this if you are rested, eat well, and are 100% attentive to your route. Avoid distractions such as the cell phone.
- Keep a safe distance
Remember that if you are a beginner trucker, the best choice will always be to keep a safe distance from other cars or trucks on the road, especially if you find yourself in the winter season when the roads become uncertain due to black ice.
Quick suggestions:
- Do not try to pass a vehicle that moves faster than 40 kilometers per hour.
- Do not try to pass a vehicle on hills or in curves.
- Avoid changing lanes on the highway.
- Drive the truck slower than you will drive a car.
- Avoid making unexpected stops.
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Before crossing, look left and right.
- Use the low beam.
- Always park the truck where you can see it.
Conclusion
Some of these tips or tips can be a bit obvious, but since you are a beginner trucker, you should always keep them in mind until they become part of your routine. Having an experienced driver on the side on your first trip will help a lot and would be ideal before you start riding completely alone.