So, you’ve decided to try to break into the trucking industry. Or, maybe you’ve already landed a job and you’re working steadily. Regardless of where you are in your career, you can always benefit from some helpful tips and tricks to get you to a higher place in your job satisfaction. Read on to learn about 3 helpful tips for improving your life and career as a truck driver.
Take Care of Yourself
One of the biggest adjustments to life on the road is learning how to truly take care of yourself. This is true for your for both your physical well-being as well as your mental health.
Most jobs, regardless of where you are in your career, will offer you 10 hours of downtime in between shifts of driving. You need to figure out how to use this precious time in order to get necessary chores done, while still taking the time to maintain your health as well.
For instance, this is the time you’ll need to take care of laundry and get groceries. However, you should also use this time to get at least 7 hours of sleep. You could also call friends and family back home to keep your mental health in good spirits. Furthermore, be sure to eat well-balanced and nutritious meals.
Learn How to Deal with Stress
Any trucker will tell a newbie to the industry that, unfortunately, stress is just part of the job. Sometimes, traffic is way worse than you expected. Or, maybe you can’t find an open rest stop to take your downtime in.
It’s best to take the time to come up with helpful coping mechanisms for stress ahead of time. Deep breathing exercises, calming music, even chewing gum…find a quick and healthy solution that works for you, and stick to it while on the job.
Communicate Well
It may seem like you’ll have tons of freedom on the open road. The reality is that you’ll need to communicate with lots of people, consistently. Your employer, your customers, other drivers, etc. Be prepared to know what information you need ahead of time.
Comment below if you have any other tips worth sharing!