4 Qualities of an Excellent Truck Driver
If you want to be excellent at your job, you will need more than just a basic knowledge of what is required.
Being a competent truck driver requires a certain level of education and skill. If you want to be excellent at your job, you will need more than just a basic knowledge of what is required. Trucking is constantly growing and evolving and the best drivers know how to keep up!
Master of Multiple Skills
As a truck driver, your primary objective is to pick up freight and haul it from point A to point B in a timely fashion. However, there are some other skills you will also need on the job.
- Driving and operating large trucks
- Neatly record driving time and miles
- Time management
- Know and follow all DOT rules and regulations
Planning
One of the most valuable skills to have as a truck driver is the ability to plan ahead. When you’re out on a multi-day trip, you will need to be prepared for all kinds of situations: traffic and weather being two of the biggest variables. You need to plan for rest, sleep, and meal times, as well as avoiding certain areas during peak traffic times. Give yourself lots of leeway as well. You never know what is going to happen, so when in doubt, leave early. It’s much better to get to your destination early and have to wait on a client than it is to have a frustrated client waiting for you.
Good Communication
It is also important that you know how to communicate. The only person who truly knows what’s going on in your truck is you, and you will need to communicate with your dispatchers and your clients so that they know what’s going on as well. If you’re running ahead of schedule, get in touch with your client and see if they can take delivery early. Stuck in a nasty traffic jam? Make sure dispatch and the client are informed of the situation, whatever it may be.
Patience
When you’re getting ready for a long haul, you pack clothing, shoes, toiletries, and all the other essentials. One other extremely important item you should never leave without is your patience. Traffic and delays can be frustrating. Clients aren’t always super easy to deal with. A good truck driver knows how to be patient and go with the flow.
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Need to repair your truck or bus? Contact Middleton & Meads today! Middleton & Meads provides quality truck and bus repair, service, and fleet management for the Baltimore, MD area. We have over 90 years of experience in the trucking industry and will provide you with customer service like you have never experienced before! If you are interested in seeing how we can help your business, give us a call at (410) 752-5588 or visit us online today! For more articles and trucking tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and LinkedIn.
