Avoid These 4 Rookie Truck Driver Mistakes

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rookie truck driver mistakes

Job growth among heavy truck drivers and tractor-trailer drivers is expected to grow by 21 percent by 2020 compared with 2010. As more people are looking toward truck driving as a prospective new career, it’s easy to forget some of the challenges and rookie truck driver mistakes.

Experienced truck drivers have been there and seen it all, especially if they’ve worked in the industry for 10+ years. Beginner truck drivers are more likely to make some rookie mistakes which could make their work slightly more difficult. You can avoid some of the common mistakes new truck drivers make by keeping in mind some of these helpful tips.

1. Have Clear Expectations About Life on the Road

Driving is a stressful job. The hours are long, the lifestyle can be tough, and it takes a toll on the body. One of the biggest impacts on lifestyle truck drivers often find is that they aren’t spending enough time with family. Despite this, truck drivers find that the many benefits outweigh these costs. They are happy with the job and find a way to manage the difficulties.

Experienced truck drivers will tell you that if you don’t make work-life balance a priority, it won’t happen. Spending time with family is one of the biggest factors which truck drivers consider while looking for an employer. Make sure you find one that doesn’t compromise the home life.

Health can also suffer since truck drivers often don’t find time to exercise, eat well, or rest enough. Company and federal regulations require rest breaks for all truck drivers, but also make sure you are getting your own personal quota of rest breaks in. Eating healthy food options can seem like a challenge but it is worth in the long-run. Do some research on how to get simple and healthy snacks or find the best places to stop for a meal that won’t break the bank or the waistline.

Drive My Way can help match you to companies that can help make family time a priority.

2. Know Your Value and Worth

A common rookie truck driver mistake is not knowing exactly how much they should be making and can be making. Sometimes companies will give overly optimistic promises of how much drivers can be making and that expectation does not match reality. Other times, drivers highly underestimate how much money they should be making and the perks and benefits they should also receive.

Make sure to do your research and talk to more experienced truck drivers. Consider asking them the following questions:

  • Which companies offer the best perks and salaries?
  • How many years until you can expect a significant promotion and pay raise?

Look into competitors and industry standard practices. Make sure you pick a company that values the same things that you value, whether it’s salary and benefits, schedule of hours, rest time, amenities, or something else.

Drive My Way can match you to companies which will be a good fit for your priorities and lifestyle.

3. Get to Know the Road

Okay, so you’re certified, and of course you know how to drive a truck properly, right? Experienced truck drivers will tell you that its more complicated than that. There are things that years on the road will teach you that training and certification simply won’t cover.

You don’t have a lot of experience yet, so try not to get too comfortable. These massive vehicles take some getting used to when driving in high-pressure situations like traffic or construction zones. For example, rookies miss road signs and truck speed limit signs more often than you’d think.

Similarly, how to pass properly seems like a no-brainer, but it can be tricky if there are too many cars eager to get further ahead on the road. While you don’t want to seem like a bully on the highway, you also want to make sure that you’re able to carry out your route properly and on schedule. The key is remaining calm and building comfort, while not becoming overconfident.

Remember that local directions may differ from planned routes, so pay attention and adjust your route when needed. Stay in contact with the dispatcher and keep them in the loop so they can help you. You may think you don’t need any backup, but if you get stuck in the wrong location and behind on your route, you’ll be kicking yourself for not asking sooner.

When in doubt, look to more experienced truck drivers to avoid new truck driver mistakes while behind the wheel.

4. Have a Positive Relationship with Management

Along with navigating the road, you’ll have to navigate the relationship with your employer. Many truck drivers believe that their relationship with the company can be filled with unnecessary stress and miscommunication. Take the time to make sure you are having a friendly but professional relationship with management, to the best of your control.

The most important contact would be the dispatcher. Having a good relationship with the dispatchers can make the difference between a successful route without any problems and a route with no support or backup if things go wrong. Make sure you’ve gotten clear route, map, and instructions from the company, and check-in with dispatch at the first sign of trouble.

Again, plan your route ahead of time: you don’t want to be stuck in Milwaukee in the middle of rush hour because you missed the turn 20 minutes ago. When interacting with management, make sure to remain organized as you document everything and follow proper guidelines. Filling out the right paperwork may seem like a hassle in the moment but will save you time and energy in the long-run.

Try to follow company policies and regulations on safe driving, rest breaks, being on schedule etc., but at the same time, make sure the company isn’t taking you for a ride or making you compromise on your values and goals. If things are not working out with your current company, Drive My Way can help match you with companies which will be a better fit for your needs.

With these helpful tips in mind you can avoid rookie truck driver mistakes and feel confident and in control as you start off a new career.

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Driver Highlight: Eddie Dalzell, Retired Dupre Truck Driver

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Edward “Eddie” Dalzell talked his way into his first truck driving job at age 19 in Massachusetts.

3 million accident-free miles and almost 50 years later, Eddie’s now retired from truck driving but still logging miles on foot as a hiker and lead CSR for Penske in San Antonio.

truck driver

As he tells the story, he got his first truck driving job through good old-fashioned persistence. And telling a little bit of a lie.

“The company I was working for went out of business. There were no other jobs around. The car I had ran out of gas, I had no money. So, I walked 3 miles down the road to a place that was supposedly hiring truck drivers. I had no clue how to drive a truck. I kept going back day after day until they finally hired me!”

From there, he had a friend teach him how to drive a truck.

Once he got his start with that first job in Massachusetts, Eddie moved south after a few years. There he got his first job as a tanker truck driver. He spent the next few decades with various jobs between Texas and Louisiana, driving tankers between refineries and operating other heavy equipment. He mentions that some of those were dangerous jobs, and that thankfully he got lucky a few times.

Living and working near the Gulf of Mexico, he saw his share of hurricanes and severe weather.

The memory of those storms still stand out to Eddie. “Dodging hurricanes, wasn’t fun. Everyone else was leaving, but we’d be heading into the storms with the plywood to help. Last hurricane I drove 27 hours straight because of all the road closures to get around it. Had to get right back up in 5 hours to go back into it.”

When asked about his time as a truck driver at Dupre Logistics, he said that they were big on safety, and provided great training.

dupre-logistics

He also fondly recalls having a great boss who became a life-long friend to this day.

“At Dupre, Leadership was very good. We had good drivers. We could laugh and have fun.  They are VERY fair. They also gave a nice safety bonus every 3 months which was nice”.

That bonus came with a safety meeting at a great local steakhouse. Eddie mentioned he never missed a bonus, or the steak dinners. Working for Dupre, he said that integrity was important.

“There’s lots of competition out there but the jobs kept coming back to us because they liked what we were doing.”

Over the years, he also spent time as a driving instructor and unofficial career and life coach.

“Taught people how to drive standard trucks. I enjoyed that. I also told students to follow your dreams. Listen to Mr. Eddie: Don’t do something you hate, you’ll be miserable your whole life.”

Now retired from driving, Eddie spends his days working as a hiker and lead Customer Service Representative for Penske.

truck driver

He says he logs over 52 miles a week on foot, 20,000 steps, walking around the facility. Quite a change from all of the hours and miles behind the wheel!

Eddie, 68, has a wife, 6 children and 10 grandkids. In his free time, he enjoys living close to 3 of those grandkids.

“I get to see them all the time. Grandma loves to keep them on the weekends – gives their moms a break”. He also enjoys fishing and keeping fit and active.

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DRIVER HIGHLIGHT: Tiffany Adams with West Coast Transport

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DRIVER-HIGHLIGHT-TIFFANY-ADAMS-WITH-WEST-COAST-TRANSPORT

For Tiffany Adams, being a truck driver runs in the family. “My dad was a truck driver, so it’s in the family blood”. Though she tried a few things prior to getting into the trucking business officially, since age 21, “trucking was the only way to go” for her.

Tiffany’s favorite route to drive is “I-24 going through Kentucky.

It’s the most beautiful run anyone could ever do.” The summertime bluegrass lined roads all around Paducah are her favorite.  She recommends a stop at Patti’s Settlement 1880’s restaurant if you’re in the neighborhood. A stop at Patti’s “definitely should be on your to-do list if you’re in the area”.

After a normal day of 10-11 hours, she mentions a struggle that she’s advocating for: MORE PARKING.


“The daily struggles today we have is parking. Parking is so limited to the truck stops that we have across the nation, it’s becoming more and more difficult to find parking after 5 pm. And it’s just getting worse. It’s getting to the point you can’t find parking, and you need to drive 20+ miles out of your route just to find a place park”.

She hopes that in the future there’s expanded parking available at truck stops and rest stops around the country.

Tiffany drives with her husband Weston.

You can find them passing the time “listening to a lot of country music while we’re riding down the highway”.

When they’re not out on the road or getting ready for their next long-haul, they enjoy spending time playing with their horses, their family and hanging out with friends. “We love what we do we provide for our states, building supplies, rail road supplies, your every day needs”.

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Know Your Rights When Driving in Severe Weather

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The weather is a popular topic of discussion any time of the year.  But this time of year it seems to be nearly constant headline news.  All drivers must prepare for the day’s road conditions.  Sometimes that preparation leads to making the call to not drive at all.

But for truck drivers who NEED to drive to make their living, where is the line drawn for being able to safely navigate the roads?  Do you know your rights when making the call that it’s just not safe for driving in severe weather?

In a conversation with Overdrive.com, attorney Paul Taylor discusses common questions about driving in severe weather.  He details your rights as a driver to protect yourself and your job.  The key is knowing your rights, having good communications with your dispatcher and keeping proper documentation when the situation arises.

As the article states: “Under the employee protection provision of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, you have the right to refuse to operate a commercial vehicle if it would be unsafe to drive. U.S. Department of Transportation regulations state that “if conditions become sufficiently dangerous, the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued and shall not be resumed” until it’s safe to drive.”

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Driver Highlight: Lonnie Bledsoe with Foodliner, Inc.

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Though no one in his family was a trucker before him, over-the-road driver Lonnie Bledsoe of Lafayette, IN felt a call to the profession from a young age.

Lonnie had always wanted to travel and see the country, and felt that back in the day, truckers made good money. At 21-years old, he made the decision to pursue a career in trucking. As the years have passed, Lonnie simply can’t say enough good things about his position.

Before moving to his current job at Foodliner, Lonnie drove for Con-way Freight, acting as an auctioneer on the side. When the company closed its doors, Lonnie took an early retirement and spent much of his time coon hunting with his friends and dogs. “My buddy and I, we hunted every night together [for] almost 90 nights straight. We killed 396 ‘coons,” Lonnie boasted.

foodlinerBut even though he enjoyed his hobby immensely, he recognized that he couldn’t make a living off of it. A couple of years later, a friend of Lonnie’s reached out to him to let him know about an opening at Foodliner.”

He said it was the best job he’d ever had,” Lonnie explained. Lonnie put in an application, was hired immediately. Eight years later, he says he’s never been happier. “I know there are a thousand jobs out there. I’m thankful I’ve got this one,” he said.

One of Lonnie’s favorite parts of working for Foodliner is the relationship he shares with his dispatcher.

“I’ll say it now, and I’ll say it again,” Lonnie explained. “I feel that I have the best dispatcher in the world, bar none. Not everybody can tell you that.” After he was released from Foodliner’s training, the dispatcher was the first person Lonnie spoke to. The communication between the two has always been open and honest, and Lonnie says it’s one of the best parts about his job. “I just tell my dispatcher to run me, that’s all I’ve got to say.”

foodliner-trucking-jobs

Image via Lonnie Bledsoe

When asked about his favorite part of the country to drive through, Lonnie sighed and said he prefers to drive out west. “You know you get into Idaho, you get into Oregon, Wyoming. I guess the reason I say that is because you get to see bears and moose, big game animals.”

Lonnie, who has a daughter, 39, and a son, 32, admits that he and his family have gone through a lot to support his trucking career. “I’ve sacrificed my family, but I’m not crying about it. My wife’s okay with it — I’ve got forty years with her. The kids are okay with it, too,” Lonnie remarked. He feels fortunate to say that he is still close with both of his children. Although his son lives about sixty miles away from him, his daughter lives right around the corner.

Looking back, Lonnie said that he’s very happy with his job at Foodliner.

“I really don’t call this a job,” Lonnie said. “I absolutely love it.”

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Winter Driving Tips for the Careful Trucker

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Winter is coming, and truckers are beginning to notice the effects of the weather on the roads. What were once long stretches of asphalt are now covered in ice and snow across many of the northern states. Any smart trucker is always prepared, especially when hitting rougher conditions.

In order to stay safe this winter, we’ve compiled some go-to tips to make sure that your wheels stay on the road.

  1. Use your best judgement. If weather becomes so severe that you can’t see out of your front windshield, take it to the side and wait out the storm. But don’t just stop on the side of the road! Find either a truck stop or a safe place to park to wait for the weather to clear.
  2. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.Don’t just follow the headlights in front of you. Leave plenty of room between you and the next car or truck in front of you should you hit a patch of ice.
  3. Double check your systems during your circle check.Before you leave, make sure your defroster and windshield wipers are working properly. Your tail lights, as always, should be clean, your tires and brakes should be unfrozen, and your mirrors should all be wiped clean. If they can’t see you, you can’t see them. Though simple, some drivers might forget this significant step.
  4. Don’t use the jack brake on icy roads.Never brake with an empty unit, as this may increase your chance of spinning off the road. Also try to avoid braking unless the entire unit is driving straight down the road.
  5.   Your winter safety kit.Along with the mandated safety kit, carry a bag of kitty litter with you. Throwing some of this onto your tires is a safe way to get that extra bit of traction in the snow and ice. A hammer and putty knife can help you deal with frozen air tanks. And don’t forget an extra blanket!

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Mack Donates Anthem Truck for Veteran Outreach

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Mack Donates Anthem Truck to the American Trucking Association (ATA) to assist in their veteran recruitment efforts.

The cab, wrapped top to bottom in camouflage, attracts veterans to look at careers in the trucking industry. In addition, recruiting events at military bases, schools, and career fairs feature the truck.

Recently, in a press release, ATA President and CEO Chris Spear spoke on behalf of Mack’s latest donation.

“ATA is thrilled that Mack Trucks has again stepped up on behalf of our industry. This new Mack Anthem demonstrates the thousands of great trucking jobs available to military veterans,” he stated. “As a military dad, this partnership demonstrates how industries showcase themselves to individuals who served the nation. Lastly, I thank Mack Trucks for giving us the opportunity to expand our efforts on this issue.”

Image via Mack Trucks

In addition, the Mack Anthem offers excellent safety features and incredible comfort, making it the ideal cab for any driver.

Also, “It’s equipped with a Mack MP®8HE-415SE engine with 415 horsepower and 1,660 lb.-ft. of torque and Mack mDRIVE™ automated manual transmission.” Therefore, drivers focus on the road ahead instead of constantly shifting gears.

Also, along with efforts throughout the trucking industry, studies show that vets assist in solving the driver shortage.

“Mack proudly demonstrates our support of veterans through this donation. We look forward to working with ATA to shine a light on trucking opportunities,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of North American Sales and Marketing. “Overall, trucking offers a great career option, especially for veterans, many of whom have experience driving large trucks.”

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Illinois Trucking School Boasts 2,000+ Trucking Students

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Illinois Trucking School

Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) trained over 2,000 student CDL truck drivers.

Image result for ivcc illinois

Image via IVCC

Since the program’s inception in 2000, each student received their CDL license, all endorsements, and other skills, including logging, backing, and maneuvering. In addition, the program’s administrative assistant, Mary Beth Liss, stated in a press release that many students come to them without even knowing how to drive a manual transition. “Our instructors are happy to teach them,” Liss said.

Also, Bruce Hartman, the program’s coordinator, says that the program educates the public on the misconceptions of trucker life.

“People also think if they get their CDL, they may have to travel and be gone from home for long periods of time. This is incorrect as we have many local jobs,” Hartman said. “In fact, we currently have information on over 20 local jobs and about 50 regional and over-the-road jobs.”

Veterans have also been taking full advantage of this program. According to current program students, the Illinois Veterans Grant or Post 911 benefits left them with only $237 of their tuition left to pay.

IVCC offers both day and night school each semester for this 160-hour program. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, but no prior driving experience is required.

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Trucking Industry Raises $80,000 for Wreaths Across America Veterans

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Wreaths Across America donations support drivers who volunteer trucks to deliver wreaths for veterans’ tombstones.

Wreaths Across America Veterans

Image via Overdrive

The Truckload Carriers Association hosted its annual gala to raise money for truckers who haul wreaths for Wreaths Across America. Each December, the WAA provides thousands of wreaths for veteran tombstones at more than 1,400 cemeteries.

More than 230 trucking industry executives, suppliers, and families gathered to raise the money. In addition, National Association of Independent Truckers and IAT Insurance Group donated the biggest donation of $50,000. Pilot Flying J and Freightliner co-sponsored the event, along with TravelCenters of America, Petro, Randall Reilly, and DriverFacts.

The majority of donations go towards drivers’ fuel costs. WAA representative Debbie Sparks told Overdrive, “Our reliance on independent truck owner-operators cannot be understated when talking about the success of National Wreaths Across America Day.”

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UPS To Hire 100,000 Drivers For Holidays

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Hire 100,000 Drivers

The United Parcel Service (UPS) is set to hire 100,000 drivers for the upcoming holiday season.

In a press release issued this past month, UPS stated they seek temporary employees and will hire 100,000 drivers for the vital holiday season. In past years, the company shipped over 750 million packages between the months of November and December. According to CNBC, UPS seeks 5.3% more drivers this year to keep up with increased shipping demands.

Hire 100,000 Drivers

Image via Fox 6 Now

“Over the last three years, 35 percent of the people UPS hired for seasonal package handler jobs transitioned into a permanent position,” UPS stated.

“The full- and part-time seasonal positions, primarily package handlers, drivers and driver-helpers, serve as an entry point for permanent employment. Furthermore, many senior UPS executives, including Chief Executive Officer David Abney and others on the senior leadership team, started their UPS careers as part-time employees.”

Above all, as UPS prepares to hire 100,000 drivers, they boast fair pay and excellent healthcare benefits. In addition, UPS offers retirement plans, as well as tuition towards their Earn and Learn college program.

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