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5 Tips for Summer Trucking

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The official first day of summer is just around the corner, but in many places across the country, the season is already in full swing. Although you won’t be encountering any more icy roads or freezing nights, summer brings different challenges that can affect any trucker. Heavy traffic, large construction projects, and extreme weather can add time to your routes and impact deliveries. Keep reading to find out 5 summer trucking tips to make your travel safe and easy this season.  

  1. Extra Traffic

With the kids out of school, many families pack up their cars, campers, trailers, and RVs and hit the road on annual family vacations. Driving cross country with overly-packed vehicles, and cars hauling extra gear in tow, adds to the congestion on the roads. Keep alert for out of state license plates and under-experienced drivers who might be hauling a trailer or camper for the first time.   

Plan ahead for these extra drivers by budgeting in more time on the road, or by rerouting yourself away from tourist hotspots all together to keep your deliveries on track.  

  1. Construction 

In some areas, summertime is also known as “major road construction” time. Prepare for road closures and traffic jams due to construction by double-checking routes for construction delays and planning alternate paths when possible. Looking ahead can save you time and money.  

Watch out for “Construction Zone” signs and workers alongside the road. Violations in work zones can result in big fines, so keep an eye on your speed and be extra cautious this time of year.  

  1. Extreme Weather

Summer doesn’t just mean hotter temperatures. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes are all more likely during the summer, on top of extreme heat. These conditions can be dangerous and impede your deliveries if you’re caught off guard.  

Make sure you’ve got a good weather app, and that notifications are set for when weather conditions are changing. If you need to pull off somewhere unexpectedly, be prepared. Waiting out a storm is a lot easier when you’ve got extra water and supplies in your truck.  

  1. Sun Protection

Although it’s good practice to wear sunscreen year round, UV rays are the most potent during summer months. Even when it’s cloudy, you can still get a serious burn! Being in the sun all day can have a significant impact on your health, and sunscreen is an easy solution.  

Make it a habit to put on a good layer of SPF  before you get in the driver’s seat each day. Try to wear long sleeves, sunglasses, and a hat. Your skin will thank you later!  

  1. Take Frequent Breaks

A five minute break could be the one thing between your truck and a costly accident. The heat of the summer months makes it especially important to schedule yourself time to pull off and rehydrate, stretch, or just rest your eyes.  

 

It can be tempting to push through and complete your deliveries as fast as possible, but the benefits of a short break outweigh any time saved. With an increase of drivers on the road, extreme weather conditions, and changing traffic patterns, trucking in the summer is no joke!  

 

3 Things Every Truck Driver Will Learn in Their First Year

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Choosing a career as a truck driver is an important decision that will impact your life, as well as your friends and family. It is a unique job in that every day will look different depending on the weather, road conditions, the road you’re traveling, and the type of cargo you are hauling. Trucking is an honest day’s work, but will require a game plan when it comes to how you will eat, live, and exercise, while making hauls. While truck driving is a rewarding opportunity, every first year truck driver makes several adjustments to life on the road. At Drive My Way, we provide trucking tips to help potential, and new drivers, understand what a career in truck driving will look like, especially in the first year.  

What Does Trucking Driving Look Like in the First Year? 

Adjusting to a new career is always tough for the first year and trucking is no exception. With trucking, you will want to determine if you’re going to work for yourself as an owner/operator or become a company truck driver. From here, you will have to learn the financial, emotional, and physical implications of driving a truck. Some of our favorite trucking tips for new truck drivers include:
 

  1. The More You Drive, the Better You Will Become: Practice makes perfect when it comes to any skill, including driving a truck. As a first year truck driver, you will become accustomed to the truck you are driving, driving in different weather conditions, and the differences between city and highway truck driving. As you accumulate seat time, you will feel more confident in the role and your ability to make sound decisions quickly.  
  1. Do Not Be Afraid of Hard Work: Chances are if you found yourself pursuing a career as a truck driver you have a tough skin and aren’t scared of a hard day’s work. Trucking can take a toll on your health and well-being, so it’s always important to get good rest, have a strong support system, and prepare yourself for different situations that can arise. While the work is hard, a career in trucking can be a wonderful experience and a solid income.  
  1. Stay Flexible; Trucking is a Moving Target: Trucking has always been a field that fluctuates depending on demand, fuel prices, and the economic climate. This has become even more apparent since COVID first surfaced. As a truck driver, you must not only keep up with the demands of the job, but also stay in the know about changes that may arise. By remaining flexible to different opportunities, staffing changes, and other unforeseen events, you will set yourself up for the most success possible.
     

Being a first year truck driver is an experience full of new possibilities and challenges. If you are dedicated to your work though, truck driving can become a very rewarding career. If you are newly licensed, or just gathering more information about truck driving, consider Drive My Way as the best place to find jobs in the trucking industry online. We offer trucking tips, a job portal, and ongoing resources for drivers and employers alike. We look forward to helping you steer into the right trucking position for you.