Starting your career as a driver can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re hitting the road for the very first time or switching gears to driving transfer trucks, we’ve gathered up 10 essential tips to help you navigate the highways of the field!

Read on and let’s gear up for a successful journey ahead.

Learn your truck

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again, your truck is your world when you’re on the road. Not only does it get you from point A to B, but it also houses you for the time you’re away from home.

All vehicles come with an owner’s manual for a reason. Don’t toss it away like you’d toss an instruction booklet to a coffee table you got off Amazon. Take the time to read it and fully understand what your truck is capable of. It’ll help you be a better, safer driver in the end.

Remember: It’s your license

Besides your truck, your CDL is incredibly important. How else would you be here? With that in mind, always remember that your CDL is yours. It has your name on it. It’s your responsibility.

No one can convince you to do something unsafe or against the rules because no one else has the chance to lose the CDL that was issued to you.

G.O.A.L

G.O.A.L can be seen on most trucks and for good reason! If you’re ever unsure when backing up, Get Out and Look or ask for ground assistance. There is no such thing as being “overly cautious” when you’re driving an 80,000-pound vehicle.

According to the National Safety Council, 1 out of 4 vehicle accidents can be attributed to poor backing techniques. Backing accidents cause 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries per year.

Read your signs

As a new driver, you can expect to end up in places you’ve never been before. Starting a new job comes with a lot of nerves, but those are heightened when you’re in unfamiliar territory.

Stay alert and always pay attention to the signs on the road. They can help you better understand the lay of the land, plus allow you to better communicate an ETA with your dispatch crew.

Don’t ignore low clearance warnings

This one was so important that we couldn’t just merge it with the previous tip. While they do classify as road signs, low clearance warnings are their own level of importance.

No one wants to lose the top of their truck and end up on a local news Facebook page with hundreds of people laughing at your mistake. Always take low clearance warnings seriously. They are there for a reason.

If you happen to run into a warning on your route, safely find a way around it. If it’s too late to change your course, call local law enforcement. They would much rather guide you back to a safer route than deal with a damaged bridge or overhead pass.

Don’t rush

Meeting your deadline is important, absolutely. However, the safety of yourself and others on the road is, arguably, of utmost importance. Be respectful of your customer’s expectations, but don’t rush yourself to the point where an accident could occur because you were not careful.

Having a reputation as a driver who delivers loads safely is much more impactful than being known as the driver who arrives on time, but with injury to you or your load.

Don’t take road behavior personally

Traffic is a place where most people lose their cool. We all have stories about “road rage,” whether it came from us or happened to us.

Never take it personally. You never know what’s going on in someone else’s car, where they’re headed or what their week has been like before that moment. Remain focused on yourself and let it all roll off your shoulders!

Sign up for rewards programs

You might not think this is as important as the “learn your truck” tip, but after your fifth cup of gas station coffee, you’ll wish you took this one seriously! Always sign up for a rewards program at the gas stations you’ll frequent on the road.

After a while, you’ll be able to cash in points for free food items and beverages, plus a lot of them have birthday rewards. It takes less than a minute to get signed up, and we guarantee you’ll be happy that you did.

Be kind to your fellow drivers

Always be courteous and respectful towards your fellow drivers, whether they’re your coworker or not.

Building camaraderie with fellow drivers helps ease some of the loneliness you’ll experience on the road, and you can gain a lot of valuable knowledge from more seasoned drivers. They’ll be able to offer you tips, advice and answer any questions you may have.

Besides all of that, it’s always cool to be kind.

Be kind to yourself

Practicing kindness towards ourselves is crucial to our overall well-being.

Adopt and embrace self-care routines to combat the challenges of long hours and isolation. Prioritize regular breaks, nourishing meals and getting enough rest.

Remember that it’s okay to ask for help when needed. Your Storey family is here for you, and we completely understand the challenges you may face, especially as a new driver. Give yourself some grace and never be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help.

If you’re looking to shift careers and join the Storey family, apply here!

10 Tips for New Drivers