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4 common mistakes to avoid as a rookie truck driver

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced driver, driving a truck is a whole new game, especially with the regulations and rules on the road. Most rookie drivers tend to commit crucial mistakes in their profession’s initial days or weeks, which may set them up for severe consequences. Hence the challenging job demands dedication, a positive mindset, hard work, and commitment to achieve the desired result.

Here is a compiled list of the four common rookie truck drivers’ mistakes and how to avoid them effectively.

Disregarding the proper safety practices
Most rookie truck drivers don’t consider the importance of considering safety practices. Some of the common safety violations they made are exceeding the weight limits, driving too fast, and ignoring highway rules. Committing such mistakes will not only pave chances for severe injury to the driver and the public but may also lead to death as the worst scenario.

Therefore, make sure to follow safety-conscious habits right from the early stage of your trucking career to conserve a clear record and avoid unnecessary accidents. Some of the best approaches to keep in mind are,

Learn about the weather and road conditions before and during the travel.
Always examine the delivery docks on foot first to discover potential hazards or obstacles that cannot be used while driving the truck.
Be extra cautious while driving at night time, especially in busy areas.
Always remember the time it takes to stop or slow down the speed of the truck.
Pick a lane and stay in it as much as you can. If you want to change the lane, check the mirrors carefully and stay aware of the blind spots before moving safely.
Adhere to the load limits set by the government to ensure that cargo is positioned firmly in pace.

Ignoring physical and mental health issues
Truck driving is a demanding job, as you have to cope with the stress mechanism on your body and strain on your mind. However, most beginners tend to overexert themself, which might be detrimental. Hence, you need to be physically and mentally well-prepared for it to keep the stress from dragging you down. Remember, no amount of money will be equal to your health and life.

Physical health
Driving for a long time might take a toll on your physical health, especially when you are not appropriately rested or nourished before starting the ride.
Mental stress
Certain circumstances, like unfortunate weather or heavy traffic congestion, may lead to frustration, distraction, and anger when driving. This is not ideal for your safety.
Emotional well-being
Rookie truck drivers should be mindful of their workspace ambiance. Despite what is happening in their personal life or argument with fellow truck drivers, treat everyone with accountability, integrity, and professionalism, and maintain a healthy emotional balance.

To keep yourself in healthy shape in every aspect, know your limits and have a healthy work-life balance. Make sure to get adequate sleep, exercise regularly, maintain personal hygiene, eat right, and take care of your mind through effective stress management. Consider your health as the priority to set yourself up for a seamless journey.

Being too confident
Truck drivers who are overconfident and have a know-it-all attitude tend to commit more complicated mistakes and get involved in big mishaps, putting themselves and the public in danger.

Though it is important to be confident of your skill set, it is also crucial to acknowledge that it might take several months to master them.
You will be constantly exposed to plenty of opportunities to learn new things as you navigate your job in the first few months.
Don’t turn down the advice or guidance from peers or trainers to grow as a proactive professional.
It will also help you to spend time with other professionals, where you can network and build relationships with them.
In a nutshell, instead of being overconfident and know-it-all, make sure to stay humble and complete the tasks in a safe and timely way.

Having unrealistic expectations
Starting your career as a truck driver is a reward option. However, it can be challenging, as most people think. Being away from your home and family can be difficult when battling homesickness.

This will make the drivers compromise their safety and drive them to have unrealistic expectations of other people. Keep in mind that truck driving isn’t smooth sailing, as you have to encounter unexpected challenges anytime and anywhere.
Moreover, it is a dynamic work environment where you, as a professional, have to be flexible while adapting to the ever-evolving circumstances. Be it weather or traffic problems, make sure to deal with them with patience throughout your career.
You also have to learn to go with the flow while staying positive and not allowing these aspects to stress you out.
Instead of romanticizing the truck driving profession, you can survive the sphere and navigate the challenges when willing to adapt, learn and evolve.
Driving the truck on the road, day and night, is a challenging job. While making common mistakes becomes inevitable for beginner rookie truck drivers, you just need to focus on the driving and goal for the day.
However, you should be aware of those mistakes to prevent any occurrence of bigger problems down the road.

Implement every skill and knowledge you might learn from the training to avoid making common mistakes. Do your job with enthusiasm without compromising your health and safety. This way, you can familiarize yourself with every aspect as a rookie truck driver and take your career to new heights. Ignoring them may land yourself in trouble.

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