Whether you are looking to hire/recruit good truck drivers for your business or working to equip yourself with qualities of a fine driver so as to see a rewarding career in the trucking industry, here are some sensible tips. Have a go through to nod.
CDL (Commercial Driver License)
This is the admission badge for wheeling into the professional world of trucking. If a person has CDL, it means that he/she already has the basic knowledge and skills for a life on roads. All CDL applicants should pass written and on road tests before becoming CDL holders.
Know-how of basic truck mechanics
A driver isn't responsible for the repair and maintenance of the trucks, agreed. But, a truck can suddenly stop working when there is only the driver left to its rescue. So, to manage a safe drive to the nearest repair station or fix the basic things and see if it works, a truck driver should learn up the basics of truck mechanics like changing tires, connecting/disconnecting tractors or deal with diesel engines at a basic level.
Responsibility & Alertness
Driving practices in accordance with traffic laws, carrying attitudes that comfort people who interact be it policemen or customers, courteous compliance to safety rules, predicting dangerous situations and strategizing applicable techniques, being punctual at work as well as in delivering goods etc. are all characteristics that make up for an alert responsible driver. If you can think of more in the same lines, well then share to educate us too.
Competency to work independently
Implementing the responsibilities during long-hauls under different conditions of the climate, roads and vehicle, a good driver should be able to make his delivery on time and in good condition independently. Now this requires the driver to have skills to work independently under limited or no help.
Customer Service & Stress Management skills
Clients can ship or receive goods. Drivers dealing with either of them should do so with the right customer attitude with balanced courteousness. Customer service skills include proper etiquette, presentable mannerisms, good communication skills, personal hygiene maintenance, good conduct etc. Stress is an indispensable part of a truck driver's life as he has to deal with timely goods delivery and people throughout. For any person who knows how to manage such stress touch points skillfully, there is no stress at all.
Physical Stamina
The heavy trucks a driver drives might not feel heavy while starting to drive due to the technologies that drive it from the inside. So, little stamina would do to move it a few miles. But in the long run, for performing stuff like loading/unloading freight, driving the heavy trucks for long hours together, shouldering resulting family burdens etc needs enough physical stamina to cope up with. Mental stamina is already an essential part of whatever comes in the way of truck driving experience.
A driver complying with all the above, should already be having an impeccable driving record as a credit to his career. All this helps ensure that the truck he/she is driving meets the required safety standards at all times. And, an owner operator recruiting/hiring trucks, should ensure that he/she files form 2290 and pays applicable HVUT due amounts to the IRS each year for all owned heavy vehicles weighing 50, 000 pounds or more. Only then can the owner drive the vehicles through appointed truck drivers on highways legally!
CDL (Commercial Driver License)
This is the admission badge for wheeling into the professional world of trucking. If a person has CDL, it means that he/she already has the basic knowledge and skills for a life on roads. All CDL applicants should pass written and on road tests before becoming CDL holders.
Know-how of basic truck mechanics
A driver isn't responsible for the repair and maintenance of the trucks, agreed. But, a truck can suddenly stop working when there is only the driver left to its rescue. So, to manage a safe drive to the nearest repair station or fix the basic things and see if it works, a truck driver should learn up the basics of truck mechanics like changing tires, connecting/disconnecting tractors or deal with diesel engines at a basic level.
Responsibility & Alertness
Driving practices in accordance with traffic laws, carrying attitudes that comfort people who interact be it policemen or customers, courteous compliance to safety rules, predicting dangerous situations and strategizing applicable techniques, being punctual at work as well as in delivering goods etc. are all characteristics that make up for an alert responsible driver. If you can think of more in the same lines, well then share to educate us too.
Competency to work independently
Implementing the responsibilities during long-hauls under different conditions of the climate, roads and vehicle, a good driver should be able to make his delivery on time and in good condition independently. Now this requires the driver to have skills to work independently under limited or no help.
Customer Service & Stress Management skills
Clients can ship or receive goods. Drivers dealing with either of them should do so with the right customer attitude with balanced courteousness. Customer service skills include proper etiquette, presentable mannerisms, good communication skills, personal hygiene maintenance, good conduct etc. Stress is an indispensable part of a truck driver's life as he has to deal with timely goods delivery and people throughout. For any person who knows how to manage such stress touch points skillfully, there is no stress at all.
Physical Stamina
The heavy trucks a driver drives might not feel heavy while starting to drive due to the technologies that drive it from the inside. So, little stamina would do to move it a few miles. But in the long run, for performing stuff like loading/unloading freight, driving the heavy trucks for long hours together, shouldering resulting family burdens etc needs enough physical stamina to cope up with. Mental stamina is already an essential part of whatever comes in the way of truck driving experience.
A driver complying with all the above, should already be having an impeccable driving record as a credit to his career. All this helps ensure that the truck he/she is driving meets the required safety standards at all times. And, an owner operator recruiting/hiring trucks, should ensure that he/she files form 2290 and pays applicable HVUT due amounts to the IRS each year for all owned heavy vehicles weighing 50, 000 pounds or more. Only then can the owner drive the vehicles through appointed truck drivers on highways legally!
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