If there’s a phrase that best describes our current situation, it’s “social distancing”.  It’s an easy enough concept to grasp:  by staying home and remaining at least 6 feet from others when we go out for necessities, the coronavirus won’t be able to make the jump from one person to the next, stopping the spread of the virus over time.

In practice, however, it’s not so easy.  Not everyone follows the rules and some people forget so navigating a grocery store and maintaining a 6-ft buffer is a bit like walking through a field of land mines with none of the explosions but all of the anxiety.

For essential workers, this is an all-day stress-fest.  Truck drivers are used to some solitude but during the pandemic have lost those usual welcomed times of human interactions along their routes.  Some truck stops have been forced to close their doors while others only offer drive-thru services which most trucks can’t maneuver through and won’t serve people who walk up to the drive-thru window.  Some drivers now have to pack their own foods and eat in their trucks.

Safety for drivers as well as anyone around them is most important during these difficult times.

Social Distancing Tips for Drivers

• Stay 6 feet away from everyone even in truck stops, gas stations and points of delivery.
• Use disposable gloves when you’re pumping gas and dispose of them in a garbage receptacle at the pump immediately after.
• Use debit/credit cards instead of cash.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
• Use hand sanitizer often.
• If you develop symptoms, seek assistance where you are.  Don’t try to stick it out until you’re home.
• Avoid crowds.
• Wear a mask when you’re in public places.  N95 masks are the best if you have one but they’re needed by medical staff and are in short supply in many areas so the CDC is recommending that they are left for them.  A cloth mask will do, or a bandana or scarf folded in layers.  Continue to maintain your 6-ft. distancing even when wearing a mask.
• Use your phone to communicate with customers to avoid as much face-to-face time as you can.
• Disinfect your vehicle often.  Keep disinfectant wipes in your truck so you can use them to wipe down door handles, the steering wheel, gear shift, and pay particular attention to shared items like clipboards, pens, and dollies.
• Be mindful of what you’re touching when you use a public bathroom.  Once you’ve washed your hands thoroughly, don’t touch anything else.  Use a paper towel to open the door.

More guidelines for protecting yourself during the coronavirus pandemic can be found on the CDC’s website.

By following guidelines and taking appropriate precautions, drivers can be safe and minimize their chances of getting the virus or passing it on and be more prepared in the future.

If you’re looking to start a career behind the wheel of a big rig, Trucker Search can help. Connecting truck drivers and employers is what we do.  It’s quick, it’s easy, and it can get you that dream job on the open road. Get started today at TruckerSearch.com or call us at (888)254-3712.  Stay safe!

Getting a CDL and landing that first driving job is a great accomplishment.  Driving a truck can be a rewarding and lucrative career.  As with any job, it’s a learning experience at the start, the time spent in CDL training is only the beginning of your education.  You will make mistakes.  Everyone does.  Here are some of the more common ones that you should try to avoid:

Being Too Confident

Just like with driving a car, you may understand it and know all the rules but you haven’t mastered it until you have faced nearly every situation on the road.  You must always respect the fact that you’re in control of up to 80,000 lbs. because the second you forget that, you’re in trouble.   Being too confident will cause accidents.

You Don’t Speak Up

Other drivers will be more than happy to answer your questions.  Use their knowledge.  Listen to their stories.  Learn from their mistakes so you can avoid making the same ones.

You Have High Expectations

When you first start out driving, you’re at the bottom.  You don’t get the good gigs and your pay may be less than what you’d hoped it would be.  If you hang in there and do your time, you’ll work your way up.  Being a good employee helps too.  Being polite and friendly with the dispatcher, who has your back when you break down, gives you the information you need for your current loads, and may give you a heads up on future opportunities.

Disobeying the Rules

Skipping truck inspections or not frequently checking your load to make sure it’s secure because you’re in a hurry will only cost you in the long run.  It’s potentially dangerous to you and to others who share the road and there are reasons for the rules.  The same goes for the rules of the road.  Speeding and not following other basic rules of the road, will put you and others in danger.  You have no control over the speed demon in a sports car who cuts you off and causes you to slam on your brakes.  When you’re in control of 40 tons, you have to be the grown-up on the road.

Not Controlling Your Health

Driving a truck can be an unhealthy occupation.  All that fast food and sedentary time behind the wheel contribute to the prevalence of obesity in the industry.  Both exercising and eating right on the road are challenges that take determination and usually means bringing your own food and exercise equipment on the road.

Having an Unrealistic Expectation of Road Life

Many imagine that life on the open highway is the ultimate freedom.  No boss looking over your shoulder, beautiful scenery, and nights filled with fun times with other drivers.  The reality is  strict delivery schedules, company rules, traffic, and a hefty amount of customer service obligations can put a damper on that feeling of freedom.

Sitting in the driver’s seat every day, all day, driving down the highway can be monotonous and exhausting.  Driving a truck is a great career but you have to have the right mindset.

The most important thing you can do to avoid making rookie mistakes is to remember that you are a rookie and still have more to learn if you want a successful career behind the wheel.

Trucker Search is a tool you need if you’re looking for employment opportunities in the trucking industry.  On Trucker Search’s website, you can post your résumé as well as search the large database of companies looking for drivers and job postings.  It’s a great resource for any driver starting in the trucking industry.