TO-MAY-TO, TO-MAH-TO, tornado! The word for tornado likely comes from two Spanish words, one meaning ‘to thunder’ and the other ‘to turn.’ That seems like an accurate description for the whirling storm clouds. Tornadoes are quite common in the Central United States. There is even a specific season and an aptly named high tornado risk zone known as Tornado Alley that stretches from Southern Nebraska to Northern Texas. As a cross country or regional driver in the central US, you will likely face a tornado situation in your career as a driver. So, how do you stay safe during tornado weather?

Tornado Warning!

The first thing you should always be on the lookout for is the weather forecast when you’re driving. While meteorologists cannot always predict a tornado, they know the conditions that can create one and can give advance warning of where one may form. In addition to this, watching the sky while you drive especially when there seems to be a sudden darkening, or the winds are changing rather rapidly will help you determine whether a tornado is starting to form and how far away you are from it. Seeing a tornado near your truck is likely one of the scariest things you will ever face as a driver, but there are ways to increase your chances of survival and possibly even save your truck.

What Should You Do?

The priority in a tornado situation is saving yourself- if you are faced with a tornado, Trucks can be repaired and goods can be replaced, but you’ve only got one life. There are two courses of action when it comes to addressing a tornadic situation. These depend on whether you are inside your truck or outside of it (at a truck stop, delivery point, pick-up location, fueling up, etc.). 

If you are driving, the best thing to do is look for a place below ground level to pull your truck into. DO NOT pull under a bridge or overpass as the winds flowing through these areas are more treacherous than the ones in the open. The best place to take your truck is into a culvert or into a ditch. Make sure that your truck is not near any structures or trees, as these may collapse and fall on your vehicle. After your truck is parked, remain in the driver’s seat, buckle your seatbelt, and cover your head with your arms and a jacket or blanket to aid in protecting you from debris or broken glass. If you cannot get your truck into a low place, get yourself into a ditch or culvert far from structures or vehicles, and cover your neck and head with your arms and a jacket or blanket.

If you are stopped, try to get to the nearest building and shelter in the innermost room. If this is not possible and you have enough time, drive your truck into a low place. If you can’t get into a building or don’t have time to drive, run to the nearest ditch and cover your head and neck with your arms and a jacket or blanket.

If you are driving and cannot find a low place, DO NOT keep driving towards the tornado. Turn away from it and locate the nearest possible low place that is far from structures. 

Staying Safe

Tornadoes are usually sudden, but it is possible to stay safe. Following the above guidelines gives you the best chance at surviving the storm. If you know that you are traveling through tornado country at peak tornado season (May-June), it is a good idea to pack a kit of supplies. This kit should include extra food, water, a flashlight, and a battery powered radio. As you are driving, check the weather on the radio, and take shelter when warnings are announced. Hopefully you will never face a tornado, but it always pays to be alert and prepared during any severe weather condition. Stay safe out there!

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.