It’s been quite a year for trucking, and many have big questions in regards to the future of the industry. If you’re a beginning trucker looking for a few pointers, or even a veteran of the road looking for ways to up your prep, there’s no doubt you’ll find this list of do’s and don’ts helpful when preparing for a long haul this season.
- DO write out the steps of your pre-trip well in advance
It pays to plan ahead. The day of your trip, the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to remember what you might have forgotten. Have the pre-trip procedure written down and planned meticulously to ensure that all your t’s are crossed, and all your i’s are dotted on the day of the long haul.
- DO start earlier than you think you need to
As the saying goes: start early, finish early. If you want to minimize the amount of time spent on repetitive procedures and menial preparation, start well before the last minute. You’ll be thanking yourself when you wrap up early and have more time to relax.
- DO plan ahead for which stops you’re going to make
It’s of utmost importance to know the road you’ll drive before you ever put your key in the ignition. Whether you’re looking for modern amenities at a Flying J or a cozy break mom-and-pop gas station, you’ll need to know in advance how that will fit into your drive.
- DON’T be afraid to ask others for help
A trucker’s number one resource on the road is experience. If you don’t have that experience, in general or in a specific area, it never hurts to reach out to other truckers for a helping hand- the community is vast, and for the most part, very open to newcomers. At the very least, look to online forums and websites for information.
- DON’T wait until too late to get minor repairs and air tires
As we all learned as young drivers, it’s never a good idea to ignore the check engine light. Small problems accumulate until you have a wildfire of problems on your hands. Set yourself up for success by completing these tasks well before you even think about heading out for a long haul.
- DON’T forget to time yourself
The day of a long haul, you don’t want even a minute of your time to go unaccounted for. Before the day of the haul, practice your pre-trip from start to finish and time yourself. This will assure that you haven’t underestimated the time needed to prep and that you’ll be right on time when the big day comes.
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