Avoid Making These Beginner Mistakes in Truck Driving

You’ve just got the keys to the company truck and you’re itching to get out there and deliver your first load. All of that excitement mixed with nervousness may lead to a few mistakes on the road. Beginner truck drivers have to keep in mind delivery times and locations, regularly log their hours and follow driving rules. Mistakes will happen inevitably. Here are a few mistakes beginner truck drivers should be aware of and avoid.

Don’t tailgate to bully other drivers just because you’re driving the largest vehicle on the road.

Being the biggest guy (or girl) on the road can really get to your head. But being the biggest driver doesn’t give you permission to antagonize or intimidate other drivers, even if provoked. Instead, driving the biggest vehicle on the road comes with serious responsibility — to practice safe driving practices and to consider the safety of other drivers.

Driving fast to make more money is reckless driving — don’t.

One rookie mistake is believing that driving fast will help you earn more money. However, the opposite is true. Driving fast will earn you speeding tickets, delays and an unhappy supervisor. So how do you earn more? Drive safe, follow the rules and build your experience to qualify for higher paying jobs open to experienced drivers. It’s that simple.

Don’t buy food at a truck stop — go grocery shopping, instead.

Being on the road constantly may at first feel like your usual road trip — eating out at restaurants and buying microwaveable [read: junk] food at the truck stop. But these expenses quickly add up, and if you’re not careful you may end up spending as much as you earn. Not to mention the damage that will be done to your waistline. The solution? Go grocery shopping, meal prep and keep healthy snacks on hand. You’ll be setting yourself up for wise money habits and looking after your health.

Be open to advice from experienced drivers.

A wise man once said, “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” As a beginner driver, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make mistakes. Take advantage of opportunities to learn from experienced drivers and avoid costly mistakes.