Trucking Time Management Skills

Efficient and effective time management is one herculean task truck drivers are faced with. One of the toughest parts of being a trucker is balancing the time spent on the road with that spent at home. Each trucker works in a different way and method with the intention of getting the best from each passing day. Working smarter, not harder is an assured way to help guarantee continual success in the truck driving industry. Most trucking companies love truckers that are effective and spend lesser time on the road.

There are ways which a trucker can effectively manage time on the road to achieve greater result. Some of these ways include the following:

Choose Routes with Good Parking Options. 

This is one way of achieving maximum time management by a trucker. The total time spent driving out of the way to search for a safe parking lot can sum up to a lot of wasted HOS hours as well as lost productivity. A truck driver can effectively manage time by mapping out routes with availability of easy-to-find parking lots. This can save a truck driver more time as well as provide more time for rest and sleep.

Acquire a GPS System

One merit of technological advancements is the possibility to complete more tasks daily. For truck drivers, one of the most useful inventions is the Global Positioning System (also referred to as the GPS). A good GPS system is the trucker’s best buddy. This device aids the trucker getting from a location to another without getting lost. It also reduces the HOS logs and also fuel consumption as it eliminates inefficient route for truckers. With less time travelled on the road, there is time availability for proper truck maintenance as well as other downtime.

Create Checklists

It is imperative for a truck driver to develop the habit of creating checklists such as truck maintenance measures, onboard tools and equipment, load or unload concerns, as well as a route sketch of parking sites, traffic flow and truck stops can facilitate an efficient run of time management, particularly in the case of long haul drivers who are faced mostly with physically demanding journey.

Checking Schedules

For a trucker to effectively manage time, monitoring delivery schedules should also be considered. This can aid in the reduction of wait time.  Fleet control solutions can help to recognize location of an available load repeatedly and also provide the trucker with quick information or details of when a load is ready.

Plan for Rest

A trucker should learn to plan for total rest during each drive. Although there are federal regulations that govern a trucker’s Hours of Service, there is more to rest planning than just the usual 10 to 15 hours on as well as the corresponding hours off.  It is imperative for a trucker to cultivate the habit of parking early before the parking sites filled up in order to avoid searching for a truck stop late into the night. This will not only keep the driver refreshed the next day but also provide the driver strength to wake and travel early on a road with high traffic as they are least congested in the early hours.

Lifestyle of a Trucker

For some individuals, spending time on the road and seeing new things every day, meeting new people as well as earning cash in the process is what they wish for. This means only one thing, a fulfilled life; which is the ability to do what they love the most. One of the few professions that can make this dream possible is the truck driving. Truckers convey items throughout the United States, and sometimes to place like Mexico and Canada. Truckers play a major role in our daily day-to-day activities in almost every industry, especially the manufacturing or production, retail, automotive, food and dining sector.

Like any other career, trucking is a choice. However, trucking necessitates an individual to adapt to a lifestyle totally around the job. This includes spending so much time on the road for several weeks (usually around 3 weeks or more) and then having a few days to rest at home (this is also called Hometime). A trucker’s schedule is considered as one of the most difficult phase for both a trucker and his family. Just like other careers such as oilfield workers and the military, trucking also requires spending so much time away from family and friends. Sometimes, they may feel lonely as a result of this However, individuals that are single have fewer obligations, find trucking a rewarding lifestyle as limitless freedom to try out new things abound for them.

During the first year, most truckers are assigned to heavy load which are not encouraging. Some freight and trucking companies even allow drivers that have worked with them for a long time choose the route that best suits them when an assignment is given. This makes it difficult for new truckers, as they are faced with the challenge of having to drive to isolated locations and also have undesirable schedule. This action is typical of most trucking companies because they want their first year to prove that they are reliable and responsible. A first year trucker builds positive reputation by keeping to delivery schedule in a timely and reliable manner. It is therefore advisable for most trucker to possess a cellphone as a means of communication to both friends and family. This will assist most first year drivers to fight loneliness and home sickness

A trucker’s dexterity in operating the trucks and trailers is another physical challenge of the trucking job. Training to acquire a commercial driver’s license (CDL) usually takes a few months or even more courses and workshops. One benefit of the CDL training for truckers is that it easier to acquire than other college courses or trade schools.

Another considered lifestyle of a trucker is the total earning made. Usually, truckers are paid per mile but CDL certified truckers have the opportunity to make it either a full time or part-time income. According the a study by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, most heavy and tractor truckers earn about $38,000 on the average or $19 per hour. Trucking is physically demanding and this one major reason why a trucker's wage is twice the federal minimum wage. However, this allows a trucker provide for the family and also live a comfortable lifestyle.

It is imperative to know that trucking is in a league of its own for any woman or man who chooses it as a profession.

Married to a Truck Driver

The wife of an experienced trucker understands the fact that getting married to a trucker can be very challenging because her husband is always on the road and never around for both her and the kids. It is however understood that these events can be very devastating, particularly to a newly married trucker’s wife.

For a trucker’s wife new to this kind of lifestyle, it seems as though her world is crashing; every project seems much more difficult, taking care of the kids alone can be really challenging and the thoughts of your man not being around makes it worse. However, it is imperative that such an individual learn to adapt.

There are some tips and recommendations that can be helpful in this process of transition or adaptation. Some the tips include:

Communication: Keeping in Touch

This is one key ingredient every relationship needs to have, particularly a family that has the head of the house as a trucker. A trucker spends most of his time on the road and this can however, create a barrier between him and his family. Lack of communication can be a real torture and devastating for the couples.

This barrier can be overcome if the couples learn to keep in touch such as the use of cellphones for chatting and texting. This can help ease the tension and also make life bearable.

Learning about the Trucking World

The trucking world is a lifestyle: it has a language of its own. For a newlywed trucker’s wife, this world is strange to her. Thus, she may feel left out. In order to keep up or adapt with this world, she needs to know about it. There is a lot of information within her reach such as website, publications, books etc. that may prove supportive.

Trust

This is another key ingredient needed in the marriage of a trucker. Earning and giving trust from both partners can be difficult. It may be frightening to envisage your husband traveling, exposed and all by himself. On the other hand, he may also feel the same way about his wife.

Being separated from each other for a long time can be devastating. Trust is what is what keeps the worries away from the mind. Keep in mind that if your hubby was trustworthy when he was around, then trust should be there that he will be trustworthy when he hits the road. However, truckers work so hard and their utmost priority is their family and wife. In the same vein, do not give him reasons to be suspicious of your activities when he leaves the home.

Keep Yourself Busy

The general agreement among truck driver's wives is to remain active and busy with activities, particularly if such individual is new to the trucker’s lifestyle. This includes performing household chores, learning a new hobby or spending some time with friends and family.

Always Plan for his Return

The trucker’s wife should plan for the return of her husband whenever he is coming home. This could be achieved by cooking his desired meal, planning to spend time as family by watching a favorite movie together and also keeping the atmosphere in the home generally warm and welcoming.

What You Can Do To Raise The Trucking Public Image

Raise The Trucking Public Image

What comes to mind when you think of the stereotypical trucker that roams your local Interstate day in and day out? If you are like most people, you have probably gathered a certain truck driver image in your head based on Hollywood movies that often promote the typical trucker as an uneducated, redneck who rarely showers. Sure enough, the work is never portrayed as very glamorous but how wrong this image can be when you get to know some real truckers from everyday life!

Worse yet, during the later half of the 20th century the reputation of the trucking industry and trucking public image started to wane as media stories of truckers started to convey them as typical, male chauvinists or even serial killers. It was certainly not helpful to the industry to learn about Robert Ben Rhoades, who held a full-fledged torture chamber in his truck in order to rape runaway teens that no one would have missed anyway.

In reality, most truckers do not fit any kind of stereotypical picture. Most truckers are truly easy going, nice, good hearted people, and are often more educated than many might believe. Yes, there are even doctors, lawyers and police officers who become top-notch truck drivers.

Suggestions for Improving The Typical Trucking Public Image

Sometimes, truckers are their own worst enemy. Little attention paid to personal grooming is among the worst culprits. While no one anticipates a trucker to look like a banker getting prepared for business meeting, there are small things some truckers can do to improve the overall truck driving image problem. Perhaps throwing on a fresh T-shirt and jeans from time to time while paying greater attention to personal hygiene and appearance.

Another thing that truckers can do is to turn off their CB radio! Part of the negative truck driving image stems from what is uttered out of the mouths of some drivers such as excessive swearing, gay bashing and general ignorance. By simply locating that on/off switch, it is possible to clean up those airwaves from picking up such annoyances that people would prefer not to hear.

While the state of a truck stop really falls into the responsibility of the management that occupies it, nevertheless the truckers themselves can do simple steps to avoid the stop from smelling entirely like an outdoor toilet. On the other hand, truck stops should also work harder to remove waste on a normal schedule. It is not fun to walk across a parking lot full of rotting food and other waste material that hasn’t been picked up.

Improving Driving Habits

The overall trucking public image could be greatly improved if truckers also implanted more courteous driving habits. Sometimes truckers are in a rush to get a job done and can put other drivers in very dangerous situations.

Other times, programs should be set in place, as it is the other drivers on the road that put truckers in dangerous situations. For example, truck drivers would prefer that cars pass them or back off with clear intentions of what they want to do rather than driving alongside for too long.

Tips for a Truck Stop Shower

A truck driver is a representative of the trucking company which he works for, have the need for cleanliness at all times as first impression last longer. Securing a contract for such trucking companies can either be lost or won depending on the first appearance of the truck driver. Personal hygiene is act practiced by individuals which includes using the bathrooms or showers. Majority of the truck drivers cannot access those normal toilet facilities, considering the fact that they are always on the road. Depending on the time spent on a journey, they may be separated from these facilities for as long as it takes them to return home.

Majority of the truck stops possess truck stop showers. Usually, the truck stops showers are enclosed areas using a lockable door. If a trucker buys fuel at a truck stop (between 50 to 100 gallons) he is automatically entitled to use the truck stop shower for free. A trucker with a reward card for various truck stops can also use the truck stop shower. However, their use is not restricted to truck drivers alone. Non-truckers can also use the truck stop shower. They are charged around $7 to $10 to access the truck stop shower.

With respect to the truck-stop, personal identification number or a key could be issued by which an individual gets the room that was given. The consumer is provided a towel and wash cloth and occasionally, a paper bath tub mat. Ideally, a truck driver should have a spare towel, once in a while the towels in these truck stop showers are either worn-out or poor.   Sometimes there is a hair dryer in each room. Some truck stop facilities also have fan or heater unit installed in each room in order to lessen or stop fogs on the mirror. Other items that could be found in the truck stop shower include:

A mirror, which could be either used for shaving or to see one’s dressing

A functioning electrical outlet for appliances such as hair dryers.

A tub or sink with clean running water and effective drainage.

With respect to the size of the truck stop, some showers are usually not large while some are enormous (which includes those for disabled users or for couples that are truck drivers).

Depending on use by the others, the services there could possibly be a waiting list or might be accessible right away. It is a good idea to take good care one’s self as soon as you possibly can, because others could be waiting while we've never discovered a time limit in using a bath.

In case you learn that the room to which you are assigned is not up to that company's normal standard of cleanliness, be sure to inform the management.

However, larger truck stops give credit known as shower credit if the trucker purchases about 50 gallons of fuel. This credit facility, when not used, expires five days after the fuel purchase. If he is not plying this route during this period, he can give the card to no other trucker on the route.

Healthy Eating for Truck Drivers

Truck drivers’ well-being is an enormous problem in the industry right now and a big part of it is due to the temptations truck drivers face every day. Truck drivers may sit behind the wheel of an 18wheeler for as many as 16 hours a day. All that sitting, combined with unhealthy and harmful food options from a greasy-spoon truck stop can create an unhealthy lifestyle for drivers.

Truck drivers are faced with so much temptation at every truck stop. It is not hard to notice the increasing amount of eateries that decorate major highways in America and this poses a great threat to the health status of most truck drivers while on the road.

There are plenty of ways to resist the temptation of unhealthy junk food while running the roads of America. All it takes is a little preparation and determination while preparing for your trip.

HEALTHY EATING TIPS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS ON THE ROAD

Make Healthier Food Choices

Instead of hitting your favorite fast food restaurant and grabbing a burger, choose a salad instead. Go for grilled rather than fried. Bring some snack foods (nuts or seed, dried or fresh fruit, or whole grain crackers) from home so you have control over what you eat.

Eat Natural Foods as much as Possible

Processed foods are loaded with sugar, unnecessary fats, and chemicals. Consuming natural foods, such as foods rich in energy and vitamins, gives long-driving routine a boost. Large fluid intake such as water is also encouraged while on the go.

Exercise

One of the major challenges of a trucker is the continuous pressure. Making a delivery on time can be really frustrating. The easiest way to alleviate stress would be to work out. There are simple exercises you can do if you when you get to your next truck stop. For instance, lunges and squats, as well as jumping rope and jogging, are not hard to do in small spaces. Some truck drivers even use filled water-bottles inside their trucks to do curls while sitting in traffic. One other way to relieve stress while on the road is to listen to music. While listening, roll-up your window and sing or whistle along.

Get enough Rest

Among the very key elements in living a healthy lifestyle on the road would be to get a plenty of sleep. Experts recommend that healthy adults sleep for a minimum of seven, preferably nine, hours of sleep each night. Quality sleep can play an important role in your work performance and general awareness of well-being. Lack of sleep can lead to:

·       frustration

·       blurred vision

·       depression

·       acid reflex

·       diarrhea

Consumption of alcohol before bed time can prevent your body from reaching the deepest of sleep cycles when you hit the hay at night. No one likes going to work with a hangover. Also, try to eat a minimum of two hours before retiring.

In the end, a healthy trucker is a happy trucker and also a more productive trucker. There are many choices a driver must make while on the go to deliver their load and all truckers know that safety is the number one priority. However, it is important for a trucker to make healthy decisions while driving down the long and winding road of life.

Health Issues of a Truck Driver

When we think about dangerous professions, trucking does not come to our mind instantly. We often think of professions such as various emergency workers, the police and fire fighters. Yet, being a truck driver is fundamentally a dangerous profession. A recent study showed truck driving as one of the ten most dangerous professions in America.

Endless hours of driving on the highways and interstates by these truck drivers create a higher risk associated with serious accident. Nevertheless, these risks are much greater than the obvious . . . an unusual work program, extended periods of sitting, lifting heavy things, unhealthy diets, anxiety, and tiredness  can cause severe health issues.

Due to these long intervals of driving, many truckers fighting apathy often acquire smoking habits. Also, sleeping and living in a truck also poses a threat to the health status of truck drivers.

According to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) Journal, truck drivers that are long distance haulers (OTR trucking) rank high among professions of people who suffer from significant health issues. Lifestyle as a truck driver includes several factors that make truck driving a high risk profession. Some studies actually suggest that normal life expectancy is reduced by as much as 5 to 10 years. This is truly a significant number.

Various factors such as the workplace conditions affect the health status of truckers, having a negative effect on such trucker. This workplace consists of not only the truck stops on the routes but also other aspects of the transportation environment. These include:

¨     Loading areas

¨     Warehouses

¨     Terminals

Health Issues of a Truck Driver

A truck driver faces a variety of health issues resulting from his workplace environment. They are both physical and psychological in nature. According to a 2009 study in the AAOHN Journal, "male and female drivers both reported common health problems." Among the most common ones are:

·       Obesity

·       High blood pressure

·       Diabetes

·       Sleep apnea

·       Exhaustion

·       Back pain

·       Sinus problems

·       Headaches

·       Arthritis

·       Depression

The stresses involved in being a truck driver result in many of these health-related problems. The actual physical environment creates a breeding ground for others. The job, itself, is responsible for increasing the likelihood of certain health problems.

Truck driving is a dangerous occupation. The problem goes beyond vehicular accidents. There are serious and significant health issues affecting those who are employed as OTR drivers. For men health issues in trucking may extend beyond the physical into the psychological. The same applies for a woman truck driver. With a steadily increasing amount of trucks on the road, we all need to look seriously at improving the health of truckers.

The necessity to improve or enhance the well-being of our nation’s truck drivers is no longer an alternative. It requires urgent attention and will involve changes in the working environment and within our healthcare delivery model. The environment for drivers must be conducive to good health. Truck stops and fleet terminals must begin to offer healthy food products and make fitness equipment gear available and accessible. Drivers also need to have improved access to health education resources and technology such as health kiosks.

The Ongoing Problem of Truck Driver Shortage in the United States

By Zoey

Over a period of at least three decades, the second biggest sector in the country – transport – has not been able to determine the reasons why so many truck drivers, even seasoned ones, are calling it quits. The numbers of young people choosing other vocations over trucking are even more grim. As a result, the United States is currently headed for a truck driver deficit of between 200,000 to 400,000 truckers.

This may surprise some people as some 40,000 new CDL licenses are given out each year.  Out of these, an estimated 50% are only license holders, not actually using their permit to drive a truck commercially. Just what are the factors that have driven this problem to its present proportions? The goal of this article is to examine just that and more.

The Issue of Wages

Probably the biggest factor driving people out of the profession is the low wages, which accompany most commercial contracts. Low pay for truck drivers has actually been a problem for years ever since deregulation of the transport sector occurred. Over time, it's become the top reason for all types of motorists deciding to leave the profession. The typical annual pay of $38,000 is just not viewed as being big enough to counter all the demands of the rather stressful profession and it has certainly not kept up with the pay wages found in other comparable industries.

Too many flashy advertisements are used to reel in new, unseasoned drivers who never receive their expected big, sign-on bonuses. The companies hiring often know that most drivers will quit after a short time on the job anyway. Working 70 hours a week and not being paid for other duties such as detention time, cause many young and old drivers alike to move onto greener pastures. Unfortunately, truck driving jobs in the US are still considered “unskilled” labor, making it difficult to positively change the issue of wages for the better.

Too Many Regulations

The overuse of regulations continues to make the life of the professional trucker challenging. For instance, millions of truckers are expected to work under identical hours of service, while governing when they are able to drive or where they are able to sleep. One single rule can’t possibly please everyone. And so, many seasoned drivers leave the profession, which is a huge loss to the entire industry since seasoned drivers have acquired a great level of security and professionalism in their driving.

Regulatory bodies have now crept into a wide range of issues ranging from anti-idling laws, forced dispatch and lack of home time causing major consternation and panic into the entire industry. These tough and restrictive security regulations together with the low pay experienced by many truck drivers, are all reasons behind the truck driver shortage in the US. 

Things to Pack for Over the Road Truck Driving

As you become a seasoned trucker, you will find your own list of essentials to pack for long trips. But for the beginner, some of the necessities might be easily overlooked. With the tight spaces of the cab, a trucker needs to be conscious of how much to storage space there is. Your concerns should be safety first, communication second, and comfort third. To this end, here is a short list of things to pack as your start your life as an over the road truck driver.

Extra Cash
Starting out, you may not have paycheck to draw from on the road, so be sure to carry enough cash to cover emergencies for at least a week. Consider what might happen if your rig breaks down in Tulsa and it will take a week to get repairs done. You are going to need to stay somewhere and eat something, so having the funds to hole up in a motel while waiting on the mechanics is a good contingency to plan for any trucker to prepare for.


Blankets and Coats

Your next pick up might be in Fargo, and it gets mighty cold at night. Having extra coats to wear during hookups (it can get down to 20 below in the right conditions not considering wind chill) and extra blankets to throw on your rack during a sleep-over will keep a trucker warm and well rested for the next leg of the ride.  

Dash Mounted Cell Phone Charger with Hands Free Set
Keeping in touch with friends and family on the road keeps a trucker’s spirits up, and having a fully charged phone with a hands free set up keeps you safe and on the road without having to worry about pulling over and burning time. Many states have enacted laws about truck driving and cell phone use, and a hands-free set will let you talk while keeping your mind on the road ahead.


Food and Drinks Cooler
Several companies offer center console fitted coolers large enough for drinks and snacks. Having your own supply limits the stops you’ll need to make, and lets you stock up on cheaper solutions rather than paying the prices at truck stops. Truck driving is a numbers game when it comes to paying the mortgage, and when a trucker is on the road, every dime counts.

Flip Flops and Extra Underwear
There’s never a need to load up the cab with a full suitcase, but having flip flops for the shower to keep your feet fungus free and a change of underwear to stay clean and comfortable will go a long way. Keep these in a small toiletries bag with toothpaste and brush, a razor, and some mouthwash and the road won’t wear you down so fast.