You’ll be meeting people at your stops, and during those times you might be able to strike up a non-work-related conversation with them.

During your 10 hoursoff duty time, 7 to 8 hours should be allotted to sleep, and 2-3 hrs dedicated to leisure, exercise and meals. Use your down time wisely to do things that will benefit YOU. Trip Planning Mechanical Skills– When a problem occurs, very rarely does it happen near an auto shop. You need to be able to fix some things on your own. Since I knew where my day would end, I would plan where I would be spending the night ahead of time. Post-trip inspection: Once parked, I'd do my post-trip inspection of the tractor and trailer to make sure the equipment was still in good shape after a day on the road.

Long Haul Trucking

In the USA, I’m limited to 11 hours each day. I have to take a certain number of breaks within a 14-hour working day as well. In Canada, I have a 16-hour working day and I can drive 13 hours straight, if I want. One big perk of the electronic logbook system, is it really does promote ‘quality of life’, while living on the road.

Many times, especially during winter. Everything in Canada gets icy and covered in snow so the road conditions get very dangerous. Similar things happen in the states that make driving very difficult. It’s part of the job, but I’ll never get used to it.” What do you do when conditions are bad? Try to parallel your routine as close to a ‘normal’ or your ‘home’ schedule as possible. Maintain a regular meal schedule, exercise, some leisure walking, sleep etc. whenever possible.It's not just about driving. It's about being part of a larger community, one that's dedicated, reliable, and expert in handling complex logistics. It's about being part of a revolution in transportation, ensuring goods reach their destination seamlessly. Conclusion

Trip Planning is Key: Before setting out, map your route. Consider factors like traffic patterns, construction zones, and potential weather disruptions. Modern GPS systems support drivers by providing real-time updates and alternative routes, ensuring you're not caught off guard.Drivers often, let one or two aspects of their lives take over their schedule, with these things taking up the majority of their time. For example, a driver spends a lot of hours working on their rig, and the rest at work, living on the road…. not exactly a healthy scenario for a happy family. Keeping a Regular Schedule It’s early morning across south Wales, but with 2,300 miles of motorways to conquer, the team are busy getting in gear and drawing up battle plans, powered by diesel and cups of tea. Sometime near the middle of my day, I'd take my 30-minute break. In the interest of safety, the Department of Transportation requires drivers take this half-hour break after, at most, eight hours of driving.

The USA also limits me to up to 70 hours in an 8-day period while Canada has a limit of 70 hours in a 7-day period. It’s harder to get as many miles in when I’m in the states.” How many hours do you usually drive? Before even accepting a load from your dispatch, take a good look at the trip distance, and the expected delivery schedule.

Trucker Lifestyle Facts

Knowing you have somewhere you need to be while you do all this waiting can be stressful, so try your best to fill the time you have doing something positive like: If utilized properly by the carrier, the driver can lead a fairly relaxed schedule on the road. An 11 hour work day is still a longer day, than most people work. Shippers and sometimes carriers will push for the 18 -20 hour day. Therefore, be sure that you stay on top of simple safety practices that will not only keep you safe, but will keep other drivers on the road safe as well. Some good safety practices that you should never neglect are: Do some calculations re: driving time, fuel and meal stops, sleep time and add in unexpected delays, to be sure you have sufficient time to make the delivery as expected.