So you think you are ready to become a truck driver? You went to truck driving school and are looking forward to a rewarding and lucrative career as a truck driver. Good for you.But going into this career, don’t think that you know everything just because you went to truck driving school. Granted, you learned a lot from school, but not as much as someone who has been on the road for a few decades. The men and women who have been truck drivers for years, they are the ones you can learn things from. They are the ones you need to listen to when they talk. Big Truck Hoods, your source for semi truck bumpers, offers starter tips for new truck drivers. All About Attitude Don’t lose your edge once you have landed a decent job, you will want your reputation to continue to grow. One of the best ways to gain and maintain a good reputation is by having a positive attitude all of the time.By having a good attitude when times get rough, your chances of being taken care of by your company is greatly increased. The drivers who have bad attitudes, they will be looking for other jobs. Stick to It There are far too many young drivers who switch jobs frequently in their first few years as truck drivers. One of the primary reasons for this is that they are looking for the next big opportunity. This approach might work in some other industries, but not so much in the trucking industry. As a truck driver, your time of service matters a lot. The fewer times you change jobs, the more likely you will become a top-paid driver. You Will Eventually Get It Many truck drivers straight out of school think they have a good handle on the rules and regulations of trucking. They don’t. It takes about a year before the rules and regulations you were taught in school are applied in a real situation. Truck driving is just like everything else in life, you can understand or learn something, but it doesn’t become completely known until it has been experienced. It’s Mental You might think that it takes a physically strong person to be a good truck driver. Maybe so, but that is only half of the equation. If you aren't mentally strong, you can fail as a truck driver.If you don't have the proper mindset when you finish trucking school, you might not last at your job very long. Truck driving can be a very lonely and depressing job if you are not in the right mindset. It can be depressing having to spend so much time on the road and away from your family. Get a Hobby Find something that you enjoy doing that is in no way related to trucks or other vehicles. It is just plain not healthy to have trucking consume your entire life.Make sure you have a hobby to occupy yourself on your downtime. This could be anything from photography to playing the guitar to stamp collecting. Heck, you might even like to write. Exercise Often You will spend a lot of time sitting when you are a truck driver, and you might already know that this is unhealthy. You will need to counter the fact you sit a lot by getting plenty of exercise. It is best if you have a daily or weekly routine.You don’t have to join a gym and spend four hours a day pumping iron. Staying healthy is as easy as going on regular hikes, bike rides or swimming. Watch Your Money You might be tempted to waste your money on silly things when you become a truck driver. Plan ahead for your road trips and you can save a lot of money. Truck stops are expensive places. If you need a tool, it is best to wait until you get home to research and buy it, it will save you money. Take Your Time In your first year on the job, take your time. Take your time when unhooking air lines or raising and lowering the landing gear. Working too fast during these types of tasks will lead to mistakes, mistakes that you cannot afford your first year. And if you need parts for your semi truck, you can always count on Big Truck Hoods. Shop today.
