We rely on truck drivers to transport a variety of products across the country. Whether they’re hauling clothes or food, each driver is solely responsible for their goods and making sure they get to the client in a timely manner. While the job can be difficult, those with a career in the trucking industry find it just as rewarding. These are the routine basics of being a truck driver.
According to US Special Delivery, “There are over 500,000 trucking companies in the United States with over 15 1/2 million trucks on the road with 2,000,000 being tractor trailers.” With this many semi-trucks out on the streets, it’s only natural that their drivers need to take special care when traveling. This is especially the case during the summer months. While summer means fun quick trips for standard drivers, those who drive professionally need to take extra precautions in preparing their semi-trucks for the summer.
Semitrucks are responsible for moving more than 70 percent of the nation’s overall goods by weight. As such, these trucks—and their drivers—play integral roles in our ability to access necessary resources. Every day, thousands of trucks hit the roads to deliver our goods—but this process isn’t just a matter of sitting in the driver’s seat. Semitruck drivers often spend just as much effort preparing for a long haul as they do on the road. Here are some road trip preparation tips for truck drivers.
According to the American Trucking Association, “3.5 million truck drivers [were] employed in 2018”, which is essentially no different from 2017. With this many truck drivers, we can infer that there are at least that many trucks out on the road at a given time. Semi-trucks play a key role in our ability to transport a variety of goods and materials nationwide. Without these machines, or their hard-working drivers, we wouldn’t have access to what we need.
As our need for certain imports increases, more trucks are needed to transport them to various locations across the United States. These complex machines are heavily relied on, so it’s crucial that every fleet owner and driver knows what’s within this guide to semi-trucks.
Even those with no trucking experience can understand that 18-wheelers have larger blind spots than standard cars. According to the Advanced Technology Institute, “In the United States, the average length of a semi-trailer without the cab is 53 feet, and with the cab is about 70 to 80 feet.” With all this space to keep track of, truck drivers need to aim their truck’s mirrors properly in order to better see other vehicles on the road and to practice safe driving techniques.
Driving is an essential part of our everyday lives. Whether it’s our commute to work or an extended road trip, driving is the main way most of us get where we need to go. We’re fairly dependent on driving, so it’s crucial that every driver knows how to keep themselves, their passengers, other drivers, and nearby pedestrians safe. These safe driving tips are important to keep in mind as you shift into gear and take to the road.
Truck driving is likely one of the most challenging jobs out there. There are many ever-changing external factors, and the driver itself is not excluded here. For many newcomers, it’s quite a shock when their expectations are confronted with day-to-day driving reality. Irregular sleep time can be one of the harshest things a new driver will have to adapt to at the end of the day.
