Your first year of being a truck driver is critical. In this time, you’ll probably learn more than you ever did sitting in your CDL classes. That’s not a knock to any instructors or schools, but most people retain more from on-the-job, hands-on experience. It’s almost always nerve-racking to start a new job, let alone a new career. Don’t worry, though, because here’s what to know in your first year as a truck driver.
You Will Make Mistakes
Everybody makes mistakes. This is a given, especially when you’re still new to the job. First, you’ll have to adjust to the truck you drive. Any time you’ve driven a car that was new to you, you needed to get familiar with how it handles so you can make the appropriate changes to your driving. Your days can be as long as 14 hours, nearly double what any standard full-time work constitutes. Living out of motels and rest stops or even your truck is a lifestyle to which truckers have to adjust.
Living With Bare Essentials
When endometrium grows in ovaries, it may lead to buy levitra professional irregular menstruation. And it doesn’t need viagra cialis to be a website that looks like dry pavement. viagra prices australia You need to take the dose once in a day or two. And now, near fifty years later, all cheap cialis professional we wish is one thing: to do it all again.In your first year of trucking, you won’t make much. That’s just the reality of the situation. You’ll need to adjust to life on the road by keeping a stock of cheap and easy foods. Naturally, fast food becomes a staple of many truckers’ diets. Instead of only eating that, keep a cooler with some fresh fruit, bread, deli meat, and cheese that you can eat without having to stop somewhere and wait. It’s also wise to keep an emergency kit in your truck in case anything happens. Be sure to bring along plenty of water as well—dehydration can be deadly when you’re behind the wheel of a semi.
Prepare for Isolation
Even veteran drivers can struggle with the loneliness of sitting in a truck by themselves for 14 hours a day. Keep yourself entertained during the long days by listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. You can also bring a portable DVD player and some movies or TV shows to keep you busy while you’re off the road. Call home often so you can remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place; that gives you something to look forward to at the end of a long day. This is probably the most important thing to know in your first year as a truck driver.
Don’t let any of this discourage you. All of these factors are part of a trucker’s life. While it’s not an easy profession, it is one that is absolutely essential. Accepting the reality of mistakes, living minimally, and being ready for loneliness are all important in your first year. But know that what you’re doing is important and makes a difference in millions of people’s lives.
