Truck drivers drive thousands of miles a week, which makes them a brilliant focal point if you want to improve your driving skills and take on good habits. The way they work forces them to do certain things or adopt routines that you can learn from to become a safer (and some would say better) driver. Here are the best things to take from a professional truck driver that you can apply to your driving life:
Play Your Route
Making your journey as stress-free as possible starts with working out where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. Truck drivers have to do this to figure out the most optimal route, and you should too. Whether using your phone’s navigation or going old school with a map, it’s important to work out ahead of time how you’re going to get to your destination. Planning ahead which route to take will reduce the stress of your journey and save you from a major headache in the future.
Carry An Emergency Kit
We all hate getting stuck in traffic, but imagine that traffic lasting all night long due to a major accident – you aren’t going anywhere. This is why it’s so important to be prepared even for the most unexpected journeys. A massive accident can easily close the motorway in both directions and leave you stranded miles from your destination.
Again, this is where you can learn from a professional truck driver. They’re more likely to be caught in situations like this, which is why they carry around an emergency kit for truck drivers. You can copy this approach and include things in your emergency kit like water bottles, non-perishable food, torches, batteries, tissues, and anything else you might need if you get stuck.
Take Regular Breaks
Getting drowsy and tired at the wheel can be super dangerous – so don’t take your chances; have a break. You might feel like pushing on to get to your destination quicker, but tiredness on the road is one of the biggest reasons for accidents, making up around 9-10% of all crashes.
It’s literally written within a truck driver’s contract that they must take breaks every few hours. Learn from this – having a break gives you the opportunity to get some food and a drink, or even have a short nap if you need to.
Check The Weather
It may seem obvious but checking what the weather is going to look like during your journey is vitally important. Not only does looking up the weather make you a better and more responsible car owner, but it also allows you to be wary of the potential issues you might experience ahead of your route.
Professional truck drivers often use weather forecasts to plan more optimal routes so they can avoid some of the worst driving conditions. It’s always good to be aware of he potential dangers before you set off, so you leave prepared.
Learn from the people who drive for a living, and you’ll become a more competent driver with fewer things to stress about. Truck drivers mainly focus on being prepared and finding the best ways to get to their destinations without risking accidents – and now you can, too.