General Guidelines and Tips for Your First Trip as a Truck Driver (CDL) in USA

Well done! You’re preparing to start your new career and take your first trip as a commercial truck driver. Here are a few tips from pro-drivers.

Getting it done fast doesn’t matter if you have to go back and redo your work later. If you want better routes and bigger loads, you have to be reliable, efficient, and trustworthy.

Don’t Cut Corners. It cuts into your quality and risks delays or penalties later.
Put Safety First. Stay updated on your pre-driving safety checks and prioritize safety over speed in a hazardous situation.
Find Ways to be More Efficient. As you work, make mental notes of how you do things and how you can do them better later. This will help make future trips more efficient as you go.
Stay Organized. Don’t fumble around in clutter and scattered documents. Get cleaning supplies, file cases, and storage boxes to keep your personal things organized.
Bring What You Really Need. Reduce emergency stops, extra expenses, and wasted space by planning what you will need ahead of time. Don’t forget water, something to protect your eyes from the sun, some energy snacks, and funds for tolls.

Lean on Your Team

The experienced drivers have been there, made rookie mistakes, and found ways to get their jobs done faster and smarter. If you want to get better loads and high success reports fast, take the time to build a network of fellow drivers you can rely on.

Ask questions, especially as you are starting out. Your fellow drivers and the managers will have handy tips and advice you won’t find in the handbooks. If a fellow driver offers advice, be open to learning from it even if you do not use the information right away. It could prove useful later. Never let pride or fear prevent you from reaching out when something goes wrong. You do not have to be perfect on your first trip, you just need to get it done right with the resources you have- including the human resources!

Also, knowing your route and everything you will potentially encounter will save you time and effort getting to your destination. While planning your route, be sure to include:

Route (Make a paper copy of directions in case the GPS goes down).
Checkpoints and what will be expected of you at them.
Best places for breaks, refilling, and restroom. Include optional places where you can recharge if you get drowsy, foggy, or stressed. Make sure anticipated stops are truck-friendly.
Possible weather and construction you may encounter.
Places you can stop after long bridges, tunnels, and other risky traffic zones if you need to de-stress.
When and where you will sleep. To save money and avoid the temptation of pushing yourself too far long-distance, reserve ahead on a discount travel site.
Who to contact if there is a significant delay
How to Handle Weather Conditions
How To Handle Break Downs
How to Handle Common Check-in Station or Delivery Point Issues

Maintain Your Health

You are only as effective as your mind and body are. Make sure to take care of yourself as carefully as you should take care of your vehicle.

If your truck has an inverter, get a small appliance like a microwave or instapot to help you cook healthy food. It will also help you save on the cost of ordering food on the road. Just make sure you do not go over the inverter’s maximum wattage.

13% of large truck crash causes are related to fatigue and drowsy driving. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, power naps, and frequent breaks on a long trip.

Stress leads to fatigue, mistakes, and poor choices in the moment. Make sure to take frequent breaks and have ways to de-stress while on the move.

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