There are some for whom a career spent in an office is absolutely fine. But there are also many for whom this environment is claustrophobic and suffering. They yearn to get out from under the oppressive hum of the fluorescent lights and get out in the open. They want more freedom and more autonomy, to be trusted to do their job to the best of their ability without their boss hovering over their shoulder. For these people, a life on the road has a certain irresistible appeal. If you have reached the end of your career tether, quit your desk job and opted instead for a job that sees you spend hours or even days at a time on the road, the change of pace is likely to be jarring.
If you have started driving as a salaried job, your employer will likely give you a host of training on how to maintain your vehicle, adhere to safety protocols and do your job effectively from the road. In the gig economy, however, many drivers are self employed delivery drivers subcontracted to companies like Amazon and therefore lacking in basic training. Even if you have been trained, there may be some tips to staying safe on the road that your employers may not have told you…
Be wary around other trucks
Like yourself, most truckers on the road will be up against tight deadlines and may have been driving for many hours without a break. Perhaps they’re nascent truckers and haven’t paced themsleves adequately, or maybe they’re more seasoned and have become over confident. Either way, trucks have been known to cause some serious accidents when their drivers are reckless, tired or distracted. Even if the driver’s behavior is impeccable, there’s always the chance of improperly secured cargo. While you can call The Levin Firm to hold them to account if you are injured as a result of their negligence, your best bet is to give other trucks a wide berth. All vehicles on the road represent a safety hazard but you should be especially wary around trucks.
Build in time for breaks
In your eagerness to prove yourself, you’ll likely feel the need to make good time and power on for hours on end without taking scheduled rest breaks. Unfortunately, you’re doing nobody any favors here, least of all yourself. Your employer will expect you to take regularly scheduled rest brakes which you plan strategically to allow yourself to drive with efficiency but with safety in mind. Driver fatigue is responsible for tens of thousands of collisions every year and your employer will not want you to become another of those statistics.
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Eat and drink smart
Go into any rest stop and you’ll see lots of high fat, high sugar, high sodium convenience foods and about a dozen places to get coffee. While you should enjoy these as a treat every once in a while, they can’t be allowed to become your daily diet. Not only will this be ruinous to your health and your waistline (especially since you’ll be sitting at the wheel for most of your day), it can seriously compromise your driving ability. Eat as much fresh fruit and veg as you can get on the road as well as eating lean proteins and healthy fats to keep your energy up. Stay hydrated and avoid too much caffeine as this will cause you to spike, becoming agitated and jumpy before crashing and becoming sluggish and tired.
