Experienced truckers describe this first year as everything from a big challenge to tough. Your first year as a new truck driver is going to be the hardest one. Many truckers say that "Your first year in trucking will make you or break you."
It's just that the more you know what to expect in the first year as a new truck driver, the better you will get through that year.
Luckily, driving schools in Edmonton north provides you some advice that will be helpful to you as a new truck driver throughout the year.
A Great First Year Equals To A Great Career
Here are 7 tips by the driving school in Edmonton north to help you build a great career in the first year as a truck driver.
- Get as much driving experience as you can and as soon as you can. You may be driving difficult routes made even more difficult because you are a rookie. But keep driving and driving. Truckers will tell you that the more experience you have, the more work you will get, the more money you will make and the more relaxed you will become.
- Expect to be assigned to a driver trainer. This is true for many first-year truckers, so you need to be prepared for it, and you need to make it work. Sharing a rig with another person is hard, not to mention awkward, especially if the trucker or driver trainer is from the opposite gender. Just remind yourself that it will not last forever. Make the best of it and learn from the trucker's experience.
- Learn to live cheap for now. Your wages will lower in your first year, and living on the road can get pretty pricey if you don't watch it. So, get cooler, bring your food, and avoid eating at truck stops. It adds up faster than you can imagine.
- Do not get into an accident. It's a fact of first-year trucking that accidents are common. Accidents are expensive, and they can stain your driving record and shake your self-confidence. So, surviving this first-year accident-free will pay huge dividends.
- Take care of yourself. Trucking is physically and mentally challenging. You will see many articles and videos reminding you to get out of the truck as often as possible and get some physical exercise, to listen to music, books on tape, or radio programs. Depression is common among truckers; this is one way to help deflect it.
- Stay in touch with family and friends. Adjusting to this new lifestyle is the biggest learning curve. So, regular contact with family and friends is the best goal, and it's easy to do. You have Bluetooth technology that allows hands-free telephone calls. You have access to the internet to use for social media or video messaging. A conversation face to face, even via computer or cell phone screen, can refresh you more than you can imagine.
- Don't job hop. It's natural for the younger ones to look for a job that provides them more benefits and changes jobs frequently in the first year. Avoid that temptation. It doesn't look good on your record. Who wants to hire someone who jumps from one job to another. You need to establish a credible time of service record. The opportunities and benefits will come soon.
Consider the tips mentioned above by driving school Edmonton north as a new truck driver, and you can build a successful career in the trucking industry in the coming years.
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