Jun 16, 2020 • Carriers

5 Most Common Mistakes for New Truck Drivers

5 Most Common Mistakes for New Truck Drivers

Many truckers try to get into the business every year and end up racking up violations and unnecessary expenses due to Rookie Mistakes. Dave of Smart Trucking shares some rookie mistakes for all the rookies entering the trucking world.

Here are the 5 of the most common mistakes new truck drivers make:

1. Misjudging a corner: You may be swinging too wide or not swinging wide enough. Always check your spacing and clearances.

2. Not getting clear directions to a delivery or pick up: Ensure good directions to avoid getting lost or in an awkward spot where it’s impossible to get turned around. Plan your trips using a trip planner (check out Trucker Path while you’re at it).

3. Lack of focus when backing up: This is one of the greatest challenges as a professional truck driver. Get out of the vehicle and survey the vicinity first. Check for obstructions and clearance. Do it slowly and safely and always focus on your driver aids (side mirrors, cameras, etc).

4. Hurrying: Hurry for no one. Hurrying leads to mistakes. Mistakes as a professional truck driver can be fatal. Take all the time you need to get it right EVERY TIME.

5. Complacency: Experienced truck drivers as well as the new truck drivers can be guilty of being complacent and overconfident. Be thorough and 100% focused at all times and never ever take something for granted. Complacency can get any driver into serious trouble.

There are many more tips out there but in general it all leads to focus, and safety. Got some tips to share? Let us know down the comments section.

By Aldous Aldwin

TagsTruck FCMSA Truck Driver truck drivers Owner Operator trucking Trucker Path Freight Broker Owner Operators Industry Update Did you Know Trucking Tips

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Trucker Spotlight - Kangaroo Trucker <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/Lark20200630-214612.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/Lark20200630-214612-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5084"></a> <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Jim</strong>, who recently picked up a vlogging hobby on Youtube. His channel, "The Adventures of Kangaroo Trucker”, is where he shares his adventures, both good and bad, while out over the road. He recently just started driving trucks and was heavily influenced by his brothers. Let's get to know more about Jim and his adventures. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How long have you been trucking?</strong></h3> I started my trucking career in 2019. I went to a local CDL school but wasted my money so I invested again with a large carrier and went to their school and drove OTR with them for about a year to get some experience. I left them and went with a smaller trucking firm (about 300 trucks) out of Pennsylvania. I got some good experience driving in the upper north east of U.S., but the communication with their drivers and the constant sitting and driving in the worst places caused me to look elsewhere. I was referred to a medium size company (about 1600 truck fleet). It’s a much better fit for me. I go out 4-5 weeks at a time and get home time with no problem. They send me all over lower 48 states. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> I got into trucking because my younger brother is a Truck Driver and my older brother, who passed in 2015, was an owner operator and owner a couple of trucks. I must have had a mid life crisis or something but I was drawn to go out to get my CDL and see what it was like to walk in his shoes. It’s been a journey. I’m glad I did it and I encourage everyone to follow their passion. It’s not just a job to me. It feeds my family, yes, but I like the daily challenges and I am amazed on how complex this logistical puzzle ever gets accomplished with the many moving parts. It is a miracle to me, at times, it all seems to work out just to get something from point A to point B. It really takes some good attitude and a great deal of patience, but working together with everyone is really what makes this whole process work. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you start Youtube vlogging?</strong></h3> I was hoping create videos to either entertain seasoned truckers as they watch me struggle getting my experience or for those new to trucking eager to learn from others who have made their mistakes so that all of us can learn from it. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the story of you becoming "Kangaroo Trucker"? Do you also have a name for your truck?</strong></h3> I own a gymnastics business in Atlanta area and have a competitive Trampoline and Tumbling team. The gyms logo is a Kangaroo so that’s why I call myself Kangaroo Trucker. <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/kt.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/kt-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5090"></a> <h3><strong>How did Trucker Path help you in your day to day trucking?</strong></h3> I will say that early on I found the <a href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/">Trucker Path app</a> to be a really large part of my daily arsenal to help me navigate this great country. I never realized how truckers had to constantly trip plan and we’re constantly looking for a place to shut down for their 10 hour break. TruckerPath is just one of those tools a trucker uses to help find a safe place to shut down, or see if a weigh station is open. The thing I like the most is that it is a Trucker Community driven app. It’s a good feeling to look for a truck stop and to find other truckers have updated the status so someone like me can feel safe in knowing there’s likely a good chance I’ll find a spot to shut down. Equally, I’m happy to update all locations I visit so I can return the favor. So if you use it, I encourage you to update often. If you don’t use TruckerPath app, I’d recommend giving it a try. Especially if you are new. Not all of us have the years of experience to know all the exits by memory of our favorite places like the veteran drivers out there. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can we watch your videos?</strong></h3> You can find me on my Youtube Channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9x-LgYMaepeyXCApHfCQOg">Kangaroo Trucker</a>. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8-9EhgnlG0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <h2></h2> I’ll keep on trucking as long as I can. It’s a great feeling to be contributing to America's supply chain and doing my part to help. <h2></h2> Cheers! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

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