Building good habits is a vital part of truck driving whether you’re working in Washington DC or Houston, TX. Checking that your load is secure, being able to evaluate the condition of your truck, and knowing how to park your rig so as not to impede those around you are all key components of the career. But in the world of truck drivers, it’s as easy to foster the bad habits as it is the good ones. The truck drivers at Bay and Bay Transportation want all truck drivers to embrace as many of the best habits as they can and kick the rest to the curb.
One of the easiest bad habits that truck drivers fall prey to is becoming a victim of “road trance.” Do you ever drive to the local grocery store and realize after parking that you don’t remember the drive over? Zoning out during driving is extremely common because once your brain processes certain information for the first time, it doesn’t need to exert as much effort to process it a second time. This isn’t a huge problem if you’re just driving three blocks from home (though it isn’t ideal) but if you’re working as a professional truck driver, keeping focused even when the roads all look alike is a skill that must be honed. Combat this bad habit by making an effort to stay present and attentive, even when the landscapes are less than thrilling.
Another common bad truck driving habit is pushing your body too hard and playing catch up. If you’re not taking breaks for sleeping and eating this isn’t only bad news for your health, it’s also bad news for your attention span. Low energy can lead to distraction and poor reflexes. Plus, if you’re trying to make up for a missed meal by eating on the go you might be putting more focus on the burger in your hand than on the other cars on the road. Fight back by getting enough sleep and eating filling meals during stops.
Finally, GPS, audio books, and high-quality radio broadcasts are all excellent editions to our age of technology, but as a truck driver, be sure to exercise caution in their use. They may help keep you focused in the right circumstances, but if you’re fiddling with your GPS on the highway then you’re already doing more harm than good. Set up your entertainment and routing in advance, and if you really need to make adjustments, wait until it’s safe to do so.
These bad habits are easy to make, but if you catch yourself doing them then there’s no reason why you can’t break them as well. If you’re a truck driver interested in professional trucking in Houston, TX, or are interested in finding out more about truck driving as a career, contact us at (888) 801-3026 or visit our website here today.