The Final Four of Trucking - March Madness
It's here. The Final Four of trucking. And these are all #1 seeds!
What I mean by that is - do these 4 things during your first year as a truck driver and you're going to open up doors to so many career opportunities. There's a very good chance you'll be able to pick and choose whatever you want with a year of experience.
But you need to do these 4 things! So, what are they????
WATCH: The Final Four of Trucking
Final Four - The Trucker's Bracket
There are so many things coming at you during the first year in trucking. I've narrowed the field down and we're left with the Final 4 of Trucking, or Trucking's Final Four! I am giving all of these #1 seeds, because they're all extremely important.
1. No Moving Violations or Accidents
Not having one of these is not an accident. It's very hard work. If you can make it through your 1st year with no tickets or accidents, you're going to be in good shape.
2. Pass All of Your Inspections
I've passed all of mine. I was a little nervous on a Level 1, but I passed. Passing all inspections speaks volumes about the type of trucker you are and if you can do this during the 1st year, you're going to be ALLLLRIGHT!
3. Run, Run and Run
If you are expected to run 10-11 hours a day. You need to run. You never get those hours back. If you run an 8 hour day when you're supposed to run 10-11, you'll never get that time back. Now, yes, Dedicated Lanes are a little different. But if you can never make hours up that you didn't run if you're an OTR trucker.
4. On-Time Delivery
Now, look, I understand things will happen sometimes with weather and traffic - which any reputable company understands. But, what I am talking about here is consistent, on-time deliveries. You need to show and prove that you're a reliable driver who can trip plan. Getting places on-time, nearly every time is extremely important. After all, this IS trucking.
No CDL? No Problem!
Just like we helped Wayne get rolling, Driver Solutions can help you get the CDL training you need to become a truck driver. Just take a few moments to complete our online driver application now and we'll work to find a trucking school near you.
About The Author
Wayne got his start in trucking by going through the Driver Solutions company sponsored CDL training program back in 2012. Since then, he has traveled over 300,000 safe miles and counting! After seeing his photos and reading about his adventures, we knew we had to share them on our blog. Join Wayne on his journey for a first hand look at life on the road!