First 30 Days: Early Training

The first 30 days of your trucking career are no doubt going to have some tough and stressful moments. Try not to worry: most truck driving companies will start you off with a team trainer who will sit with you while you drive and guide you along the routes. Make the most of this time with your team trainer.

Follow Hours of Service and ELD Rules

Your company is required to follow Hours of Service rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules dictate how much you can drive in a specific period, to keep you sharp and safe while you're on the road. You can find a quick summary of the rules on the FMCSA website.

Using your Electronic Logging Device (ELD) makes tracking HOS easier. The ELD monitors your truck's engine to track when you're on duty. It's important to ensure that your ELD reports accurately reflect hours driven. Remember, you're allowed to make edits to your log if needed. Your team trainer will give you helpful suggestions for using the ELD.

Develop a Good Rapport With Your Team Trainer

You'll be sharing space with your team trainer during long hours on the road. Take advantage of the situation by asking your team trainer lots of questions. Your team trainer is a resource. Use their knowledge to deepen your own.

During this period, learn as much as you possibly can while you're on the road. If your team trainer doesn't let you drive as much as you need, or if they're inattentive while you're driving, that can be a problem. Watch for these potential issues:

• You're not learning.
• Your trainer doesn't follow company training guidelines or safety rules.
• Your trainer isn't able to answer your questions.

If you're having problems with your team trainer, it may be time to ask for a new trainer. Don't be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself.

Develop Good Driving Habits

Start developing good driving habits from the first day on the road.

• Get in the habit of performing a full Pre-trip Inspection (PTI) before starting a trip. Don't skip steps.
• Don't rush while backing and maneuvering. You'll get more comfortable with your rig over time.
• Confidence is good, but avoid being over-confident. This can lead to risky driving.

Learn to Communicate

Maintaining good communication on the road keeps everything running smoothly. Your truck will have a communications system that you can (and must) use to send messages (macros) about your status to your dispatch team.

Your team trainer will show you when and how to send your location, ETA, loaded call, etc. Every company uses their own macros system, so you'll need to learn the macros specific to your company. Avoid late macros or skipping macros. Failure to communicate means the chain of work breaks down, which causes delays for everyone (including you).

Days 31-60: Transition to Solo Driving

Many (but not all) drivers have transitioned to solo driving by 30 days. If you haven't transitioned yet, you'll be doing so soon.

Master Time Management

This is the time to master your time management skills. Plan loads in advance to ensure the most efficient route. This is a good time to reflect on which kind of routes you prefer (and why).

When something goes wrong with a trip, take time when the journey is over to reflect on what went wrong and how it could have been better. This can help you avoid mistakes in the future.

Transition Away from Your Trainer

Your trainer should be letting you lead most of the time now, and more of your time will be self-directed. If you don't feel ready yet, speak up and work with your trainer to cover any material that you still feel uncertain about. This is your chance to get it right.

Days 61-90:

Start Thinking Like a Professional

Make planning your next load second nature. This is also a time to take notice of your own internal stress levels to avoid long-haul fatigue. Your first instincts should be to manage your route efficiently and take care of yourself.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions

No one is fully trained at 90 days, so you should still feel free to ask questions, even if you don't have a team trainer with you anymore. Asking questions will help you learn and grow, and get better at your work.

Here's To A Successful Career!

Getting off to the right start in your career can help ensure that every day is more satisfying and rewarding. Good habits you develop early on will stay with you. For more information about truck driving and good OTR jobs, check out Trucker Junction.