10 Principals of Professional Truck Driving
Posted on Tue, Apr 27, 2010 @ 11:06 AM
Here are 10 simple but important principals for any truck driver who desires to have a successful career:
1. Comply with all Company Policies and procedures and all Federal, State and local laws, regulations and ordinances. A Professional Driver knows the regulations and complies with them.
2. Watch your speed. Speed is the most often cited contributing factor in accidents. A Professional Driver obeys speed limits and reduces speed when road, weather and traffic conditions dictate. Speeding decreases time to react to unforeseen events and increases the distance necessary to safely stop. Speed is not the answer to customer service. A Professional Driver knows that exit ramp speed limits are maximums for cars and his speed should be slower.
3. Drive defensively. A Professional Driver anticipates the errors other drivers commit and positions himself to avoid collisions.
4. Be aware. A Professional Driver recognizes the need for focusing all his attention on his driving. He does not carry on conversations (on the CB or cell phone) and he does not text or operate his Qualcomm while driving. The Professional Driver understands a hands-free device does not eliminate the distraction caused by the conversation.
5. Drive safe equipment. A Professional Driver conducts a thorough pre-trip daily to ensure his vehicle is safe to operate and does not pose a threat of equipment failure and possible injury to himself, his cargo, and the people with whom he shares the roads. A Professional Driver takes care of his equipment so that it can provide him with a steady income.
6. No job is complete. A Professional Driver understands that paperwork, however burdensome, is a necessary and unavoidable part of the job. His logs and delivery paperwork are completed accurately and neatly and submitted timely.
7. Look the part. A Professional Driver dresses appropriately. His clothes are clean, neat and comply with Company and customer guidelines. He recognizes that he represents the Company, not just himself.
8. Know when to go. A Professional Driver knows when to go and recognizes when it's time to shut down, whether it is due to fatigue or road and weather conditions. A Professional Driver knows no load is so hot that it won’t cool off in a ditch or the median and no load is worth endangering his life or the lives of the people with whom he shares the road.
9. Protect your freight, protect your job. A Professional Driver knows that all we provide is service. If he doesn’t take care of the customer, someone else will. He protects his freight thereby protecting our customer and his job.
10. Work safely. A Professional Driver works safely. He recognizes hazards and avoids them. He reports hazards that can be corrected to management. He works at being safe so that he, his co-workers and the public can return safely to their families every day.
If you try to follow these 10 tips you will contribute to the success of the Company, be recognized as a valuable team player, and position yourself for continued professional growth.
Posted by Kevin Mullen- Director: Safety