The best advice I can give new truck drivers is to understand that you will get better with experience and an open mind. Listen to the experiences of veteran drivers and have an open mind to listen to what they are telling you. Don’t be arrogant or overly cocky as a new driver.

Don’t dismiss someone because they are a little older than you or aren’t addicted to their GPS to
help them navigate.

These drivers are packed with advice that all new (and old) drivers need to hear.

Whether you are a new driver or a veteran driver there are always things to improve on that will make your driving more efficient and safer.

I’ve compiled all the things I have learned in the last few years into this one article.

It has taken me several hours to put it all together so I hope you all find it useful!

Some of them I learned on my own the hard way and a lot of them I heard about from other drivers that were more experienced.

My advice to you: Listen to experienced drivers! They have a lot of wisdom that you need to hear and absorb. Most of this stuff you won’t find in any CDL school or any other website.

On this site I want truck driving advice to practical and realistic. Here are a few of my most popular articles worth checking out after reading this one:

1. Be Careful When Loading

If you have to load and unload (this excludes most OTR drivers) make sure you know how to do it correctly.

You should be bending your knees as much as possible or you risk injuring your back. Having a bad back and trucking is a recipe for disaster. A lot drivers have back problems but I bet all of them were lifting things the wrong way.

Do a search on YouTube for “how to properly lift things” and I guarantee you will find a ton of videos demonstrating how to do it correctly.

2. Take Your Time When Backing

When backing into a space you need to take your time.

Your only goal is to get into that spot without hitting anything.

New drivers are especially sensitive to what other drivers are going to think of them if they take a long time to back into a space or do to many pull ups.

Forget about what other drivers think. You are responsible for you. Don’t let anyone rush you for any reason.

In time you will get better at backing and it will take you less time. Until then you need to do it safely using as much time as you need.

Experienced drivers: if you see someone struggling with backing into a space get out and be a spotter for them of give them some advice.

Remember, you were once in their position too. Besides, you don’t want them backing into your truck, right?

3. Always Have Winter Clothes With You

Regardless of which season it is you never know where your next route is going to take you. Bring winter clothes with you! Even in July!

There are huge temperature changes that take place when you go from Arizona to Chicago. The desert alone is tricky, one minute it’s 95 degrees and the next minute (after sunset) it’s 45 degrees.

It might be hot during the day but at night it’s a different story. Be prepared for everything by having the right clothing with you at all times.

4. Always Have Reserve Food And Water

Never plan a trip without having some reserve food and water in your truck. You never know when an unexpected breakdown is going to happen or how long it will last. Make sure you have a few cans of something with you just in case shat happens.

It may be a long time until someone is able to get you and give you a hand.

Make sure you have plenty of water some food in your cooler or refrigerator. If you are in the market for a cooler this is the one by Igloo I recommend.

5. Sleep When You Are Supposed To

Sleep patterns while driving OTR can be difficult to keep constant.

My best advice to you is to sleep when you are supposed to.

Don’t play video games, talk on your phone, surf the internet (unless you are reading this article of course), or anything else when you should be sleeping.

If you are having problems sleeping I have a few things (here is the article) you can do to your bed so that you can sleep better.

6. You Don’t Have To Drive Fast

A huge misconception that new drivers have is that they have to drive fast. You don’t have to drive fast, you just have to keep the wheels rolling.

I remember I would have the same truck pass me 4 or 5 times during an 8 hour time period. Why?

Because they would drive fast for an hour and then stop.

Then they would get back into their tuck again and drive fast again for an hour and stop.

In the meantime I would just keep a steady, comfortable speed that was much less dangerous and stressful.

It took me a year to figure this one out. Man am I glad I did. Made my driving much easier.

7. Don’t Waste Time At Truck Stops

Get in and out of truck stops. Don’t waste time at the counter talking to “supertruckers” because they will drive you crazy.

We all know those guys that work for the best company and make $0.70 per mile. They have the best benefits and the best truck.

Avoid those drivers.

Do your Triple S (shat, shave, and shower) and get a light breakfast before heading out. Don’t waste time talking to morons. You will come across a lot of them.

8. Put Everything You Need Within Arms Length

A great trick that I learned from another driver is to put everything I needed within arms length while driving.

This includes your tablet, atlas (yes, a paper one like this one), power cords, GPS, contact info of shippers and receivers, your headset, a drink, and snack.

Having these things close to me would save me a lot of time. I didn’t always have to pull off of the road to check something.

I can usually do it while waiting in traffic on I294 in Chicago 🙂

9. Stick To Your Plan

Once you figure out how many miles you have to cover stick to it. That is your goal. Keep your door closed and drive.

Sometimes a little discipline goes a long way. Over time you will get used to reaching your goals and will be so disappointed with yourself if you don’t.

10. Wake Up Early

Get up nice and early so that you give yourself some time to do what you need to do. You need to eat, use the bathroom, shower, pre-trip, and set your route.

If you plan on starting your route at 7am you need to be up at 5am. Don’t wake up at 6am and then wonder why you didn’t start driving until 8:30am.

Get to sleep early so that waking up early is not a problem.

11. Get A Thermos For Coffee

If you rely on coffee to stay awake get yourself a nice thermos to put it in.

Keep this within arms reach too so that you don’t have to stop and fill a mug when you want to have some.

Having a thermos will also save you time because you don’t have to keep stopping for coffee.

Fill it up once in the morning and you are all set for the day. Rinse it in the evening and repeat the following day.

12. Get Ready For Truck Stop Showers

Don’t believe the horror stories you have heard about truck stop showers. Most of them are not that bad and some of them are really nice.

Over time you will figure out where it’s “safe” to shower and where it’s not.

Bring everything you need with you into the shower room so that you get everything done in one trip.

This list that I put together will help you organize your shower bag.

13. Be Polite On The Docks

Be polite to these guys so that you can get in and out as quickly as possible. Don’t be a jerk and they usually will treat you good in return.

14. If You Aren’t Alert Then Don’t Drive

One of the golden rules of truck driving is to stop driving if you are tired and/or not alert.

If you have tried every strategy in the book to stay awake you need to just pull over (in a safe and legal spot) and take a break.

I put together a list of things you can do to help you stay awake. Some are scientifically and some are not. To see the list go here.

Even just a 30 minute nap can make a huge difference.

The risks of driving while tired are not worth it, don’t do it.

15. Be Prepared Before You Start Driving Alone

Get everything you need before you head out on your own.

I you need some ideas of what to bring you can’t miss this list of 41 tools all truck drivers need and these 29 accessories too.

16. Balance Your Life

I know that you have been told that trucking is a lifestyle. In many ways it is, especially if you go OTR.

Do your best though to make sure you have time for yourself. If you don’t do this you will pay for it later on.

Stress is going to kill you if you don’t have an outlet.

Be sure to find something other than trucking to keep you occupied when you are not on the clock.

Get a hobby or an interest and stick to it.

17. Don’t Swerve For Animals

That racoon that is right in the middle of the road? Hit it. That’s right, hit it.

Don’t swerve to avoid animals. Swerving to avoid an animal is an easy way to end up in a ditch. There is no animal worth saving if you have to risk your life while doing it.

18. Check Your Parking

After parking anywhere make sure you look back at your truck to see if it’s in an okay position and that your blinkers and lights are all off.

19. Use The Garbage Can

If you use a bottle to pee in please throw it in the garbage. Don’t leave it at the fuel island for the next driver to deal with.

Also, don’t just throw it out the window at the truck stop.

That is just flat out disgusting!

20. Go Local If You Can

If you don’t like the idea of OTR driving because you will be away from you family for so much time then you should get a local job.

Local jobs are great because you are usually home every night.

Time away from family is one of the main reasons truck drivers quit. For good reason too, it’s not easy being away from a wife and kids for long periods of time.

You will miss a lot and it places a lot of stress on your spouse. They will have to do everything because you aren’t there.

Note: A lot of companies want at least a year or two of OTR driving before hiring you. This means you will have to put up with OTR driving for a little bit until you can land a local job.

There are exceptions though. I live in the Chicago area and there are a ton of companies that will hire you for a local driving job without any OTR. This is a good market to be a driver in because companies are finding it harder and harder to find and hold onto drivers.

Advice For New Truck Drivers You Were Never Given