Not many people are open to becoming a long-haul truck driver. This type of position doesn’t suit everybody. But if you take a look at it, long-haul truck drivers contribute a lot to our daily living. They’re one of those people you should thank for having necessities such as food and clothing within your reach. To get goods such as these from the manufacturers to the stores, there must be people who are willing to drive them across long distances to make that a reality. That’s where the truckers come in to make this possible. From driving the large cargos and manoeuvring through traffic, truck drivers have far harder jobs than what most people know. In this article, we will explore five facts about long-haul truckers:
1. Truck Drivers Use Headlights to Communicate
You might have not noticed it if you have ever passed a huge goods carrier. But some truckers use their headlights to communicate with other truckers. If there’s a truck that overtakes another, the truck that is in its lane turns his headlights on and off to signal the truck upfront that its tail has passed the head of truck. That means the overtaking truck can now go back to his lane.
2. They Can Drive Up to 3,000 Miles in A Week
Many truckers are obliged by their companies to follow some rules while on the road. Most drivers are needed to get going for a specific set of hours under a pre-specified speed limit. The distance a driver can travel in a week will be heavily influenced by these situations so it is no surprise many them can cover up to 3000 miles. Some truckers are now using trucking software to help them track and log how many miles they are covering in a day or week.
3. Trucking Is a Dangerous Job
There is no need to convince people as to how dangerous trucking may be. You are not endangering your own life, but the lives of other people who are sharing the road with you. On top of potential accidents, long-haul trucking may be lonely since you travel for long periods in which you’re usually alone. This job often deprives drivers of proper sleep which can equate to mental stress.
4. Truckers Do Not Stay Long at Their Jobs
It doesn’t take too long to become a long-haul truck driver, plus, the pay is decent. But if you take a look at how much work a long-haul truck driver does, it is not surprising why there many drivers who choose to step off the gas and change positions.
5. The Truck Engine Is Set at A Maximum Speed
The huge trucks that these drivers manoeuvre carry tons of weight. That is why speeding is out of the question, as safety must be a top priority. Many drivers know this yet, some continue to speed. Companies found speed-limiting programs as the best solution to this problem.