Traits of Good Truck Drivers. Do You Have the Skills to Succeed?

Being a professional truck driver is a big responsibility. You transport goods to people and businesses across North America, and sometimes the world.

While driving may not seem like a difficult job, there are certain truck driver traits that are needed by professional drivers to keep you alert, focused, and professional while you do your job.

At 123Loadboard, we work with some of the best truck drivers and transport companies across North America, supporting you with mobile apps and tools to ensure you find loads, meet deadlines, and get paid on time.

Here, we will talk about some of the qualities of a great truck driver and how you can make it to the top of your game.

Communication is Key

If you want to be a great truck driver, communication is something that will set you apart from the crowd. Whether you are picking up or dropping off, your client or freight broker wants to know where you are in your schedule. If you are delayed due to a layover, it is crucial to share that information so that receivers aren’t waiting for late deliveries that never arrive.

Communication also keeps you alive on the road. Whether you have:

• A flat tire
• Hit inclement weather
• Been in a road accident

You must be able to communicate to stay safe and stay on track.

Be Comfortable with a Wrench

One of the top truck driver traits is your mechanical finesse. In other words, how handy are you with a wrench?

While an auto shop is certainly the team to call in the event of mechanical failure, there will be times on the road where you are far from help and need to think on your feet. Having some mechanical background or learning a few skills to take on the road will benefit you and save you money as a truck driver long-term.

Driving Clean

We all make mistakes, but the fewer mistakes you’ve made on the road the better. As a truck driver, a clean driving record not only means peace of mind for your employer in terms of you and your cargo arriving at the destination safely, it also means reduced insurance rates.

It costs more to insure a driver and truck who have a record of accidents. Keeping your record clean, even before becoming a professional truck driver will encourage freight brokers to pick you out of a lineup of truck drivers every time.

Navigation Skills

Are you the type of person who can determine which direction you’re facing by the sun or stars? You might just have a knack for being a truck driver. From GPS to traditional paper maps, there are plenty of ways to get from point A to point B. However, every now and then a road is closed, or a map is wrong, and you are left wondering where to go next.

Of course, communication with your dispatcher or freight broker is key to keeping on the right track. That said, if you have basic navigation skills, you may be able to get yourself out of a sticky situation and back on the road without much help from anybody.

Learn More About 123Loadboard

Interested in learning more about 123Loadboard and how we support you as a truck driver? We invite you to sign up today and see what a difference our apps and tools can make to your career.