Trucking, like many career paths, offers opportunities to develop and grow as a professional. Those with a good work ethic and determination are likely to succeed in the truck driving industry and can even make it into management roles or turn and look into fleet ownership. If you’re looking to advance your truck driving career, here’s tips on how to work your way up.
Build a Positive Reputation
You want to be known as the driver that the company can always rely on. That means safe, on time deliveries, and having an upbeat attitude. Standing out as one of the top drivers shows that you go above and beyond in your work. Your reputation, if positive, gives you a good opportunity for stepping into new roles or create yourself more opportunity to grow as a fleet owner.
Follow Regulations
Drivers who are careless on the road will be careless in other roles, and following regulations is a must if you want to advance your career into something more . This is especially true when it comes to safety; if you have a blatant disregard for safety on the road, you shouldn’t be in trucking in the first place, but you will also be seen as irresponsible. Safety is an integral part of the job, and it shows negligence if you choose to ignore it.
Stay Organized
Each day on the job, you need to have a plan in place. Setting up a daily work schedule with rest breaks according to your load shows you have preparation and organization skills. Other opportunities also require preparation and organization. Showing you possess these strengths can help you transition faster in your truck driving career. Such skills translate that you can allot your tasks for the day to get your work done on time and show independence. If your goal is to become a successful fleet owner, this will also help you manage your future fleet.
Be a Good Communicator
Effective communication in trucking is important in all aspects of the company. When you don’t communicate properly to your dispatcher or your receiver, you are wasting time and money. Communication makes operations run smoother and more efficiently, and the solitude of a truck driving job is no excuse for bad communication.
You can be the driver that flies under the radar, or you can be the one that stands out from the crowd. When looking to advance in your truck driving career, follow some of this advice and be the latter. Forward presents many opportunities for advancement, and encourages our drivers to be the very best they can. If you’re interested in having a career with an upward trajectory, contact a recruiter today. You never know, Fleet Ownership maybe calling your name. If so, ask about our Fleet Forward program that allows for an uncapped increased rate per mile on all trucks added!
