Have you ever wondered what the life of a trucker is like? Here are some details of a truck driver’s daily routine.
Morning
Often a truck driver will have to wake up at the crack of dawn and only have time for a quick bite to eat, a coffee, and a safety check on their truck before they get going.
Loading
Then there’s the loading. It will either be a drop or hook load. This means that the truck will either pick up a pre-loaded container, or load the cargo manually onto the trailer.
The Journey
Once the truck is loaded, the driver will then have to plan a route to the site. This is a lot easier these days thanks to GPS units, as opposed to the old days when they’d have to consult a street directory. Back in those days it was a lot harder because the driver would have to consult the directory regularly as he or she made progress. Still, GPS units can occasionally tell you the wrong directions, so it helps to have a street directory on hand and to check the route in advance.
The driver must then make progress to the destination as quickly as possible, while still being safe. They can usually only afford minimal stops along the way. There are regulations in place to ensure drivers don’t drive for too long at a time and get fatigued.
The Drop Off
Once the driver arrives at the destination, they need to find out where to set up and drop off the goods. This might include manually unloading a trailer, or they might need to employ a crane to lift a container. Every load also comes with the paperwork to ensure all the goods were delivered which both the driver and the receiver signs off on.
What’s Next?
The driver will then need to either head home, or on to the next pickup.
It’s not easy being a truck driver, but the job also comes with its rewards for those of us who are tough enough for the challenge. The community appreciates truckers because they are the backbone of the supply chain industry and our society wouldn’t function without them.
Brought to you by Braun Transport Brisbane Darwin.