3 Time Management Tips For The Road
Remember these tips for time management on the road.
Everyone needs time management help, but it’s especially important for long-haul truck drivers. Getting the most out of every day means increasing income and getting home sooner, in some cases. Managing your own time can be a challenge, especially for newer drivers that don’t have the years of experience of a trucker that’s been on the road for years. There are a few time management tips you can follow to see a significant improvement.
Don’t Make Extra, Unnecessary Stops
The biggest time management tool for most truckers is this one. You may have as much as three hours a day to do with as you would like to, but that time adds up fast. Don’t spend more time than necessary at shippers and receivers than is absolutely necessary, either. Once your driving time starts, you should be on the road. Instead of stopping often for food and drink, try to stock your truck with essentials so you can minimize the number of stops you take. Try to make combined stops when you need to, including food breaks and gas breaks.
Don’t Spend It Looking for Parking
This is a huge problem for many truck drivers and has become increasingly more problematic as shipping grows. There’s simply not enough legal and safe parking available for many truck drivers. Try to take steps to plan for parking early on. Be sure you have a plan A, B, and C for parking. Check out some of the apps that can help you to find truck driver parking. Check these apps early, so you have a few options lined up.
Avoid Traffic
There’s nothing worse than being stuck in traffic when you just want to get home. The problem is traffic is a concern and can become a slowdown anywhere. It’s a good idea to plan for traffic – add in some extra time in your route, knowing you’ll likely run into traffic somewhere. At the same time, be proactive. For example, use your CB radio and available truck apps to help you to pinpoint backups and slowdowns before you’re in the middle of it. Also, as you plan your route, be sure you’ve taken into consideration rush hour and where you’ll be. You can use routine traffic apps to help you avoid bad traffic areas.
There are other things you can do to improve time management as well. For example, it’s a good idea to make sure you get enough sleep at night. You need that downtime so that, when the new day comes, you have the ability to function at your best. You don’t want to wind up in an accident because you’re rushing or overtired.
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