There is no shortage of different types of trucks on the road. Drivers have long recognized the benefits of driving and owning trucks from commercial jobs to just being able to haul large items around. Trucks can pull a lot of weight, transport a lot of materials, and in winter climates are great for driving on dangerous snowy roads. Let’s explore some of the different truck options out there: dump trucks, sleeper trucks, semi trucks, dromedaries, and couriers. The trucking service serves a wide variety of industries from shops to restaurants to textiles and beverages. The trucking industry has helped establish states and industries since the earliest of times and has also assisted in the building and establishing of important road structures.
Dump Trucks
Dump trucks are the best for discharging a truck of its contents in a safe and efficient manner. Most often, a dump truck is open-topped, and its body can be tilted to slide the contents out. Common dump truck contents would include garbage to be picked up from residential houses or industrial or commercial work sites. With the truck’s body tilted, contents such as sand, gravel, or garbage are dumped out through the open tailgate.
Sleeper Trucks
Sleeper trucks have a sleeping compartment attached to the truck’s cabin. These types of trucks are used for long hauls like trucking companies whose drivers are traversing great distances for long periods of time. There are places along major highways where truckers can pull over and safely rest, to reduce the danger associated with driving long periods and the tendency to fall asleep at the wheel. Sleeper trucks helped define the industry so truckers could transport their goods across larger and larger distances.
Semi Trucks
Semi Truck, also known as ‘semis’, is a combination of a tractor unit and a semi-trailer for hauling freight. The semi-trailer attaches to the tractor via a fifth-wheel hitch. The tractor and the semi have a different design than a rigid trailer and truck would have. Semis can haul large amounts of weight and can be removed easily when delivered.
Dromedaries
Dromedaries, trucks with drom boxes, were much more commonplace between the 1940s and 60s. The goal of the drom box was to be able to increase the number of materials being hauled, without going over the allotted length limit. Currently, dromedaries are thought of as specialized rigs, which is why they are not so common. With the passing of the cabover age and length restrictions evolved, the dromedary became less and less common.
Couriers
Courier trucks are hired to deliver goods from one location to another. Courier trucks deliver their goods within a predetermined timeframe. Because hand-delivery is competent, goods generally arrive fast and in one piece. Courier trucks are more often used for smaller deliveries of smaller packages of goods. Courier trucks are used when a company or individual needs goods picked up from one location and delivered to another as quickly and safely as possible.
There is such a wide range of vehicles on the road today. Whether for recreational or business purposes, trucks are useful for a number of reasons. They are strong, fast, can haul and carry heavy cargo, and can be ideal to drive in dangerous driving conditions such as inclement weather and slippery roads. Trucking has a rich and far-reaching history as an essential means by which goods were delivered over large distances. Trucks also have played a vital role in the building of the nation’s major roadways. From semis to dromedaries, couriers and dump trucks, there is a different truck with features that suit every purpose.
The trucking industry continues to be very strong, as more companies than ever find themselves needing to make deliveries fast and get work done. With so many truckers needed, companies are often faced with wondering if they need interstate or intrastate trucking. So what is the difference?
Interstate Trucking
A driver who is licensed for interstate trucking can go across the state and even country lines to make delivers. Transportation for a lot of businesses rely on crossing state lines on a regular basis, so this is the more versatile of the two licenses.
These trips are longer, so there is a greater need for a sleeping area inside the truck or a stay at a local hotel. Most interstate truckers are going to be away from home a few days at a time.
Intrastate Trucking
If the vehicle stays within the same state, it is referred to as intrastate trucking. There are obvious limitations to this, but the trips are usually shorter, so that makes this type of trucking a little bit more affordable.
Most of these trucks tend to be a bit smaller, and they help to handle daily tasks just as much as carrying things around. A lot of business owners have intrastate trucks, especially if they are not really close to any border.
Why Does It Matter?
The biggest reason why the distinction between interstate and intrastate trucking matters comes down to laws. Every single state and country for that matter has its own set of laws and regulations for trucks and drivers. As soon as travel crosses just one border, things get quite a bit more complicated.
Interstate trucking means that each driver needs to make sure that they are compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association. The rules and regulations set by them provide a more structured set compared to having to change things quite a bit from state to state.
A few examples of rules and regulations set by the FMCSR include maximum driving time, gross weight and required liability insurance. These can differ from what states say quite a bit.
For Intrastate trucking, the rules and regulations are easier to follow. Each state will provide all of the specifics for people to read through so they know that they are obeying the rules. Instead of having to know a lot of the different rules, just one initial check, in the beginning, is usually enough.
Most Common Interstate and Intrastate Trucks
With so many different types of trucks out there, it might be difficult to pick out interstate and intrastate ones. Nothing is guaranteed, but here are a few examples of each.
Interstate Trucks
Semis/18-Wheelers
These huge trucks are carrying large loads long distances. They can take up a lot of space on the highways, but they are essential for businesses who have so much product to move around.
Flatbeds
These trucks can end up being nearly as big as semis, but the flatbed is great for oversized loads. The product it is transporting just needs to be properly tied down before driving. Cars, pieces for construction, housing and more are just a few things that can pop up on flatbeds.
Tanker Trucks
Carrying around any type of liquid usually requires a tanker truck. Not only are these trucks big, but they sometimes carry hazardous materials. People should be careful around them as much as possible, as a collision could be dangerous for all.
Intrastate Trucks
Tow Trucks
When cars break down or need to be forcefully moved, a tow truck is perhaps the best wayward to do it. These trucks are not much bigger than a pickup truck, but they are powerful.
Bucket/Utility Trucks
Some businesses need to lift workers up in the air to get things done. These bucket trucks have a mobile platform matted on the back to do just that.
Garbage Trucks
Each week, the garbage truck drives by in the community. These trucks are on the bigger side for intrastate options, but most of the time, their territory isn’t big enough to need interstate travel.
Hot shot trucking insurance policies are provided by companies that allow the use of trucks to carry loads which are needed in a short period. Usually, these loads are less than a truckload, and they need to be delivered within 24 hours. Additionally, the trucks can be used to tow and pull large trailers to haul the loads. An advantage in the hot shot trucking services is the fact that it is a freelance and you don’t have to sign some contracts for you to deliver goods to any company. Moreover, anyone can be a hot shot truck driver as long as you have a driver’s license from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
1. Hot shot trucking insurance requirements
Hotshot trucking is like any job, and it needs to be insured to give your customers comfort that you can deliver their loads on time. Additionally, it allows your clients to be satisfied with your service and have comfort in knowing that they can get a refund of their load in case of damage or loss. Here are some of the hot shot trucking insurance requirements:
• You need to have a commercial driver’s license and truck driving experience this will ensure that you get charged less for your insurance
• You are required to pay $750,000 to the (FMCSA) federal motor carrier safety administration to cover any liabilities, but most of the shippers and load brokers need you to have paid $100,000
• The minimum amount of insurance required for your truck is $5,000, but most shippers prefer you to have $100,000 cargo insurance for safety purposes
• You are needed to have physical damage coverage for your trailer and truck to ensure that all your loads are protected from any physical damage
• It would be best if you had an IRP registration cover for your truck and PTI for all your trailers
• It would help if you had DOT and MC covers for you to be allowed to cross all the state lines
2. Cargo insurance considerations
There a few things you to consider when insuring your cargo for hot shots truck services. This is because in case of any damage you need to be sure that your insurance coverage can cater for everything. Additionally, your cover should be able to be changed on short notice in case you want to transport a more significant load.
Also, you need to find an insurance cover that is flexible and covers your loads from a trip to trip. Always ensure that the insurance policy you signed covers all this and you do not miss out on jobs.
3. Benefits
• Truck drivers are freelancers
This means that the truck drivers can work for any company they prefer without signing any contract. This allows you as a truck driver to have as many clients as you would handle with no problem. Sometimes contracts can restrict you to one place but working as a freelancer driver means that you got the freedom to choose which company you want to work with.
• You are your boss
Being your boss is a fantastic feeling that you can get especially if you are used to being employed. The idea that you are the one who comes up with all the decisions and you are the one who makes a plan and the schedule you want to follow for the day gives you so much freedom. Furthermore, being your boss gives you the freedom to choose which route you want to follow for you to deliver the load. Have you ever worked with a trucking company that needs you to follow a specific direction? That feeling can be exhausting and being able to make your own decisions allows you to do a great job.
• Freedom to choose your cargo
When you are hired by a company you don’t have the privilege to select the kind of freight you want to carry, and you are obligated to carry whatever the company loads. However, as a hot shot truck driver, you have the freedom to state what you want to be put in your track without anybody questioning you. You are your decision maker, and anything you say goes with fewer questions asked.
4. Challenges faced by the hot shot truck drivers
There isn’t any business in the world that does not have its problems. The hot shot trucking services are no, and the drivers are faced with all sorts of challenges. The challenges toughen you up and make you endure the business and celebrate when the good times hit. If you are a new driver, you are likely to face more challenges than the person who is already used to the business. Some of the challenges include:
• Buying the insurance cover to your truck and trailer, this is because the insurance cover can be expensive.
• You have no regular schedule, and this can make you slack in your business especially if you are used to having a program to follow.
• Getting a proper truck and trailer for your business can prove to be difficult since you need to have one that can be able to handle heavy loads.
• Truck maintenance can be a bit expensive not to mention take up your time. However, you need to keep your truck in shape for it to serve you for a long time.
Conclusion
Before getting into the business, you need to know how hot shot trucking works. Additionally, you need to be equipped on the hot shot trucking insurance requirements for you to know how you will go about the business.
If you are driving a huge truck, you will have to undertake many responsibilities to safeguard your personal and financial interests. Unlike a conventional vehicle like a car or a van, a truck is a different line of transportation where you need to take care of additional insurance and coverage liabilities by yourself.
As a trucker, you must understand the need and reasons when it comes to bobtail insurance vs. physical damage coverage requirements. Without prior knowledge of the bobtail insurance, and the physical damage coverage options, you will be putting yourself at risk by taking out your truck on the road.
Commercial auto insurance policies for trucks includes the bobtail insurance. If you are a new truck driver wondering when do you need bobtail insurance and why the answer is a relatively simple one, when the truck does not have a trailer attached to it, you will be eligible for the bobtail coverage plan for trucks.
So, the policy is for you if you meet either of the undermentioned criteria.
1- You are a truck driver, operating a truck that belongs to someone else and it does not have a trailer attached.
2- You want to protect yourself from legal actions, or expensive court settlements in case of accidents and collisions of your truck with other vehicles.
3- Your motor carrier policies include carrying the insurance.
Physical damage coverage is the comprehensive vehicle coverage plan that is similar to the insurance plans of other commercial vehicles. It will cover your truck for damages and losses that are the part of your policy. When you go for the physical damage plan, you sit with the policymaker and discuss all options for coverage that will safeguard your financial and safety interest as a trucker. The premium of your physical damage policy will depend on the number of covers you apply for in the plan. You have the option to go for multiple insurance plans at a time or select a method that meets your basic insurance requirements.
How will the Bobtail Insurance Protect You?
The Bobtail policy is exclusive to liabilities. It gives you protection in case of a truck colliding with other vehicles, and the carriage is in someone else’s ownership. In this situation, it goes without saying that at the time of the accident the truck must not have a trailer attached to it.
You will get coverage if you are returning after the delivery of the load.
You get into an accident while you are going to pick the first load.
You get into an accident as you head to your home after the deliveries and are driving the truck.
In all the above scenarios it is important to remember that the policy will not cover and pay for the physical damages of the truck. It will cover other necessary expenses that include legal fees, medical costs, injury claims, and settlement issues.
The Bobtail Insurance Average Cost
Like many vehicles insurances, this type of insurance also checks for many factors that contribute to the average cost of the policy. When a truck driver asks for this insurance, the provider will check for details such as the driving history of the truck driver, any prior accidents on record, the limit requested by the driver, and how many instances will the truck be on the road without a trailer. A driver with no prior accident and a request for a reasonable limit will get the policy for lower rates. On the other hand, if the driver record is not clean, and there are many violations of traffic on his license, not only the price of insurance will go high, but the insurance company has the right to decline the request. On average, with every other requirement met, a truck driver can get the policy for $30 to $60 per month that will provide coverage up to $100,000.
Luckily with fierce online competition, it is not difficult to schedule your quotes online. When you shop for this insurance plan you will find some insurance companies that are exclusively offering this specialized trucking coverage, and you have an option to reach out to the insurance agent, or some sites have interactive features where you can schedule your bobtail insurance quote online as per your requirements.
How to Get the Best Policy?
Like any other policy, the main things to consider when looking for the bobtail insurance is to get at least three quotes and compare the prices and the features of the plan. While you want to save money, you will not want to align yourself with an insurance provider where you make a few dollars savings and let go of some critical insurance cover in the policy. Carefully go through the policy features, read the fine print and seek consultancy with the insurance agent for the matters where you want more information and details. Usually, you will get a no-obligation consultancy with the insurance providers so you should capitalize on that and get all the details from few insurance providers before you decide to purchase a plan.
You can get the coverage in a matter of minutes; however, it is in your interest to align yourself with a quality insurance provider. As a rule of thumb, stay away from agents who offer you cheap third party insurance options, or huge discounts that otherwise does not make any sense. You can find many reputable insurance agencies that will provide you with bobtail insurance at competitive rates. Always check for the insurance company details, such as the number of years they have in this business, the total insurance portfolio, and the claim settlements. A good insurance provider will gladly share all these details with you and give you the security and assurance you look for in an insurance plan. Remember that in case of an accident you should immediately reach out to the insurance company as soon as possible and document your case. If you delay such reports, it can impact your situation and reduce the settlements you may otherwise get for the liabilities.
Cargo damage can occur at any time, so if you’re wondering what is motor truck cargo insurance and if you should buy a policy, keep in mind, accidents, even natural disasters happen every day and it’s too risky to gamble. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Association, a trucking accident can result in an average of $149,000 worth of lost revenue, and that doesn’t include the cargo. Yet, costs are controllable.
Who Needs Motor Truck Cargo Insurance?
Without cargo insurance, any damage to transported goods could potentially put a company out of business. Even worse, a business could face a ruinous lawsuit resulting in judgments. Moreover, many drivers are not even sure if they require a separate policy, mistakenly assuming they can get by with their current liability insurance. If you’re transporting cargo, you need this coverage because it precludes damages to a vehicle.
Cargo carriers transport goods for delivery to third parties by means of trucks. In spite of the greatest care, an accident can occur at any time. There are also many other risks associated with transport. This can lead to damage during loading and unloading, or due to a poorly secured load. The risk of theft, as well as damage due to vandalism, is also very high. Natural forces such as hail or storm also repeatedly cause transport damage. It is also wise to remember, in many cases, there is a legal liability limit. This is why a corresponding insurance policy for cargo is indispensable
Why Purchase Cargo Insurance?
No cargo is ever safeguarded against every type of risk. There are several benefits for cargo insurance, especially for goods that are transported over long distances… Sellers or exporters can make the coverage to protect themselves from a number of unfortunate incidents such as accidents, hijacking of the cargo, or damages during the shipping process from heat or moisture. Depending on the scope of the coverage, cargo insurance can also cover losses resulting from simple negligence.
Bottom line, if you’re wondering what is motor truck cargo insurance really good for, well consider a scenario where the freight is vandalized. Since the underlying value of the goods is insured, any damage during transporting to the destination would result in a partial or total loss payment. Of course, this depends on the conditions of the policy. This approach also makes it easier to recoup any funds that have already been paid out. Seen from this perspective, truck cargo insurance covers the interests of both buyers and sellers and helps minimize any future losses that can occur when goods are lost, stolen, or during transport damage.
Insuring Your Interests
Everyone understands that the fundamental concept of buying motor truck cargo insurance is to protect one’s own financial interests. What often is not understood are the coverages, conditions, and exclusions, and trying to decipher if a policy is the best fit. Various insurance policies can be complicated, depending on the commodity transported; therefore, it’s best to get a few quotes for comparison.
Motor vehicles are prone to many risks, such as theft, accidents or even fire. Even though the probability of this risks occurring may be low, when they do happen, it can lead to major loses especially for the truck owner. Truck drivers are also exposed to many risks. An accident can lead to injury resulting in situations where one has to pay hefty medical bills. Trucks are an investment and a way of owners safeguarding their vehicles, they usually take up insurance covers. One of the insurances covers available for truck drivers is the bobtail insurance cover. What does bobtail insurance cover? This is an important question that will be discussed in length in this article.
What is bobtail insurance?
Bobtail insurance is a liability cover that is specifically meant for truck drivers. Trucks are normally used for freight services. During such travels, the truck insurance normally covers the driver, the truck and also goods on transit. However, once the goods are delivered, the companies liability cover does not cushion the driver from any risks that may occur. Bobtail insurance helps bridge this liability gap by ensuring the driver is covered during such times.
What does bobtail insurance cover?
The bobtail cover applies when a truck is not hauling any load. Such situations normally arise when goods have been delivered and the driver has to travel to get the next haul or when the driver is running personal errands. It is important to note that bobtail insurance only covers the truck when no trailer is attached.
Who takes up the bobtail insurance cover?
Bobtail insurance policy is meant to cover the driver. Normally, if one is employed as a driver in a company, the employer takes up the cover on behalf of the driver. Some truck drivers, however, operate as independent contractors working on lease agreements with truck owners. In such instances, truck owners normally require drivers to take up the bobtail insurance cover before the lease agreement can take effect.
Taking up a bobtail insurance cover
As per the law, it is mandatory for a truck to have an insurance cover. For truck drivers operating lease agreements, having bobtail insurance is a critical part of the contract. Normally bobtail insurance is charged monthly but there is also an annual policy plan. How much you pay for your bobtail insurance will normally be based on the following factors:
• Choice of your insurance cover provider
Companies normally charge different rates based on the company’s policy model. The base rate and premium charges may fluctuate from time to time.
• The type of truck
Trucks come in a variety of models and some tend to be cheaper than others. During valuation, the value of the truck is one of the determinants of how much one will pay as premiums.
• The type of plan
Annual plans tend to be cheaper as compared to monthly plans especially if the covers are meant to last a long period of time.
Important facts about bobtail insurance
There is a maximum value that one can insure of about $1 million but due to the changes in law, one can also get higher covers. Bobtail insurance is not a substitute for primary liability when it comes to truck insurance. Lease agreements will normally require drivers as a way of safeguarding trucks as they operate.
Terms and conditions
After understanding what does bobtail insurance cover, the next step is analyzing the specifics of such an agreement with an insurance company. When taking up such a cover the first step is normally valuation. This is the process of determining the actual value of the truck, key features such as brake performance and security features. Upon valuation the premiums the truck driver is supposed to pay will now be calculated.
The bobtail insurance cover comes to effect once the premiums are paid and the insurer verifies the truck credentials such as ownership and registration. It is, however, important to note that the insurance policy does not cover risks associated with negligence. Such risks include damages caused by reckless acts such as over speeding, drunk driving or even careless overtaking.
As a truck driver, understanding what does bobtail insurance cover is very important. As a bobtail policyholder, your obligations are to pay your premiums on time and inform your insurer of any issues such as breakdown or accidents that may occur while you are on the road. Maintain your truck should also be your number one priority as it minimizes accidents.
Conclusion
Understanding what bobtail insurance covers sheds a lot of light on the relevance of such a policy. One should always consult a professional before taking up such a cover. Such individuals will normally guide you on the contract terms of such a policy and even point out the top insurance companies to go for when taking up such a cover.
The current state of our economy causes many to lie awake at night and worry about the security of their jobs. That said, the long haul trucking industry is one area in which the future seems bright. Simply put, in-demand goods will always need to be transported from point A to B. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a whopping 21 percent job growth within the trucking industry throughout the next three years. According to rough calculations, this means more than 330,000 new trucking jobs will be added to the current economy by the year 2020.
With these types of statistics, it is easy to see why many job seekers would flock to the trucking industry—but there are many things to consider, as trucking is far more dangerous than you may realize.
The dangers of being a truck driver:
Let’s start with the long hours. The majority of truck drivers are expected to be on the road up to fourteen hours each day, and truckers typically receive only about ten hours off in between long-haul shifts. Sure, laws that regulate a trucker’s time on the road do exist, but they are all too commonly broken. Unsparingly, exhausted individuals paired with long-haul trips often equals danger. Sadly, the chance of perishing while on the job is significantly higher in this profession than in others. Auto accidents involving truckers account for 12 percent of work-related deaths in the U.S.
Time off and burnout is also exceptionally high in this profession, as truckers seldom get more than a single day off each week. This schedule often means missed time with family and loved ones, especially around the holiday season when shipping demands increase.
If you think the average trucker’s pay would make up for these sobering statistics you’d be wrong. The average trucker typically earns about $38,000 per year. That doesn’t sound too bad until you break it down a bit further—an excess of 4400 hours each calendar year, equals an hourly wage of about $8.70 per hour.
Poor nutrition is another danger of the road. Truckers very rarely eat three square meals each day, as most of us are accustomed to. Most drivers tend to survive on high calorie, packaged meals during driving hours. These types of foods are usually nutrient diffident and contain very high levels of preservatives, which can wreak havoc on the human body. Often when drivers arrive at their destination for the night, they will treat themselves to a large—and often times unhealthy—meal before heading to bed. It goes without saying this cycle of binge eating, without a regular exercise regime, can quickly lead to obesity, which only exacerbates any existing health problems.
This organically lends itself to another health issue many truckers experience: infrequent medical care. The long hours on the road often make it impossible for drivers to maintain regular checkups from their family doctors. Unsurprisingly, this greatly limits health care options when and if there is a problem, which leads many truckers to ignore symptoms or work through a common illness, such a cold or the flu, rather than taking time off to rest when they become ill.
Additionally, depression is rather common among the truck driver community due to the time spent alone, distance from family and general loneliness.
Additionally, planning ahead for important dates, whether it is a birthday, anniversary, wedding, etc., is a bit of a minefield for a long-haul truckers. Unfortunately, scheduling often comes down to dispatchers, loads, and traffic conditions, so even if a driver has done his or her best to make it back on time, they will often miss important dates and events due to circumstances beyond their control.
Female truck drivers are underrepresented in the trucking industry for many reasons. However, this does not necessarily mean that women find it more challenging to drive trucks than men. Many female truckers say that difficulty is relative. Some women may find the idea of driving big rigs daunting, while others see it as nothing more than controlling a vast piece of machinery. A lot of women find it easy to drive big trucks, and driving big trucks may be safer with a woman behind the wheel. Read on to learn why.
Is driving a truck a difficult job for a female?
There is no stark difference in how men and women drive big trucks that will convince many that females perform worse than male drivers. Many male instructors say that women truck drivers are more prudent and careful behind the wheel. They do not carry the egos that most male drivers carry and they are more open to corrections than male drivers, making them less prone to committing mistakes when behind the wheel.
Also, modern trucks come with all the features and powered systems that make them comfortable and even pleasurable to drive. If and when the truck breaks down, truck drivers are free to have a mechanic take over, which eliminates the need for a female driver to be physically able to do the repairs herself. Insurance premiums may also be lower if the driver is female. This means that female drivers may be able to get more comprehensive coverage for potential liabilities compared to their male peers.
Females may find the training process challenging, but this can be said for any trainee who is trying his hand at driving a big rig for the first time. With air conditioning, automatic brakes, power steering and a host of other features that comprise the controls of any rig, driving a big truck is certainly not as hard nor as physically demanding as most people think.
Challenges Female Truck Drivers Face
Of course, female drivers still face many challenges in this field of work. One of the reasons why men outnumber women in this industry is because there are fewer female instructors than male. This means that female trainees may be paired with male instructors for training programs that could last for months at a time. This kind of set-up could be intimidating for a trainee who is new to the industry.
Harassment and discrimination are also not uncommon in male-dominated fields such as this. Verbal harassment is something that many female drivers encounter on the road, whether from fellow drivers, mechanics, or truck stop employees.
Most rigs are also designed to fit the stature of male drivers.
This is something that the industry is aiming to change so that rigs can better accommodate the physical differences between male and female drivers. Safety is perhaps the most significant consideration, however. Experienced female drivers take note of stops that are deemed unsafe, especially during late nights. Taking a buddy along or toting an equalizer such as pepper spray or a gun becomes an option. One female driver keeps a pair of men’s boots visible to deter people. While it is true that everyone is at risk for danger especially in this line of work, unaccompanied female drivers may be more at risk than their male counterparts and therefore should take more and varied precautions.
Conclusion
Driving a truck may not be that difficult for women where physical ability is concerned. However, discrimination and safety concerns mean those female drivers have more challenges to face compared to their male counterparts, and this requires more effort from them if they want to succeed in this industry.
The trucking industry is considered to be highly lucrative due to the job security. There is a high demand for truck drivers, and the job is believed to come with a stable income. However, it is wise to ask, what are the challenges faced by truck drivers? Just like any other career, truck driving also has its problems. Before you sign up to be a truck driver, ask yourself, what do truck drivers understand that most people don’t? When you answer this question, you will know whether or not you can handle the challenges that come with truck driving. The following are some of the struggles truck drivers face on the road and in their personal lives.
1. Long Working Hours
The biggest challenge truck drivers face the long working hours they have to endure. Freight usually needs to be transported over long distances. Drivers also have to suffer through the severe road conditions to ensure safe arrival of whatever they are carrying. There are no legislative rules that dictate how long a truck driver should be on the road. For this reason, they are almost always working overtime with no compensation.
There are many risks you have to wade through as a truck driver each time you are on the road. Road accidents involving truck drivers are rampant because sometimes they have to break traffic rules to ensure the package they are transporting arrives on time. Death is always looming as overtaking traffic around sharp corners is extremely risky. Even if as a truck driver you observe all traffic rules, there is still a driver breaking the rules.
You might ask yourself, what do truck drivers understand that most people don’t? One of them is that their annual salary does not take into account their long working hours and the risks they encounter every day on the roads. Even though truck driving has undisputable job security, truck drivers get paid less considering the long hours they spend on the way.
2. Health Issues and Healthcare
Meals truck drivers eat while on shift are not healthy. Foods sold on highways are mostly junk and dessert. Foods high in sugar and calories cause truck drivers to be overweight and unhealthy. An excellent answer to the question, what are the problems faced by truck drivers? Is that they suffer poor health and insufficient healthcare. The foods they have access to do not provide their systems with all the nutrients required. Eating unhealthy meals before bed can be highly detrimental to a person’s health. The poor eating habits truck drivers adapt to have them leading a poor lifestyle and for this reason, suffering from health conditions is imminent.
Sometimes, they don’t get access to food or water, and they have to drive on an empty stomach. Starvation is dangerous for any driver as they can easily cause a road accident. Sitting for long hours without working out or exercising leads to very unfit truck drivers. Many of them suffer from obesity due to the calories they ingest every day.
As a truck driver, the time you are off duty is hardly enough for you to deal with your responsibilities, let alone find time to work out. In case a truck driver is suffering from a medical condition, they hardly get time to make a proper medical appointment. Most of them end up ignoring the symptoms only for them to get worse. Because of their lifestyle, they are at risk of suffering from;
Most truck drivers have emotional baggage because they hardly find time to spend with friends and family. Because of these challenges, you see that many truck drivers abandon this career because they are unable to balance between work and their personal life
3. Relationships
It is quite challenging for truck drivers to form meaningful relationships. They are always away for days at a time and hardly get time to catch up on what they missed. People close to truck drivers complain about them not being emotionally available. Those who have kids are merely part of their lives, and these kids grow up without the affection of one parent. Many sacrifices have to be made for a relationship with a truck driver to thrive. You find that the majority of drivers have to quite truck driving to save their relationships.
Conclusion
The trucking industry has seen a shortage of truck drivers as many drivers choose to abandon this career. There are many inconveniences truck drivers have to suffer through, and there is no compensation for any. As a truck driver, you have to be prepared to work long hours and get less pay.
There are mobile apps that truckers can use. Some apps are specifically designed for truck drivers, while other apps can be used by anyone who drives but is still very useful to truck drivers. With that said, below are some of the top trucker apps out there.
GasBuddy
Perhaps the best app for truckers is GasBuddy, which can help truckers save money on fuel costs. Many truck drivers easily spend hundreds of dollars per week on diesel gas on a weekly basis. This brings us to the first trucker app, called GasBuddy.
GasBuddy is a free app that displays up-to-date gas prices for gas stations across the United States and Canada. If a truck driver is in the middle of nowhere and they need help to find a cheap gas station nearby, this app will allow them to do it. Truckers can easily find the cheapest fuel, fueling stations nearby and they can view what features the gas stations have, such as food, restrooms, showers, etc.
Weigh My Truck
Many truckers find it aggravating to weigh their trucks at weigh stations. It costs money to do this. Sometimes truckers cannot avoid bypassing a weigh station.
Introducing Weigh My Truck, an app that works with CAT Scales. Drivers can save a significant amount of time when they download and use Weigh My Truck. When you’re at the scale, you can use your smartphone to pay your weight and to weigh your truck. There’s no need to ever get out of your truck.
This app also is able to access your location. Furthermore, your weigh ticket will be sent to you via email. However, you can still request a hard copy.
CoPilot Truck Navigation
This is a voice-activated app that helps truckers determine what the most efficient route to take is. The app highlights restrictions in regards to commercial vehicles. It does this based on the load you are transporting. Not only that but if you have multiple stops to make, the app will calculate the best route for each stop.
Another major benefit of the CoPilot app is the GPS feature can be used when it’s not online. Truckers are able to save their data by using the GPS offline. This app does cost money, but the yearly subscription price is well worth paying for.
OverDrive
This is a multi-purpose app that truckers find useful. Out of all the truckers apps, this one is probably one of the most useful. It can tell you what the weather forecast is, locate rest stops in the nearby area and it has a load tracker. It even has a message board. This app may have basic features, but they can come in handy when a trucker is out on the road. They can access the features from anywhere and at any time.
The trucking industry has evolved over time. As a result, more and more trucker apps have been brought to the market. If you’re a truck driver, then you should consider downloading the above apps. You’ll find that they come in handy and might help you improve your productivity and the way you drive.
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