Keyword: Truck driver, Driving Job, Commercial driver’s license
Before you embark on the journey of becoming a professional truck driver, ensure that you are aware of all the responsibilities of a truck driver. This will enable you to perform your duty with utmost dedication and awareness.
A truck driver also termed as CDL driver, OTR driver or the long haul driver, is an individual who drives trucks and other weighty products vehicles (for example shade sided semi-trailers, LHVs, big haulers, explained trucks) professionally. Truck drivers use the road as a means of transport for transferring products for express couriers, national and international haulers, freight forwarders and transport companies. Truck Driving jobs are usually performed by males, but now a lot of female truck drivers are also seen.
Truck drivers deal with the process of loading and unloading goods onto their vehicles.
It is mandatory for truck drivers to take regular breaks driving because the continuous drive can strain their bodies. An average working day will consist of time in the driver’s seat, disrupted with many compulsory stops, typically made at the side of the road cafés or restaurants to eat, use the washroom, chit chat with other peer drivers, and take a rest. Truck drivers may not lawfully drive more than a specific number of hours a day. To assist with implementing this law, it is obligatory for HGVs with a ELD’s or The electronic logging device, which records all the driving details, including:
- Vehicle speed
- Distance traveled
- Driving duration
- Rest breaks
Likewise, to guarantee more safety, overtaking is strictly prohibited. Similarly, truck drivers are obliged to follow the recommended speed limits.
Whenever truck drivers show up at the final spot, a truck driver will locate their vehicle for docking, pull back the side drapes or potentially open the end entryways, send the slope or tail lift and manage the merchandise unloading activities.
Responsibilities of a Short Haul Driver
Usually, a short haul driver starts his daily ride early in the morning, getting out to give a chunk of deliveries and collections that generally take a half-day drive. In some situations, short-haul drivers are required to load and unload their trucks, so for this, a healthy degree of physical fitness is required.
Responsibilities of a Local Pickup Driver
As a Local Pick-up and Delivery Driver, you are answerable for getting and delivering little shipments inside a set neighborhood. You will probably drive a small-sized truck; such as a cube van.
Responsibilities of a Long Haul Driver
As a Long-pull Driver, you travel long distances, regularly driving through coastlines and extended international routes throughout North America. Long Haul drivers may likewise be engaged in business development, loading and unloading trucks, and customer relations.
It is vital for truck drivers to have an intensive comprehension of and to follow the guidelines set out in the roadway code or rules of the road, just as information on weight and size guidelines applies to their vehicle. Also, while there is no conventional necessity for truck drivers to have proficiency in mechanical skills, having some essential mechanical information might assist them with understanding the reason for a breakdown or other damage and carry out the remedial action best to their knowledge so that they can finish their task securely and on schedule.
We discussed above the responsibilities of a local pick up, long haul, and the short pull truck driver. Now we will discuss the responsibilities of Truck Drivers (as a whole).
Responsibilities of Truck Drivers
- Truck Inspection
Inspect the truck before starting the journey. He should load the truck with the merchandise and confirm the load for precision.
- Counting The Products to Be Delivered
Answerable for counting and recording amounts and styles of the item to be delivered and got to guarantee precise documentation for the client’s transactions.
- Trip Inspection Reporting
Executes and reports before and after trip inspections and discusses faults or inadequacies with management.
- Vehicle Maintenance
Recognizes the need for fixes and additional maintenance to vehicles and is responsible for guaranteeing the maintenance or fixes are refined with at least interruption to the activity. He should ensure the cleanliness of the vehicle. Maintain fuel logs, tires, oil filters, and mileage. Makes sure that any mechanical issues with the vehicle are rectified before driving.
- Site Inspection
Review site to guarantee to make sure that the climate is safe enough for unloading.
- Coordinate with the Dispatcher
Communicate with the dispatcher on a daily basis to make sure that the product is delivered to the job site in time. Report to the dispatcher in case any accidents happen.
- Warehouse Responsibilities
Carry out all inspections of the warehouse. Maintain the inventory count on a daily and monthly basis.
- Vehicle Safety Inspections
Carry out vehicle safety examinations. Informing with your truck, just as mishaps and traffic disobedience.
- Loading and Unloading
Unloading, loading, or helping in this process. Guarantees that freight is appropriately loaded and safe and the loading limit has not been exceeded. Ensure that the materials loaded inside the vehicle are properly balanced.
- Driving Safely
Long-distance driving. Driving your appointed truck securely and mindfully.
- Following laws
Following all government or state laws, guidelines, as well as official rules. Complying and keeping relevant transit regulations. Observe and comprehend wellbeing approaches and guidelines.
Following are some other general responsibilities of a truck driver.
- Follow guidelines; find and read road maps and locations.
- Checking state of products and putting together vehicle reports.
- Planning transport tasks (delivery timetable and routes)
- Transporting products to their last spot
- Checks things for accuracy and gets the signature of the collector at the objective
- Completes paperwork relating to delivery and pick up of freight
- Maintaining a definite log of working hours in consistency with state and government guidelines
- Follow accident processes
- Plan routes utilizing GPS
- Keep updating the commercial driver’s license
- Completes Hazardous Material delivery orders papers as per DOT/TC Regulations
- Customer relations
Conclusion:
We hope that now you have developed a complete understanding of the responsibilities of a truck driver for a truck driving job. Best of Luck!
