Tips for Adjusting to Trucking Lifestyle

Before most people get involved with jumping into a new career, they do research and ask their peers what they know about the industry they are hopping into. However, research and talking to your peers can only do so much, especially for the trucking industry. The trucking industry has a very unique set of challenges that don’t come with other jobs at times. Trucking is more of a lifestyle than a normal position. Long hours and unexpected road conditions are just the tips of the iceberg. Our Michigan semi-truck tire repair experts provided some useful tips for getting used to life on the road. 

A career in trucking can do wonders for you. The freedom and financial gain can change people’s lives for the better. At the same time, people may leave their careers and find out about the trucking life secrets when it’s too late. Here are some of the biggest secrets and realities of trucking.   

Bathroom Calls
Usually, a trip to the bathroom isn’t too bad. You can nab a spot at a local store or fast food place just before nature calls. However, there are some situations where places will not let you use their bathroom due to it being only for employees or customers. As a trucker, you don’t really have the time to stop and go if places keep turning you down. A sad reality of the world we live in. With this being said, truckers have resorted to other effective, but unconventional means. Many truckers resort to plastic bins lined with scented trash bags and kitty litter. This allows for quick bathroom breaks and a way to keep your cabin clean. 

On top of this method, heavy-duty cleaning wipes can be found at local big box stores like Walmart. These are great things to keep in your cabin at all times in case of accidents and emergencies as well as to stay clean overall. Again, these are last-resort methods. Obviously, a bathroom or port-a-potty is preferred but these issues do happen more commonly than you think.   

Sleep Schedules & Arrangements 
Another difficulty of trucking is the up and down sleep patterns due to driving times. Certain companies have a better setup in terms of your sleep schedule and driving times while others have ones that are harder to get used to. Start times vary which results in truckers driving during days, nights, holidays, and bad weather. The problem is not only when, but where you are sleeping. Many truckers sleep in different places every time. If you don’t get enough rest before your next load, you can tell dispatch that you require more sleep before your next run is scheduled. The problem is, they don’t have complete tabs on everyone. If you were stuck sleeping next to a train track all night, that is on you and might not be the easiest thing to convey to dispatch. Sleep is a major concern in the trucking industry for all these reasons. 

These are two of the biggest realities of the trucking industry. Keep these in mind when thinking about starting your first day! 


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