Truck driving is a profession with its own unique stressors and rewards. If you think of the trucking life as romantic, free-from-excessive-oversight, and filled with adventure, consider these six things you didn’t know about being a long-distance trucker.
Truckers Are Constantly Monitored
If you don’t like micromanagement, you may not like long-distance trucking. Most truckers work for large organizations that use fleet management software to tell them where their trucks are, how fast they’re going, how many stops they make, and how much time is spent idling.
All commercial trucks are required to have electronic logging devices (ELDs) that record times, dates, miles driven, and “hours of service,” or how long an individual driver has been operating the truck. These ELDs are primarily safety devices to ensure truckers aren’t driving for extended periods, which brings on dangerous fatigue.
They Decide if They Drive During the Day or Night
The main point of long-distance trucking is to get the load from point A to point B. The time of day they drive is up to the trucker, as long as they arrive close to when they’re expected, given road and weather conditions.
They Drive 2,500 to 3,000 Miles Every Week
Imagine driving from Los Angeles to New York, and then turning around and driving back again. Then, repeat that trip several times. Long distance truck drivers log thousands of miles every week.
The miles can put a lot of strain on the back and bottom. That’s why choosing a semi-truck seat is so important to drivers. These seats provide support, and in some cases, heating and cooling, to help drivers stay alert.
They Often Get Paid by the Mile
Many truckers don’t get a regular salary. Instead, they get paid by the mile. Those miles can be calculated by the distance between the starting point and the end point of the route, or defined by how many “practical miles” the driver puts in during working hours.
Their Hours Are Regulated and They Don’t Unload
Federal regulations mandate that drivers transporting loads of property can’t drive more than 70 hours in any 8-day period. After reaching the limit, drivers must take a 34-hour break. Drivers can’t drive more than 11 hours straight without a 10-hour off-duty break. The driving must occur within a 14-hour window of time that includes break time.
Truck drivers aren’t required to load and unload their trucks. In some locations, driver loading and unloading is actually illegal. Whoever sends and receives the load is responsible for getting it in and out of the trailer.
They Don’t Eat All Their Meals Alone at Truck Stops
One of the things you may not know about long distance truckers is that there’s more than just a sleeping berth in many semi-trucks. Some drivers have truck cabs tricked out with kitchens, including refrigerators, and televisions. They spend a lot of time in their trucks, and when they use them as hotel accommodations to get their required time off, they want to be as comfortable as possible. A bonus of the truck kitchen is healthier eating.
Drivers also may not travel alone. Some bring their spouses with them to share the time (but not necessarily the cooking) and provide company and conversation during long hours on the road.
Next time you pass a semi on the highway, give some thought to the long hours and attention to safety professional drivers provide.
