3 Ways for Haulage Drivers to Perform Better on the Road

Drivers working for successful haulage companies have a reputation for endurance, toughness and good work ethic. However there are always ways to improve performance while on the job to become more effective in fulfilling their duties. The following are some simple tips for drivers to stay on top of their game.

Wear the Right Gear

The main point of wearing the right gear is to keep comfortable at all times. You cannot fully focus on the road if you’re wearing uncomfortable clothing or shoes. Drivers working for large haulage companies often spend up to 12 hours on the road, and those long hours can be exhausting so it's important to stay comfortable during long hours in the cabin of the truck. Driver are also encouraged to wear good sunglasses—invest in the type that reduces vision fatigue and protects from the glare of the sun, even on overcast days. Choose something that is functional, good quality and not some cheap knock-off that may even aggravate vision.

Undergo Training for Defensive Driving

Delivery drivers are often responsible for extremely valuable cargo and sometimes you may not even comprehend the value of a load, so you should treat every job the same – with the utmost care. The management of haulage companies should also ensure their employees are equipped with defensive driving skills, which will allow them to stay safe on the road and minimise risk to themselves and others. Defensive driving training can also include updates on the latest legislation, as well as information that can help you to respond more effectively to challenges you may encounter. But most importantly, defensive driver training complements all the driver’s other skills and knowledge, and greatly enhances the effectiveness and safety on the road.

Communication

Before the advent of mobile communication technologies, the only thing haulage companies could do to ensure that the job got done was cross their fingers and hope that the truck arrived at the destination on time, without any hitches. These days, thanks to increasingly affordable devices and monitoring systems, a depot can actually track and monitor delivery vehicles at all times of the day, at every point along the designated route. They can also communicate with drivers in real time to advise them of proactive information that could further increase their on-the-road efficiency. This also ensures that not only can drivers perform as they are supposed to, it also lessens or eliminates risky behaviour. What’s more, any development along the route (including accidents or traffic problems) can be instantly relayed to the driver so that they can take contingency measures.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry in the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching haulage companies with jobs in road transport and haulage work in the domestic and international markets. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.