Can You Answer All of These Questions About Being a Trucker?

A CDL is something that drivers must have in order to operate their rig legally in the United States. In order to get your CDL, you have to be at least 18 years old.

This is common truck driver lingo for a cop with a radar gun. Truckers have some fun and interesting language that they use often!

If you're paid by practical mileage, it means that you'll receive pay for the most efficient route to your destination. Often, truckers will be paid by each mile they travel, and some can even be paid hourly.

Backing up is one of the more difficult tasks that a truck driver must learn to do. Driving a vehicle so large and with many large blindspots can be nerve-racking, but there are some techniques that can help drivers complete the task easier.

Sometimes you might have trouble finding your destination, so a GPS or map can make your life a little easier. Put it in your essentials to help yourself out and make life on the road a little easier!

This is the head of all of the truckers associations around the United States. They work to help truck drivers have better experiences and fight for them in matters of the road.

OTR stands for "Over the road" which is a term for drivers who are often on the road for longer periods of time. If you're starting out as a driver, it is likely that you might hold an OTR position until you have a bit more experience.

Just as we go through regular Driver's Education, truck drivers must go through their own course. Truck driving is a skill that is similar in some ways to regular driving, but in most ways is totally different. There are many more things that have to be learned about safety in a large vehicle that may not apply as much to a regular vehicle.

This is true. Many truckers try to eat as healthy as they can and prepare their own food and drink before leaving. Bringing a mini-fridge or cooler along makes it that much easier!

If something happens to your truck, you'll need to see if you can find the problem. You'll be thankful that you have one with you, especially if your issue takes place at night.

A truck has many blind spots to be aware of. In the very front of the truck, a driver typically can't see if there is a car there creating danger if a car cuts too close. Directly behind the truck is also a dangerous spot to be, while the same can be said for both sides.

If you hear a trucker talking about a bear, don’t be alarmed! They’re only talking about the police, not the large animal in the forest. Watch out for that bear in the air.

In order to make sure your trips go smoothly, it's important to make sure your rig is in top shape. Unfortunately, this can take away from some of your work hours at times, meaning it's important to get things done as quickly as you can.

Your mirrors help you to see places that you wouldn’t be able to normally. Utilize them! It can help you understand where everyone is positioned around you and help you avoid accidents before they have a chance to happen.

This is a form of allowance that some companies pay for. However, even if the company you work for doesn't pay for it, you're still in luck! You can deduct all of these expenses off your income tax at the end of the year.

11 hours a day is the maximum that a driver can operate a vehicle. These limits are set to ensure the safety of the driver and to make sure that the items can make it to their destinations as well.

Did you know that it is acceptable for truck drivers to travel with another person? This however does not apply to a hitchhiker. Anyone traveling with the driver must be approved by their company first.

Coming from the fact that a car would be dangerously close to the bumper of the truck, drivers call tailgaters “bumper stickers”. It is not wise to tailgate a truck, as you cannot see around them when you are so close.

A truck is difficult to operate in good weather, let alone the bad weather. There is an added danger that the truck can jackknife due to the bad weather, meaning you should give the truck as much room as you can when driving near one.

When you look at a logging truck, you can probably see the resemblance to toothpicks! You can use this next time you’re on the road to describe one.

This is true. The chains on the tires are helpful in bad weather, as they can allow for more traction. The chains can be life savers in times of snow, or when in the mountains.

When you drive a truck for a living, you're away from home quite a bit. That means you can miss a lot, such as birthdays and anniversaries. The truck driving life isn't for everyone.

As a trucker, you don't necessarily have a set start time. You can choose when you drive yourself as the important part is to just make it to your destination on time and safely.

Some employers cap the speed that your truck can go for many reasons. Often, truckers will fight these caps in order to make roads safer.

Another trucker term, motion lotion is used to refer to diesel fuel. Truckers often use diesel fuel because it is often much cheaper than regular fuel. This type of fuel is also perfect for the purpose of hauling large loads.

Truckers will often pull over to get a few minutes of sleep in order to keep themselves from falling asleep at the wheel. It's worth the wait, as they can stay safe and keep others on the road safe as well by taking care of themselves.

You never know when disaster could strike on the road, either for you or another driver. If you have a first aid kit on hand, you're that much more prepared with the basics to help yourself or others.

As a truck driver, you spend a lot of time inside your truck. One way to make it a little more comfortable is to try and keep it clean by eliminating clutter every day and thoroughly cleaning it once a week.

When you're on the road, you can't use your phone while driving, and might find it hard to keep in touch with family. With a mounted cellphone holder, you can speak with your loved ones back home hands-free, and safely.

Since you're always on the road, it can be difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle as a trucker. Sometimes you might have no choice but to eat at a fast food restaurant, and you'll find that you sit for a large majority of the day.

It's a good idea for truckers to try and stay in the right lane as much as possible in their travels. Sometimes, cars may try to pass on the right and they can be very difficult to see in your mirrors. This could easily cause an accident, so it's best to try and avoid this all together.

The life of a truck driver consists of working long hours for smaller periods of time. Fortunately, as a driver you will get a nice little break to relax between trips that you will have to make.

These drivers are known to be “reading the mail” by truckers terms! Maybe they’re just interested in what’s going on in the open road or maybe they are just shy and don't want to speak.

Communication is extremely important as a truck driver. You have many people you'll have to communicate with including the customer, your dispatcher and fellow truck drivers on the road.

If you're a truck driver, you've likely purchased yourself a good tire monitoring system. This is great for monitoring the pressure in your tires to make sure that they are working at their peak performance for your trip.