Non-CDL drivers and CDL drivers, while making a living driving trucks along the highways and byways, at any point throughout their day can find themselves dealing with stress. There are numerous causes for different types of stress, but one thing remains constant – it must be dealt with appropriately. Causes for stress can be any one of the following:
- Dealing with other drivers
- Detours
- Traffic jams
- Inclement weather
- Staying on a tight schedule
- Making a particularly difficult turn
- Stopping as fast as needed
Before non-CDL drivers start the day, one of the best things they can do to handle stress is to make note of the stressors that usually affect them.
Identifying Stressors
To figure out what stresses you out, start with identifying something that may have caused certain emotions and stress on a recent trip. Think about how you felt regarding the events surrounding that memory. How did you resolve the situation? What got you worked up in the first place? If you can identify how it could have been handled more efficiently and communicated better, you may be able to come up with an appropriate solution. Could the situation have been avoided? Could the dispatcher have helped somehow? To reduce future stress and lessen the chance of more mishaps, before encountering your next task, reflect on the situation.
Dispatchers Can Play an Important Role
Effective communication with leadership and dispatchers helps to ensure the following:
- Deliveries arrive to their destinations.
- Drivers go to and from docks as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- On-time deliveries are made successfully.
When drivers run behind schedule, stress is frequently a result. Running behind can be attributed to any of the following:
- The dispatcher not being asked the right questions.
- No proper updates.
- A lack of proactive communication.
If a dispatcher can be trusted by the driver, the haul can be stress-free and virtually seamless.
Ways to Avoid Stressors
One of the causes of on-the-road stress can be the failure to take a break by pulling over at a rest stop. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find a rest stop when you need one. Before heading out on your route, to predict and identify pullover points, work with your dispatcher.
One definite stressor for truck drivers is traffic itself. You’re trying to maneuver a large vehicle through all sorts of situations, vehicles, and drivers. Whenever possible, if deliveries can be scheduled during low traffic times, it’s preferable, in order to avoid stress.
Your trip can be significantly impacted, and your stress level driven up, by unexpected changes in the weather. Driving habits need to be adjusted, fuel efficiencies will likely be affected, your scheduled deliveries may run late, and more. Driver training can help when it comes to maneuvering large vehicles through particular weather-oriented situations. Researching the weather anticipated along your route can be helpful, as well.
CDL and Non-CDL Drivers Can Count on Mickey
Mickey Genuine Parts offers all sorts of drivers and businesses the utmost in customer support, parts, sales, premier equipment, service, and exceptional manufacturing. What’s more, we have in excess of 100 years of experience under our belts. To best fill the needs of your individual truck, trailer parts, van, service, purchasing needs, or your company, our knowledgeable team will work together. Even when it comes to our used products, we stand behind everything we sell. To find out what Mickey can do for you, contact us today.