Blog

No Image November 24 2022 in Trucking, Truck Driving

Common Mistakes Rookie Truck Drivers Should Avoid

Rookie truck drivers may not have had the chance to gain the valuable experience that comes from years on the road, which can lead to mistakes at the beginning of their truck driving career. However, there are some mistakes that even veteran long-haul drivers make. These mistakes can be costly for trucking companies and, more importantly, put you, the driver, at risk of serious injury. In this post, we’ll look at common mistakes rookie truck drivers make so you can avoid them yourself:

Going Too Fast 

Speed limits are not suggestions. They’re laws. Speed limits help keep everyone safe and prevent accidents, so always obey them.

Keep this in mind when driving around curves on highways or even just through city streets: The posted speed limit can change depending on whether there’s construction nearby or whether there are other vehicles parked on both sides of the road (which could reduce visibility). Again: Always drive according to posted signs!

Ignoring Road Signs

Road signs are there for a reason. They are meant to keep you safe and ensure you stay on the right path, but rookie truck drivers often ignore them or fail to pay attention. Ignoring road signs is one of the most common mistakes that rookie drivers make.

You don’t want your first day behind the wheel to end with an accident or getting pulled over by police officers who could write you up and jeopardize your truck driving career.

Not Communicating with Your Operations Manager

If you experience a problem while on the road and need help, always communicate with your operations manager. Just like you, they play an integral role in the trucking company you work for, and it’s their job to assist and equip you with everything you need to do your job safely. Remember these things:

  • Be sure to speak clearly and calmly so that they can understand what you need.
  • Ask questions about anything that needs clarification.
  • If there’s an issue on the road ahead of you, like an accident or unexpected weather conditions, let them know so they can prepare for possible traffic delays and help you navigate the situation safely.

Not Preparing Yourself for the Stress

Stress is a normal part of life and can come from many sources. Truck driving jobs are inherently stressful, but truck drivers should be aware of possible stressors that could arise and how to prepare for and avoid them.

  • Physical stress – Driving for long periods can take a toll on your body, especially if you are not properly rested or nourished before starting your shift.  
  • Mental stress – Situations like inclement weather or traffic congestion may cause frustration, anger, and distraction when driving conditions are not ideal. 
  • Emotional stress – Drivers should always be mindful of this aspect of their work environment. Regardless of what’s going on with your home life, coming across as condescending, arrogant, or demeaning during conversations with fellow truck drivers leads to unnecessary conflicts and affects everyone involved. At Warrior Logistics, our core values include treating everyone with integrity, accountability, and professionalism. 

Burnout 

Truck driving is demanding, and you need to be physically and mentally prepared for it. To keep yourself in tip-top shape, you should get enough sleep, eat right, and take care of your body. Never get behind the wheel if you’re unwell. Taking care of yourself should be your first priority, and if you work for a trucking company like Warrior Logistics, it will be theirs too. 

Grow Your Career as a Professional Truck Driver with Warrior Logistics!  

At the end of the day, we’re all humans. We make mistakes. But knowing which to avoid when it comes to truck driving is critical and can mean the difference between life and death. While valuable experience can only be gained while on the road, Warrior Logistics provides its truck drivers with everything they need to set themselves up for success.

Join Warrior Logistics as a professional truck driver and move your career forward with one of the industry’s largest transportation companies! Entry-level and experienced truck driver positions are needed in Dallas, Houston, Denver, and Kansas City. Apply today!

Read More
No Image November 14 2022 in Trucking, Truck Driving

Truck Driver Safety: How to Protect Yourself on the Road

Truck drivers are an essential part of the transportation system in America. While out on the road, they face many challenges that can affect their safety and well-being. Drivers may be affected by heavy traffic, inclement weather conditions, or even mechanical problems with their vehicles, but with proper training and preparation, accidents can be prevented before they happen. In this post, we’ll discuss what you need to know about truck driver safety and how to stay safe while on the road. 

Pre and Post Trip Inspections

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), one of the most important things a driver can do to protect themselves on the road is perform pre and post-trip inspections. 

The purpose of a pre-trip inspection is to ensure that your CMV (commercial motor vehicle) is in safe operating condition before getting into the driver’s seat. Upholding industry safety standards means completing a “walk around” inspection every time you stop during your shift. You should inspect all lights, brakes, tires, mirrors, windshield wipers, and fluids such as oil and coolant. A post-trip inspection takes place after you return from your route, at which point you should inspect all lights again and check for any damage on your CMV, such as scratches or dents in the fender or bumper. 

If you find any issues during your inspection, contact your operational manager immediately so that you can minimize the risk of getting pulled over by law enforcement and injuring yourself on the road. 

Practice Defensive Driving

Truck drivers are often the target of angry and sometimes aggressive motorists. This is because many people don’t understand the unique skills required to operate a CMV. However, there are some things you can do to protect yourself on the road: 

  1. Drive defensively: always assume other drivers aren’t paying attention or driving safely. Avoid tailgating other vehicles and leave plenty of space between your truck and others when following behind them. 
  1. Be aware of your surroundings: keep an eye out for blind spots in your mirrors and on the side of your trailer. It can be easy to get distracted while driving a big rig for long hours, so always be aware of your surroundings. 
  1. Signal: always use your turn signals when changing lanes or slowing down so other drivers will know your plans before making any sudden moves themselves. 

Keep a regular preventative maintenance schedule

It’s important to keep a regular preventative maintenance schedule to ensure your CMV is safe, reliable, and ready when you are. This includes oil changes, tire rotations, and other routine tasks that can help you avoid accidents. 

The fleet at Warrior Logistics is second to none, and massive continuous investments ensure that our entire Cascadia fleet is less than two years old. In addition, our rigorous 3-tiered maintenance program provides fleet readiness at all times, including weekly onsite truck inspections and prep work, local technicians, and dealer warranty. These efforts ensure our Truck Warriors have everything they need to set themselves up for success while on the open road. 

Always look up the weather forecast for your entire route

Road conditions change constantly and can be dangerous to all drivers, especially truck drivers. Examples of hazardous truck driving conditions are: 

  • Wet Roads 
  • Ice, sleet, and snow 
  • Foggy weather 
  • Flash flooding 

Never drive into areas with unknown weather conditions. Doing so puts you at serious risk. Always contact your operations manager if you are concerned about unsafe driving conditions. 

Take Breaks

Don’t forget about driver fatigue — even if you don’t think you’re tired, taking breaks when necessary is important so that you don’t drive while tired. When you start your truck driving career, a great tip for new truck drivers is to take frequent and routine breaks during your shift to lower fatigue like driver’s knee pain.

Drive with Warrior Logistics

Safety is Warrior Logistics‘ highest priority. We are committed to ensuring a safe and sustainable work environment for all our drivers and strive to create an environment that empowers each driver to thrive. That means ensuring all our Truck Warriors are equipped with everything they need to achieve their fullest potential. Our rigorous safety training investments in the newest technologies and trucks enable us to be one of the industry’s largest transportation companies.

Ready to grow your professional truck driving career? Land your dream job by applying today!

Read More
No Image November 03 2022 in Trucking, Truck Driving

How to Not Feel Lonely as a Truck Driver 

The life of a trucker can be a lonely one, for sure. Traveling alone for long periods can make you feel disconnected from the rest of the world and your family. However, there are ways to keep yourself in the loop that keeps you entertained and can allow you to bond with family members from miles away. So how do you not feel lonely as a truck driver? 

Trucking can be hard on people who are new to the game. The distance from home and stress can make them feel alone. Feelings like this are common, and you can combat them with some work. So read on and learn how to not feel lonely as a trucker with Warrior Logistics. 

Ways to Not Feel Lonely as a Truck Driver 

Combating loneliness can be a struggle for people who have never spent long periods alone. By doing some research and testing, you can see which strategies work best for you. Remember that as a truck driver, your number one focus should be on safety, not an elaborate strategy to watch your favorite shows and sporting events. 

Staying on Schedule is a Fantastic Way to Occupy Time 

A surefire way to keep yourself entertained when you get lonely is to concentrate on your time. By keeping close tabs on distances and times, you occupy the parts of your mind that seek connection and attention. Paying attention to time also teaches you about safety on the road and how your driving impacts the safety of those around you. 

A few things to pay attention to while tracking your time are: 

  • Navigation – The navigation in your truck should give you updates about the traffic and weather at your location and destination. By paying attention to the nav, you will get critical data about faster routes to your destination and a clock of how long you have been on the road. This could also prevent road rage: no one likes an angry truck driver! 
  • Traffic – As a driver, the most important thing to keep track of time is watching traffic. The cars around you and your driving area can significantly impact your time. By monitoring traffic, you know how long your day will be and provide yourself with a goal to work toward. 

Keeping up with time is an excellent way to keep your mind focused. However, treating it like a game allows you to make rules and create a world inside your mind that could allow you to spend hours counting and using math that will melt away the time like butter in a hot skillet. 

Having a Partner Gives Comfort and Stability 

One of the most amazing things about working with Warrior Logistics is having a driving partner. A driving partner allows you to work and rest in equal amounts. Resting is essential because having a clear head is crucial for you and the safety of the other drivers. When you are tired, you don’t think straight, and missing an exit or failing to check your mirrors could be disastrous. 

A few ways that working with a partner can cure your loneliness are: 

  • Conversation – One of the most extraordinary things in the history of humankind is good conversation. Knowing you have someone you can talk to when the job gets lonely is critical for success. A conversation will keep your mind occupied while your partner helps to navigate or vice versa. 
  • Navigation – If you are in the co-pilot seat, a good thing to keep your mind on the task is to be a navigator. Today with GPS, the directions are up to the navigation system, and maintaining a map could be old school. However, finding things to do along the route to keep you engaged and healthy is also valuable. 

A partner on the road is one of the unique ways that Warrior Logistics cares about its employees. By having a partner, you have someone to hold you accountable, which makes you a better driver and co-worker. Remember, Warrior Logistics thrives off its employees, and having a partner only improves your value as a driver. 

Warrior Logistics Concentrates on the Mindset of its Employees 

The folks at Warrior know that they are nothing without the help of their drivers. So they go out of their way to ensure that drivers are healthy physically and mentally. By creating a workplace that works to fit their schedule and a few other innovative ideas, Warrior Logistics is leading the pack in caring for workers’ mindsets and promoting healthy home/life balances. 

  • Road Trip Mentality – Something that Warrior stresses that other companies might not is the adventure aspect of trucking. It is a quest on the road to glory and not a stressful delivery across large parts of the country. The shift in mindset from work to adventure can be life-changing for some drivers. 
  • Scheduling – Another way Warrior innovates with its drivers is by working with them to build a schedule that fits their needs and allows them to have time at home with their families. Nothing is more important than keeping a healthy life at home, and Warrior Logistics works hard to give its drivers the life they deserve. 
  • Social Butterfly – You wouldn’t think it but being a driver for Warrior Logistics allows you to meet new folks. Driving for a company you are proud of will make you interact with other drivers and possibly brag about how good your job is. 

Mindset is the thing that will ensure you stay engaged and don’t get lonely on the road. Warrior Logistics knows that having a proper mindset about your situation will improve your chances for success and ensure you have a long and thriving career. 

Conclusion 

Being in an excellent mental and physical state is imperative for truck driving. Ensure you take care of yourself and feel supported and valued at your workplace. Trucking is the country’s lifeblood, and companies everywhere seek solutions for driver loneliness.  

Driving with Warrior Logistics means becoming part of the Warrior family with a culture that believes people are their greatest assets and ensures they have a stable work-life balance to be able to reach their full potential. Truck driving can be a rewarding and fulfilling career when you drive with Warrior. Experience the Warrior Difference and apply today! 

Read More
No Image October 12 2022 in Trucking, Truck Driving

Why Warrior Logistics is the Best Company to Work For

Good truck driving jobs can be hard to come by! Warrior Logistics is a company based in Texas that services the shipping juggernaut FedEx. They have an impressive fleet of cutting-edge trucks outfitted with the best safety equipment that money can buy. So why is Warrior Logistics the Best Company to work for?

Warrior Logistics provides a safe and comfortable work environment for all of their truckers. When you join Warrior Logistics, you will receive a plethora of benefits, and you can rest assured knowing you’re working with a fleet of top-of-the-line trucks. 

Working as a trucker can be treacherous, as companies can be shady and make promises they cannot keep. With Warrior Logistics, you get an honest and straightforward workplace that treats you like family and provides the means to enrich the lives of your family. So read on and learn why Warrior Logistics is the Best Company to work for.

Why Working with Warrior Logistics is the Best

Companies in every industry pride themselves on being the best place to work. They offer incentives and pay scales that could be much larger than others but fall short in caring about your home/life balance and family obligations. At Warrior Logistics, our Core Values mirror the criteria for having a healthy and fulfilling workplace.

Warrior’s Core Values Heavily Influence its Culture

Being satisfied with your workplace is meeting several different fields you might not realize. Warrior concentrates on treating their employees like their job is a safe space that allows them to further their careers in a safe and encouraging environment that cares about them and their families.

A few of Warrior Logistics Core Values are:

  • People – Drivers are Warrior Logistics’ biggest asset. We believe Warriors are called to a higher purpose, and we strive to foster an environment that allows them to thrive and reach their full potential while furthering their truck driving careers.
  • Safety – Without safety in a profession like truck driving, you have nothing. Safety is Warrior Logistics’ highest priority. We constantly reinforce standards, provide rigorous safety training, and invest in advanced technologies to ensure the safety of our operations and drivers. 
  • Financial – Warrior Logistics provides their partners and drivers the platform to secure a financial future for themselves. Other companies could force you into a period of working for lower costs to ‘vest’ you in the company. This is often a way for companies to cover driver training.
  • Customers – A workplace is nothing without fantastic customer service. At the heart of world-class delivery, our customer-centric mindset allows us to be one of the industry’s largest transportation companies, and our commitment to getting their goods safely and on time is paramount.
  • Accountability – Another great thing about Warrior Logistics Core Values is their devotion to accountability. Every team member is equally valued and accountable for their own performance.

The Core Values of Warrior Logistics are just a small piece of why they are the best truck-driving company to work for. They provide a sense of adventure that could have you racking miles on the coast in the summer or pulling through some snow up north.

The Fleet Makes Warrior Logistics Stand Above the Competition

When you take a job as a driver for a trucking company, you expect your truck to be in working order and make accommodations for a living when not on the road. A Warrior Logistics, a concentrated effort is placed into making their fleet safe and comfortable.

Some things that Warrior Logistics offers with its fleet are:

  • Safety – First and foremost, the company cares about its drivers. They have the Detroit Assurance 5.0 system, which offers a wide array of safety features that protect the truck and other cars on the road.
  • Freightliner Cascadia Trucks – Freightliner is one of the most recognized names in trucking. Their new model of Cascadia trucks populates the fleet at Warrior Logistics. Having newer trucks makes them easier to service and makes driving a breeze.
  • Automatic – The trucks at Warrior Logistics are automatic. That means there’s no shifting and fighting the wheel. All you need to do is put the truck in gear and get to your destination.
  • Sleeping Area – The cabins in all the trucks from Warrior Logistics are outfitted with creature comforts that feel more like condo living than on-the-road trucking. They have comfortable mattresses and high-quality lighting in each cabin so you can bed down and still plot your routes or get caught up on paperwork.
  • Living Amenities – Being a trucker can be lonely, and Warrior Logistics knows that keeping the drivers entertained in downtimes is imperative. So each of their cabins is stocked with a mini fridge and flat-screen television. In addition, there’s a microwave to make quick meals when you have the chance.

The fleet at Warrior Logistics makes all the other companies want to up their games. The trucks are new and come with some amazing safety features that you must see to believe. By investing in their top-of-the-line fleet, Warrior shows their commitment to the people working for them and goes above and beyond to protect them.

The Benefits of Working at Warrior Logistics Tie it All Together

One of the best things about working for Warrior Logistics truck driving is their benefits package. Other companies provide pay and insurance, but Warrior Logistics provides pathways to extra time off and no-touch loads that mean a quick turnaround and more money.

The benefits of working with Warrior Logistics are:

  • United Healthcare Insurance – One of the most well-respected healthcare providers in the job market is United Healthcare. They have an excellent reputation for taking care of their clients and customers.
  • Driver Rewards – Another thing that makes Warrior Logistics an excellent place to work is its driver rewards. They allow drivers with high safety rating bonuses that could be as large as vacations and as small as afternoons away from work.

Benefits draw people to jobs all the time. So when Warrior Logistics set out to be a successful company, they knew that only by having great benefits and pay could they attract the best workers. So as their culture continues to build, their ranks continue to swell, and their Warriors continue to drive safely.

Conclusion

Working with Warrior Logistics is a decision that will change your life and the lives of your family. They have an excellent working structure that allows you to balance work and home life that rivals working for yourself.

They have a fantastic fleet of trucks decked out with safety software and amenities that seem more like camping than working. They aim to hire the best drivers and logistics professionals and get them in sparkling trucks bound for destinations across the country. Warrior Logistics is the best company to work for, and they have the workforce to prove it. Drive with a warrior and join Warrior Logistics today!

Read More