Month: September 2018

Driving long distances as a truck driver can be challenging. Miles can run together and it can be easy to become a bit drowsy behind the wheel. While you may start your day feeling alert, after several hours of driving it can be easy to let down your guard.

However, paying attention to where you are driving is vital to keeping yourself and other drivers safe while you are on the road. The following are 5 great tips to help you stay alert on the road!

Set Up a Schedule

As hard as it may seem, it is imperative to set up a consistent schedule for yourself to ensure that you are getting an appropriate amount of rest. Setting specific times for driving and for rest will help you stay alert as you’re giving your body the rest it needs to perform optimally. It’s also nice to have a set schedule so you can plan out your stops accordingly!

Try Small Naps

If you feel yourself getting tired while on the road, even taking a short nap can make a big difference. Naps short as 20-30 minutes can help give your body the energy you need to get through the next leg of your trip before you can get a full night’s sleep. Don’t push yourself too far and take a rest when you need it.

Emphasize Nutrition & Vitamins

Maintaining a quality diet of good, wholesome foods will help you be more awake and alert at the times it is needed most. Ensuring you eat a quality blend of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins as well as low-fat dairy can help you ensure you are getting the nutrients your body needs to perform at an optimal level. Taking vitamins and supplements can help you ensure you are getting any nutrients you might otherwise be missing.

Focus on Hydration

When choosing beverages there is no shortage of options for truck drivers. From sugary sodas or juices to Gatorade or iced tea, there are a lot of options out there. The simplest choice you can make that is the best for you⏤water. Water hydrates and helps keep your body functioning at its optimal level to help keep you alert and awake long after you reach your destination.

Turn Up the Volume

Turning up the volume on the radio can help you stay awake for longer and can help keep you alert. The noise will distract you from being able to fall asleep while you are getting to your destination. The distraction may be all you need to stay awake and alert until you are able to arrive safely.

Open the Windows

Sometimes when all else fails just simply opening the window for some fresh air can really help. The feeling of fresh air, whether it’s hot or cold, can alert the mind that it is time to stay up and get the job done before turning in for the night.

When All Else Fails⏤Pull Over

Ultimately, when nothing else works the best bet is to just pull over. It’s not worth your life or anyone else’s to try to get somewhere sooner if you are doing it in an unsafe manner. When you are driving any motor vehicle it’s your responsibility not just to keep yourself safe but also others on the road as well. If you are not alert and ready to react when necessary, you put yourself and other drivers at risk.

Are you interested in earning your CDL? United Truck Driving School can help you get on the road to a new career in just 4 weeks! Contact us to learn more.

There are two main ways that you can get started on your new career as a professional truck driver. You can either enroll in a CDL training program or complete your training through a trucking company.

Both are options that many truck drivers have successfully used, however, there are a few distinct differences between the two. The following are some of the pros and cons of both forms of training!

Pros to CDL School

You can earn your CDL in a matter of weeks. CDL training at United Truck Drivin School only takes 4 weeks to complete! Most CDL schools also offer financial aid options to help you finance your training. In addition to a variety of government-funded programs, United also offers veterans assistance, personal financing, and tuition reimbursement. Explore your financial aid options!

Learn from skilled instructors, each with extensive OTR experience. Most CDL training schools will also help graduates with job placement. United graduates get help with their job hunt and have access to exclusive hiring events with top trucking companies. Another great benefit to CDL school is that you can choose which type of CDL you want. United Truck Driving School offers both Class A, Class B, and a combination of A & B CDL certifications!

Cons to CDL School

Attending CDL school may require a little bit of time off work for day classes. This may not be very doable for people working full-time jobs while training. It will also require a commitment to completing training in just a matter of a few weeks which may be hard for someone with family-related or additional personal responsibilities that they have to tend to

As you can see, there are many pros to choosing a CDL training school. CDL training schools, like United, equipt you with all the tools you need to succeed in the long-run. Now, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of company CDL training!

Pros to Company CDL Training

The biggest pro to company CDL training is that may require little or no payment up front. A lot of trucking companies will cover the cost of most, or all, of your CDL training. However, you will have to pay the amount back over a certain period of time.

Though there is often a bit of flexibility in paying back the cost of your CDL training. Oftentimes trucking companies will allow payment back for training to start when you start working. This will allow time to pay back the money and take only a small portion of the fund from each paycheck you make for a predetermined amount of time.

Good news⏤you’re already hired! Training with the company you’re going to work for means that you won’t have to mess around with a job hunt once you’re finished with your training.

Cons to Company CDL Training

Trucking companies are often owned independently, meaning they are not able to provide financial aid options. Though they may cover the cost of your training upfront, tuition is often expected to be paid back in full whether through loans or other means.

Companies that do offer “free” CDL training will tie you into a contract for a time period (usually one year or more) in return as payment for the training. Being tied to a contract can be frustrating if you later find out it’s not the best company to work for.

While there are several pros to company training, there are many more pros to enrolling in a CDL school in the long-run. United Truck Driving School can give you the training you need to get started in the new career. Forget the contracts and have the flexibility to choose the best company for your lifestyle! Contact us today to learn more!

From medicine in hospitals to your favorite box of cereal at the grocery store, the work of the 3.5 million truck drivers across the country touches every part of our daily lives. While people stop to think about how much effort goes into delivering their favorite products, professional truck drivers are on the road, ensuring that they’re on the shelf ready for purchase.

With National Truck Driver Appreciation Week approaching on September 14^th, 2025, we want to take the time at United Truck Driving School to celebrate everything they do for us.  We also want to share ways that you can show your appreciation for truck drivers.

Why are truck drivers important to keeping America running?

The hard-working men and women behind the wheel play a very important role in our society. However, they rarely get a thank you. In 2023 alone, the United States Transportation System moved approximately 20.2 billion tons of freight. It’s important to remember that, without truck drivers, your favorite stores may not be able to stay in business.

It’s not just your favorite foods that truck drivers are responsible for. They have a much larger impact on the economy. Delivering medical supplies, fuel, construction supplies, and even livestock, the truck driving industry is pivotal to the day-to-day function of our economy.

How truck drivers have made the country a safer place

Truck drivers aren’t just keeping our lives moving. They’re also working hard to fight against human trafficking. Through the nonprofit organization Truckers Against Trafficking, or TAT, more than 2.2 million professional drivers have been trained to recognize and bring awareness to potential trafficking situations. Because of their vigilance, numerous calls have been made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The work that this organization and these truck drivers have put in has led to real rescues and countless lives saved.

With the continued confrontation of this atrocity, truck drivers have stepped up in an amazing way. With a vantage point at highways, shipping hubs, and rest stops, they are afforded a unique opportunity that most don’t get. When professional truck drivers choose to get involved, this first line of defense proves that their influence reaches far past the wheel.

Professional truck drivers face industry challenges

Working as a professional truck driver is not always an easy job. It takes a lot of skills and knowledge to be able to operate a tractor-trailer. However, they may face a few challenges while on the road. From long hours away from home to safety risks on the road.

Of all the challenges truck drivers face, being away from their home, friends, and family is one of the most difficult. Long-haul drivers may be required to spend several weeks at a time away from home to make deliveries. These sacrifices are more than enough reason to tell truck drivers how much they’re appreciated. Many of these professional truck drivers choose long-haul trucking because it can provide a better life for their families.

Long periods of time on the road also increase the potential for encountering risks on the road. Drivers may experience hazardous weather, reckless drivers, and other safety concerns that they can’t control. Aside from the roadway risks, drivers are also alert during loading, unloading, and their downtime. Following safety protocol with equipment is a large part of staying safe as a truck driver. These factors are why safety for truck drivers is a top priority throughout the industry. Protecting drivers is just one way to say thank you for the work that they do. This is why professional truck drivers go through extensive training on safety and awareness on the road to not only protect themselves, but also other drivers.

How can you thank a truck driver?

There are many ways to say thank you to a truck driver for the work that they do. From offering to pay for a meal to a simple thank you, we’re going to give you a few ways to say thank you to a truck driver during Truck Driver Appreciation Week and after.

Pay it forward

A simple gesture of buying a truck driver a meal, snack, or even a cup of coffee when you’re at a truck stop or diner is one way to show your appreciation. Small gestures can leave a big impact, and a protein bar or extra-large coffee could be exactly what they need.

Leave a note of appreciation

Whether it’s a handwritten note or a call to the carrier, compliments are meaningful to truck drivers. A quick and simple “thank you” or “Your driver is doing a great job” can mean a lot for a driver.

Be patient and respectful on the road

While you’re on the road, using safe driving practices around truck drivers is a respectful way to show appreciation. Giving them space on the highway, avoiding cutting them off, and allowing for safe merging. These are just a few ways that you can say thank you and make the roads a safer place.

Share a positive message online

Another way that you can show how much you appreciate professional truck drivers is to post something on social media. When you do, be sure to use the hashtag #ThankATrucker. Tagging a driver or a carrier could be one way to show your appreciation for the work that they do every day.

Say a simple thank you

One of the easiest ways to show your appreciation is to say thank you to them directly. If you see a truck driver at a truck stop getting gas or grabbing a meal, saying, “Thank you for what you do,” can be very meaningful to someone.

The men and women who travel the highways every day deserve our appreciation. We should say thank you not just this week, but throughout the year. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week only lasts for seven days. But we should make sure that truck drivers know how much their work means to the community is very important.

CTA: Join the more than 3.5 million professional truck drivers across the United States. Take the first step with United Truck Driving School.