How to Cover a Gap in the Experience with Trucker Guide?
Driving a truck across different states can be a tough task, especially for new drivers entering the trucking industry. The job of a truck driver involves more than just operating a vehicle. It requires navigating through a set of challenges on the road. From low-clearance bridges to weight stations, from traffic jams to breakdowns, from parking to refueling - there are many things you need to be prepared for.
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To help you overcome these challenges on the road, the Trucker Guide team has developed an all-in-one platform. It provides up-to-date information on places and services across the USA. In addition, Trucker Guide offers many features that can help you cover a gap in your experience. Here are just a few examples of what it can do for you:
1. Identify Low-Clearances
One challenge for truck drivers is dealing with low-clearance bridges and tunnels. They have a height limit lower than the standard clearance of a truck. To avoid accidents and vehicle damage, it's important to plan your route in advance. The Trucker Guide can help by showing you all the low-clearances on your route. Just use the "low-clearance" tag in the search bar, and the Trucker Guide will display a map with all of them on your route. You can even see the exact height of each bridge and its distance from your current location.
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2. View the Current Road Conditions
Another challenge of being a truck driver is getting stuck in traffic. Traffic jams can be frustrating, stressful, and time-consuming, especially when you are on a tight schedule. You can waste a lot of fuel, money, and energy by sitting in traffic for hours. You can also miss your deadlines, appointments, and deliveries.
Luckily, the Trucker Guide provides live-road cameras to help you get a visual on the current road conditions. You can access this feature by choosing the “camera” button. The Trucker Guide will display a map with all the live-road cameras across the U.S. Just tap on any camera to see the real-time traffic situation on that road.
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3. Get Information About Weight Stations
The next challenge you can face as a truck driver are weight stations. These are checkpoints located on highways where trucks are required to stop and get weighed. If you exceed the weight limits, you can face fines, penalties, and delays. The Trucker Guide can also help you with weight stations. You can find all of them on your route and check the working hours, phone numbers, and reviews of each of them. This way, you can plan your stops and be prepared for the inspections.
Additionally, the Trucker Guide has a "scales'' feature that shows you the nearest location to weigh your truck. This way, you can ensure you're within the weight limits and avoid any trouble.
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4. Find the Right Truck Service
In case of any breakdowns on the road, finding the right place to repair your vehicle is also a challenge. You can waste a lot of time, money, and resources by driving to the wrong place or waiting for help. You can also risk your safety and security by being stranded on the road.
The Trucker Guide can be your trusty navigator in this regard. It will help you locate repair and tire shops around you. You can choose the option you are looking for by using tags such as “tire”, “repair”, “brakes”, and others. This way, you can find the best place to fix your vehicle and get back on the road.
If you need immediate assistance, the first thing to do is to find a safe spot to pull over. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. If you are unable to fix the issue yourself, use the Trucker Guide to contact the company's roadside assistance or a professional mechanic. This way, you can get help as quickly as possible.
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5. Search for Available Parking Spots
As you know, finding a place to park your truck can be difficult, especially in crowded areas or at night. The Trucker Guide offers information on rest areas, truck stops, and truck yards along your journey. You can also see the amenities, company information, and other details of each place.
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6. Check Fuel Costs
As a truck driver, you know how important it is to save money on fuel, as unpredictable prices can be, depending on the location, time, and demand. The Trucker Guide can help you save money on fuel by showing you the current fuel prices at different locations. You can access this feature by typing the “gas station” or name of the company you are looking for in the search bar.
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So, if you're a new truck driver looking for a smoother journey, give the Trucker Guide a try today! It's easy to use, has a set of benefits and connects you to our trucking community.
by Stuart Nelson