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Imagine driving your truck down a deserted road during a hot, hot day. You have your air conditioning blaring and you are making good time when your truck starts to shake and it becomes harder to accelerate. Immediately, you pull over and pop the hood, finding some minuscule problem that can be easily fixed with the right tools. The only problem is you don’t have any tools. Now what do you do?

There have been countless accounts of truck drivers stuck on the side of the road with problems that can be easily fixed, but end up costing the driver a lot of money. From being stranded on the road losing time that is money, to paying a tow truck and a mechanic to repair your truck, precious dollars are lost. To keep this from happening to you, there are certain tools many veteran truck drivers take on the road that you might want to consider purchasing.

One of the most important tools to have on the road is a flashlight. As Murphy’s Law will tell you, a truck will often break down during the darkest time at night just to inconvenience you. Some drivers also use head lamps to free up their hands while working on their truck.

Tool kits are another must for many truck drivers. You can get the kits in various sizes to meet the needs of your truck and even get multiple kits in differing sizes. Keeping small spare parts such as belts and plugs is also a good idea.

Carrying emergency medical supplies in your truck will also be helpful not only for yourself, but for others as well. Being a truck driver, you sometimes have the opportunity to be the first person on hand during an accident. There are many truck drivers out there who have saved lives by simply being there and preforming basic first-aid. 

The last item many truck drivers never leave home without is duct tape. The uses for duct tape are endless; you will amaze yourself with what you do with it. Duct tape is the all-around, universal tool for just about everything.

These are only a few simple items that will make your life as a truck driver easier. Some other items include; scissors, single use cameras, gloves, food (it is not always possible to stop somewhere) and a few gallons of water and oil. While having a stockpile of emergency items does take up room in the limited space of your cab, they are worth it. A truck driving job can be unpredictable and it is always good to be prepared.

It was just another night as truck driver Stewart King drove along the deserted highway, making good time an hour ahead of schedule. When he first saw the red glare of taillights shining through the dark, he thought it was a simple reflection from a road sign. But then he remembered seeing a motorcycle pass him on the road earlier.

King decided that to be safe, he would pull over and check the side of the road. Getting out of his truck, King pulled out his cell phone and let the dim blue glow guide him along the shoulder of the highway. Approaching a ditch, he noticed a dark figure.

King quickly ran to the shadow and found 28-year-old Kyle Webb lying beside his crashed motorcycle in critical condition. King quickly called 911 and kept the injured motorcyclist awake until the paramedics arrived. According to the response team, had King not stopped, Webb would have most likely bled to death.

Kyle Webb, a husband and father of three, was immediately rushed to the hospital where he had two surgeries and an emergency leg amputation. After being released from the hospital, Webb attended an honor reception where he officially met the truck driver who saved his life.

"For two weeks in the hospital I thought about what to say to someone who saved my life, and I couldn't come up with anything to let him know my gratitude," Webb said. "I wanted to say something, but I was speechless."

King, who is somewhat self-conscious at his new found fame resulting in the accident said, "I considered myself as a citizen trying to help him out. I was always taught you don't ever leave anyone stranded. If more people stopped to help other people, the world would be safer."

Through his actions, King has pushed truck drivers into a positive light. The adverse image is fading, being quickly replaced by heroics and acts of selflessness by truckers everywhere. Truck drivers are a necessary part of the American community, and Stewart King’s actions have helped to reaffirm that fact.

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Having a truck driving job is a very rewarding experience. You get paid to travel the country, meet a wide variety of people and drive a really big truck. However, a truck driving job can get lonely. Driving hour after hour with nothing but the roar of your engine to keep you company can get wearing after a while. Even the musical talents of your radio can become monotonous and the longing to actually hear someone talking makes you realize how alone you really are. 

At times like this, when you feel like you are going crazy, the solution is simple: listen to a book. Really, listen to a book. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. When listening to a book, not only are you hearing the calming sound of a human voice speaking to you, but you are also being delightfully distracted by a story. Even as adults, most people enjoy being told a good story. The stimulation of your mind to create the scenes told in a story helps to relieve your loneliness.

As the story unfolds, the characters will join you in the cab of your truck and you will likewise join them in their adventures. They can become your friends on the road, your companions through the long stretches of nothing but desert. You may be surprised at how quickly you get involved with the story and the feeling of loneliness melts away.

Even for those of you who do not like story books, but prefer something a little more academic, there are plenty of text books or self-help books that have been recorded as well. Listening to one of these books can relieve your feeling of solitude by turning your thoughts inward, or toward the noble pursuit of knowledge. Having a truck driving job doesn’t have to mean being lonely anymore. You can have company on the road with you whenever you want, all you need to do is listen.

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So, you’ve decided to become a trucker, what are you going to do next? Applying for a truck driving job isn’t as easy as you may think. There are documents to provide, testing to be done and background checks to pass. Knowing what you are doing when applying for a truck driving job is very important and will help you move along the process smoothly and quickly.

The first thing to do is contact a recruiter for a company you are interested in. A recruiter will help you through the application process and will explain the specific needs of the company you are applying for. As most companies have multiple recruiters, it is good to remember the name of your recruiter. Having only one recruiter will help you because your situation will be remembered easier.

The second thing you need to remember when applying for a truck driving job is tell the truth. Lying or purposely omitting information on your application will only cost you in the end. Even if you are worried the information will get you disqualified, it is important to disclose it. If you don’t the company will find out and you will be sent home at your own expense.

When talking to your recruiter, have your information ready. In most cases you will need your license, state and CDL if you have it, your work history with contact information, usually about three years worth, a copy of your driving record, and proof of eligibility for employment. With some companies you will be required to provide more. Say you do not have your CDL license you will have to go to a truck driving school.

Once you have landed the job, you will be on your way for some training with your company. While packing for your training, remember to think as small as you can. There is limited space in the cab of trucks and you will be sharing the space with a trainer. A large suitcase would not be very practical in this situation. Instead, bring a duffle bag, or some other form of collapsible luggage. Bring your identification and any other items requested by your company. Most companies will give you a check list when you are accepted, or provide one on their website.

Now you are ready to get out there and start your career in truck driving.

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“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”

-Aristotle

People that are able to reach Excellence have not reached this point by accident. They are the people that made a habit of going that extra mile. Worked that extra weekend. Picked up that extra load. 

 “Human's best successes come after their disappointments.”

-Henry Ward Beecher

For those of us that find ourselves working on this national holiday weekend; there can be a certain amount of disappointment in your mind. Push through this adversity and realize that great successes will soon come from this disappointment, for life is full of peaks and valleys. You cannot feel the peaks without first feeling the disappointment of a valley.

 “He who hesitates is lost.”

-Proverb

Do not get left behind because of the uncertainty that fills our heads. Continue to push through life and remember why you are doing what you are doing. Whether for your family, friends, or yourself; you know why you are doing it all so keep on moving forward and never look back until you reach your goals.

From: Your family at National Truck Driving Jobs.

To: Our Weekend Warrior, without you our world would not go around.