Freight trains and cargo planes are the larger and more expensive options to haul products and logistics for all companies around the world. They are however contrasted by the trucking industry that is stronger than ever. More and more businesses want to use the services of trucking companies.

They’re agile, able to transport their loads to towns, villages, cities, ports, business parks and just about anywhere you can imagine. They are more efficient on fuel prices as well, since newer turbo-electric engines are limiting the amount of pollution and waste the engine produces.

With all intensive purposes, the time to climb up the ranks in the trucking industry is now. If you’re a driver who has always wanted to raise their game and manage long hauls in long vehicles, and finally quit small and medium-sized vehicles, then you need to attain a heavy rig license. In order to do so, you need to learn how to improve your skills.

Grappling with traction

The heavier your vehicle, the more pressure will be put on the tyres both in terms of compression and gripping. This challenge truly comes alive when in adverse conditions and while descending and ascending steep grades. In adverse conditions such as rain, you simply multiply your braking distances, as well as the feeling when your truck is understeering and oversteering.

This can be taught in schools or sometimes experience is the best teacher. For steep gradients, one of the aspects is to keep your engine cool. You’re stationary or moving very slowly, and trying to use the best gear for the best torque from the engine. Inevitably, this means that the engine will be working hard despite the revs not being high.

Tap and dance with the brake and throttle pedal as your tyres come in and out of grip. You will need to make load alleviating adjustments to the steering wheel to lessen or tighten the angle as you traverse up right hillside roads.

Driving modern trucks

As with any road vehicle, the technology and engineering of trucks have changed. Modern trucks no longer use crash gearboxes as many have switched to automatic transmissions.

On the face of it, it sounds, easier but this is only physically so. The requirement to learn when to shift is still very much a part of the modern long vehicle. An hr driver license teaches you how to use the newer kinds of trucks, especially for heavy rigs that are used in the construction industry.

You can always upgrade your license to include older variations of trucks but it isn’t all about changing gears. The new trucks have better everything, so being able to do more in your mind while driving is also part of the test. Being able to quickly make decisions when roads are blocked, anticipating narrow passes and navigating using cameras and sensors alone without visual representation are the new skills required.

It’s a great time to be a truck driver, as the physical labor of the driving itself is decreasing while technological advancements are making it easier to be more independent. However, learning how to drive new trucks are required for the best jobs in the industry.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links