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Whenever we’re on the road, we need to be mindful not only of the way we drive but also of
the ongoing traffic. Being a mindful and defensive driver will decrease your chances of getting
into an accident.
What is a professional driver?
The term professional driver is coined for those individuals who are qualified to drive a specific
vehicle. For you to become a professional driver, you have to undergo advanced training every
5 years. Not everyone can become a ‘professional driver’ but you can always drive
professionally. What do I mean by this? Don’t go on a road rage or drive like you’re in a high-
speed car chase. Always take proper safety measures whenever you’re driving down the
highway.
1. The vehicles they drive
As I’ve mentioned before, a professional driver’s vehicle is different from that of an average driver. Average drivers are often restricted to drive only up to a 4-wheeled vehicle, while professional drivers can drive more than 4-wheels like trucks.
2. The way they drive
Being a professional driver means so much more than just being able to drive trucks. A professional driver’s focus is keeping not only themselves safe but also others on the road. It’s such a big responsibility, literally! Manoeuvring large vehicles are difficult, trucks need a reasonable distance to make a safe and proper turn.
3. The rules they follow
Just like every job, professional drivers follow certain “road rules”. With the professional driver, there’s more to just looking cool behind the steering wheel of a big rig. As a professional driver, speed limits should be followed strictly. Different states have different speed limits. Another rule is that always drive professionally at all times. Professional drivers are the safest drivers. They have to have a lot of patience and keep their cool when driving especially when there are a lot of bad average drivers on the road.
4. The great effort
Not only do professional drivers have to have an exceptionally clean driving record and professional driving skills, but they need to be in good physical shape. The main reason for this is that the job requires the loading and unloading of cargo. Aside from helping with the cargos, being fit is necessary since the job requires sitting for a prolonged period. The only time a professional driver will be able to stand and stretch properly is at a truck stop.
5. The work they do
Even with a deadline, truck driver’s hours are limited to only 11 hours and they’re required to have at least a 10-hour consecutive break every after shift. The only time that is allowed for them to extend their driving up to 2 hours is when the weather condition makes it impossible for a stop. Within 7 days, the maximum hour to be taken is only up to 60 hours. Penalties are imposed if the hours of service rules are violated. The penalty can range from $1,000 to $10,000 per violation.
Get yourself covered!
With the growing number of road accidents, it is always a wise choice to be prepared in case of an accident or a vehicle breakdown. If you own a used car, then all the more that you need to purchase a used car warranty. Needless to say, older vehicles or used cars don’t have a factory warranty anymore. The only way for your car to get covered is to include an extended car warranty on your shopping list.
The main reason why you should get covered is to save money and avoid expensive repairs that can result from bad driving.
Key Take-away
Not everyone can be a professional driver, it takes a lot of effort to become one. From getting your professional license to the way you drive and keeping in mind the hours of service rules. On top of that, you have to be in good physical shape at all times. But everyone can drive professionally, this means that whenever you’re on the road, you should be mindful of the other vehicles around you and the way you drive. Professional drivers and their vehicles are equipped with the proper coverage since driving big rigs are dangerous. Another smart move for you to do is purchase the proper coverage it needs, gets an extended warranty for used cars.