What Are The Duties Of A Truck Driver?
Truck drivers play a crucial role in the transportation industry as they are responsible for the safe and timely delivery of goods from one place to another.
They are required to have some of the specific skills and qualifications to operate a heavy commercial vehicle. Along with this, they must adhere to strict regulations and safety protocols.
A truck driver’s duties go beyond just driving from one location to another. There are some important roles and responsibilities they have. We are going to discuss the same here in this article.
As a manager of a logistics industry, you can implement all of these things or teach all these things to your drivers. As the majority of our readers are Indians, we have included the duties of a truck driver in the Indian context. If you are from outside the country, not all the duties will be helpful for you. So, you can keep in mind this thing when you are going through the article.
Let’s start.
The Core Duty
Before we go deep into the duties of a truck driver, we will see the main duty of the truck driver. The main duty of the truck driver is to transport the goods from one place to another without any issues. Many things should be done in this route. These are the other duties of the truck driver.
The next duties we have mentioned will help you in doing this core duty.
Traffic Rules and Company Protocols
Truck drivers have the important responsibility of transporting goods from one place to another. They not only need to be skilled drivers but also need to follow traffic rules and company protocols for safe and efficient delivery.
Traffic rules include obeying speed limits, traffic signals, and road signs to prevent accidents. In India, there are many roads where trucks are not permitted to enter. As a driver, you must keep in mind all the roads or you must instruct your driver not to enter on such roads. It does not include heavy fines but people often take a bad impression of the company.
Talking about the company, you must have certain rules and regulations as a company owner which are specially for the truck drivers.
Company protocols may include adhering to a specific route or schedule, maintaining communication with dispatchers, and ensuring the cargo is secured properly.
By following traffic rules and company protocols, truck drivers can maintain a good driving record. This is also important for the safety of the people, vehicles, and goods inside it.
Documentation
Truck drivers are required to carry several important documents while on the job.
These documents include a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate, and any necessary permits or certifications. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all of these documents are up-to-date and readily available at all times.
Further, there are certain places where you will need to have a special permit for trucks to enter. So, the truck driver should have all of them ready and in hand. This will keep them safer and make your process faster.
In addition to these legal documents, drivers should also carry paperwork related to the goods they are transporting, including bills of lading, shipping manifests, and delivery receipts.
These documents are essential for verifying the contents of the load and ensuring that everything is accounted for during transport. By keeping these documents organized and easily accessible, truck drivers can ensure that their shipments are delivered safely and on time while complying with all relevant regulations and company protocols.
Vehicle Maintenance
Regular vehicle or truck maintenance ensures that the vehicle is in good condition and reduces the risk of accidents or breakdowns on the road.
Truck drivers should check their vehicles regularly and ensure that everything is in good working order, including brakes, tires, lights, and petrol/diesel levels. They should also ensure that the air in the tires is full.
Along with this, they should see if there are extra tires if something goes wrong with one. They should also have proper tools to change the tires and fix the truck if there is a small issue.
In India, there are many trucks where the backlight or the taillights are not working properly. The truck driver should ensure that they work properly. For the same reason, truck drivers often add more LEDs to their trucks. This enhances the looks of the truck and other drivers can get the idea about the truck moving.
They should also follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule and have their vehicles serviced regularly by a qualified mechanic.
Neglecting maintenance can lead to increased fuel consumption, expensive repairs, and even accidents on the road. By taking care of their trucks, drivers can ensure their safety and the safety of other drivers on the road.
Planning the Route
They need to carefully plan their route. Several factors should be considered here. This includes:
- Distance and terrain
- Weather conditions
- Traffic
- City Entrance
- Petrol pumps
- Shortcuts and the roads
- Potholes
- Toll plazas
- Resting place
Distance and terrain help truck drivers estimate petrol consumption and travel time.
Weather conditions play a crucial role in determining whether the route is safe to travel, and it also affects driving speed. This applies if you are driving through emergency or marked areas.
Traffic is essential to consider as it can cause delays and increase the time needed to travel a certain distance.
City entrance and petrol pumps are necessary to plan to avoid getting lost and running out of fuel. If your truck needs to enter some city to intake some goods, the truck driver can plan the route in such a way that they reach the city at night. As there are certain restrictions on entering the city during the daytime. Truck drivers must also consider the weight restrictions and clearance heights on bridges and overpasses to avoid any damage to their vehicles or cargo.
Toll plazas need to be considered for the cost of the tolls. Resting places are necessary for truck drivers to rest and recover during long journeys. So, you can always find some good restraints or dhabas along the route where you can rest.
A well-planned route not only ensures timely delivery but also helps in reducing the liters of petrol or diesel needed, which ultimately saves costs. Additionally, they must also be aware of any road closures or construction zones, as this could result in delays. By planning their route ahead of time, truck drivers can ensure the safe and efficient delivery of goods.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, truck drivers have a variety of responsibilities including following traffic rules and company protocols, carrying important documents, maintaining the vehicle, and planning the route.
When planning a route, drivers should consider factors such as distance and terrain, weather conditions, traffic, city entrance, petrol pumps, shortcuts and roads, potholes, toll plazas, and resting places. Proper planning and consideration of these factors can help ensure the safe and timely delivery of goods.
Additionally, regular maintenance of the truck is crucial for avoiding breakdowns and accidents. Finally, truck drivers need to adhere to traffic rules and company protocols to ensure safe driving and compliance with regulations.
Rishit Bhatt is a content strategist and a professional writer with a keen interest in technology and tech-enabled businesses. He aims to help businesses integrate tech into their on-premises infrastructure with technical documentation and helpful articles.