On the Road - Tips to Help HGV Drivers Stay Focused By J Mikula

One of the most difficult things about being a long distance HGV driver is the long drives you have to make alone with no one for company. This is also the biggest reason why people think twice about joining this otherwise great industry. Another problem with long drives also is that if you get too bored and you are tired, as most HGV drivers are, you could fall asleep behind the wheel and cause an accident.

When you are driving for long distances, the first thing you need to do is make sure you get enough sleep. By getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night, you can make sure that you are awake and able to pay attention. Boredom and sleepiness together are deadly. If it is possible, try and have someone with you. A lot of truckers get a dog or another pet that can easily travel with them in the cab of their HGV vehicle and keep them company. Think about getting a dog or cat as these are the two animals you can safely keep in the cab with you. This way you will always have company on the road.

Many truckers also pick up hitchhikers. This is something you should do with some caution, as hitchhikers by definition are strangers, and you could potentially get into trouble if you pick up someone who is dangerous.

Instead of thinking of the trip as one long drive, break it down. Think of it as a trip from stop to stop. By thinking of it as five or six smaller strips, you will feel more motivated as you will always be "almost there".

Take breaks. It is a good idea to take breaks for meals, bathroom stops and anytime you feel tired or bored. By stretching your legs and possibly talking to a petrol pump clerk, you will feel more energized and ready to complete the journey.

Make sure you have plenty of music. Bring along a lot of CDs, or an MP3 player. Make sure you keep changing the music. You can also divide the music according to the leg of the journey, for instance, only rock from point A to point B; only rap the next hundred miles, etc. This will keep you thinking.

While this may sound crazy, you can drive away boredom by talking to yourself. You can argue about whatever you want without getting anyone angry, and maybe even get into those thoughts you have not had time to had, like what you are doing in life or where you want to be in ten years.

Finally, a CB radio is a friend to all HGV drivers. Not only is it useful, since you can use it to find out the best routes, weather conditions etc, but you can also use it to talk to other truckers on the road like you and make some long distance friends. This will keep you from getting too bored on the road, just like all the tips mentioned above.

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J. Mikula is a business professional, consultant, and writer.

Misconceptions About the HGV Driving Industry By J Mikula

The HGV industry is an industry that is at the backbone of any economy. The transport of goods from one place to another can never be stopped, or done in a different manner, which is why the HGV driving industry is relevant to every economic time, and every country.

However, there are plenty of misconceptions about this industry. For instance, people believe that joining this industry means that they will be in a low-paid job which will keep them away from family. That is not true. The haulage industry pays a salary that is over the national average salary. That means that if you work in this industry, you are earning more than half the people in the country. Also, since the hours are flexible, which means you can choose to work when you want for as long as you want, you can be as close to, or as far away from you family as possible.

The industry does, however, have its challenges. The recent economic downturn has changed consumer patterns, which means that there are now lower amounts of goods being transported and companies have changed over to cheaper means to transport goods. This means that express delivery is being shunned and normal delivery methods are being used now. Also, the changing price of fuel means that there is uncertainty in the environment, since the costs of delivery keep changing every tie the fuel prices go up or down.

The industry is also prone to revenue leakage since the recording and collecting of all revenues it not always done right. This is because of the decentralized nature of delivery, as well as high volume of transactions. Revenue can be lost at any point, which makes it important to have billing and shipping terms that are customized for customers. It is also needed to properly and accurately carry out billing and shipping procedures, and have a process that is followed for each delivery. Employee training must also be carried out to make sure all the employees know the procedures.

Another challenge that is faced by the haulage industry is the tracking of vehicles, especially in companies where there are large fleets. For this, however, technology has stepped through and provided a brilliant answer, which is GPS. GPS devices can now be attached to a vehicle, and they will send their location the main office every few minutes. This way, the company can know where all the vehicles are at any point, find out how much time the drivers are taking for breaks, track the delivery and inform the customer of the expected arrival time, and also plan routes that are shorter and save money and time. Finally, by using GPS, it is possible to plan deliveries and pickups in advance so that the driver does not have to drive long distances for a pickup after a delivery. You can also track the maintenance of the vehicle through the GPS system, which gives alerts when the vehicle is due for a tune up.

All these misconceptions and challenges make the HGV industry one of the toughest to work in, and start a business in.

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J. Mikula is a business professional, consultant, and author

Fuel Efficient Driving Tips For HGVs By J Mikula

With the prices of fuel going up and down sporadically, it is important to try and maximize fuel efficiency so that you can reduce your costs during both low and high price times. Also, since fuel is a finite resource, it is environmentally friendly to try and reduce wastage. Here are some tips:

It is better to drive at a steady pace then to jack-rabbit between high and low speeds. You can reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 40% if you reduce hard brakes. The correct way to accelerate is to do it slowly and smoothly and get into a high gear quickly.

It is important that you drive under the posted speed limit for legality's sake but also because you will save fuel if you go slower. For instance, going from 55mph to 75mph can make your fuel consumption go up by 20%.

If you are in the habit of letting your engine idle while you wait for it to warm up, you are wasting fuel. In the winters, you need to idle the engine for no longer than thirty seconds.

If you tires are not fully inflated you will end up wasting fuel. Under-inflated tires increase consumption by 6%. Check the pressure every month, on cold tires. If the tires need to be inflated, get it done before you start your drive.

When you are driving, make sure you are driving in the highest gear you can. Driving in lower gears wastes fuel. At the same time, letting an engine run in a high gear on hills and corners also wastes fuels.

You can also reduce costs by using your air conditioner sparingly. If you think its cold enough outside, open the windows. This will also help you stay awake on long drives. Depending on the speed though, using an air conditioner can be efficient. So the faster you are, the more efficient it might be to turn the air conditioner on due to wind resistance on the windows.

Choose the fuel that best suits your vehicle. You can check with the owner's manual to find out which one to use.

Make sure you vehicle is serviced regularly. Poorly tuned engines can increase fuel consumption by as much as 50%. Dirty air filters can increase your fuel consumption by 10%. Even using the wrong oil can cause you to use more fuel.

Before you turn the ignition off, make sure you shut down any power accessories. This way, next time to start the vehicle, these won't pull unnecessary power.

When you get fuel, make sure you the gas cap is on tight and properly.

Whenever possible, make sure the engine is under a shade. This will keep the engine cool and reduce the need for air conditioning in the cab, as well as reduce fuel evaporation.

Hopefully, these tips will help you increase your fuel efficiency when your HGV is out on the road, and increase the profits you can make.

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J. Mikula is a business professional, consultant, and writer.