Even if you’ve never driven a big rig before, chances are you’ve pulled into a truck stop at some point in your life. Although truck stops may seem like regular gas stations to normal drivers—albeit very big gas stations with restaurants and showers—they represent a whole lot more to truck drivers. For some drivers, truck stops are as close as they’ll get to home for days or even weeks at a time. Truck stops allow drivers to fuel up, relax, and get ready for another long stretch on the open road. As you prepare to enroll in truck driving school in Tucson, keep these tips in mind to make the most out of your rest stops as a professional driver.
Bring Toiletries and Laundry Detergent from Home
Although truck stops have all of the toiletries you’ll need to get clean, you can save a lot of money if you bring these items along with you. The same goes for laundry detergent. If you’ll be on the road and away from home for an extended period of time, be sure to shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and other toiletries you’ll need to avoid the high prices at truck stops.
Get Out and Look Before Parking
Considering the heavy traffic at most truck stops, it’s important that you choose your parking spot carefully. One of the most important things to look for is a spot that won’t force you to back up in order to get out. You also don’t want to be near any trucks that will have to back up either. Before you set the brakes and turn the engine off, get out and do a quick look around the truck to make sure your rig is in a safe spot for the night.
Although truck stop tips aren’t officially part of the CDL curriculum at HDS Truck Driving Institute, our faculty has decades of combined experience behind the wheel and can share professional tips to help you become a confident and successful truck driver. Contact us online or call us at 1-877-205-2141 to learn about enrolling at our Tucson truck driving school.
