It's a Team's Life

Ready, Set, Go

By Linda Caffee
Posted Mar 16th 2019 7:27AM

After performing the pre-trip on your truck there are a few more items that need your attention before driving off. Too many times we buckle the seat belt put the truck in drive and off we go while still fiddling with the radio or the GPS.

Rental cars are the worst as we often get into them and before learning how the GPS, headlights, air conditioner, or anything else works we drive off. After we start driving in a strange city in a strange car we start turning knobs and flipping switches to cool down the car or to get the seats to move to a better position. Not really a great idea.

In the truck, we know all of our gauges and how the GPS works but we are often in a hurry and before the mirrors are adjusted, seat adjusted, or everything in place we drive off. We need a checklist just like our pre-trip checklist before we move the truck an inch.

· Glasses and sunglasses cleaned and in reach

· GPS routed

· Headset connected to the phone

· Everything charged up or if needing charged plugged in

· Drinks in their proper places

· Snacks within easy reach

· If the sun will be in your eyes lower the passenger visor or put on a visor

· If driving at night light dimmed on OmniTracks

· Seat belt fastened and comfortable

· Mirrors adjusted

· Steering wheel adjusted

· Seat adjusted (Bob likes the bottom cushion pushed out and that puts my legs to sleep)

· Air conditioner or heater adjusted

· If going to listen to the radio have it on the right channel

Seems like a lot to do before we start our trip but how often do we see drivers doing all of this after the truck is rolling? Do a mental checklist and determine if everything is in its proper place so once the truck is moving you can keep your eye in the road where it needs to be.

Do your pre-trip inside and outside of the truck.

Bob & Linda Caffee

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO

Expediters since January 2005

[email protected]

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;

Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;

Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;

Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.