They explore the globe, make pretty good money, and their supervisor doesn't look at their hands. But the job of a truck driver also has its drawbacks and requires a lot of responsibility, self-discipline, and sacrifice. What do professional drivers have to face?
To become a professional driver, you must have the appropriate qualifications. Depending on what kind of car you want to be at the wheel, you must pass the relevant driver's license and additional training and permissions.
Photo by Ryan Porter on Unsplash
In Poland, to become a Professional Driver you must:
➡️ have a clean criminal record,
➡️ be over 21 years old,
➡️ pass the driving license of the appropriate category,
➡️ obtain a professional qualification certificate,
➡️ successfully pass psychological tests and medical examinations,
➡️ complete periodic training conducted every 5 years (or in the case of drivers over 60 years of age, every 30 months)
Now that we know how to become a Professional Driver, let's look at his basic responsibilities.
The basic tasks - apart from safe driving - are:
💠 supervising loading and unloading,
💠 securing the transported cargo against damage, destruction and loss,
💠 preparing the vehicle for transport,
💠 daily service, maintenance and minor repairs of vehicle defects occurring while driving.
And what challenges await them on the road?
One of the more severe challenges that drivers have to face is fatigue. They have a huge responsibility - for the cargo and people on the road.
A long and monotonous ride, insufficient rest, and breaks are merely a few considerable inconveniences.
Loneliness is another serious point of the daily challenges of a Professional Driver. In this profession, there is no way to return home after a long day of work, so drivers can often face it.
At work, where time pressure is enormous - stress is inevitable. Chronic stress, and thus - excessive levels of cortisol, brings numerous negative effects. It leads to somatic symptoms of anxiety, which may include problems with the digestive system, heart problems, headaches, and sleep problems.
Another challenge may be the lack of a healthy lifestyle. Long hours spent at the wheel often make it impossible to practice sports and maintain a proper level of physical activity, and whole days spent on the road can lead to reaching for fast meals and a lack of a balanced diet.
Each job has its pros and cons, major and minor challenges. This is what Professional Drivers have to face.
Thanks to their work necessary goods are delivered to stores and continuity of supplies is maintained. Without them, most enterprises would not be able to function. Yet their work is often undervalued. Let's remember to be grateful to people from this demanding industry.
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