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(888) 312-8812 Login SignupImportant Things You Need to Know about Short-Haul Trucking
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Findit Parts
May 06, 2021
May 06, 2021
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Transport drivers are classified according to the vehicle they operate and the distance they traveled. Specialized freight transport drivers operate specialized vehicles, such as cement trucks, dump trucks, refrigerated vans, tow trucks, bulk tankers, and auto transport trucks. According to America Truck Driving School, long-haul drivers are those who run on routes beyond a 250-mile radius from the truck’s terminal or headquarter, while short hauls are those that are within a 150 to 200-mile radius of the driver’s business hub. Short-haul trucking is categorized into two:
Local Trucking: If you are the type of driver who takes pleasure from serving the community by delivering products and essentials within your neighborhoods, then a local trucking job is for you. While the distance traveled by local truckers when moving products from one destination to another is significantly shorter, they often operate on city roads, and this is more taxing than highway driving.
Regional Trucking: Regional truckers are like long-haul truckers because their job may require them to travel several days from one state to another. Many regional truckers operate big rigs with cabins where they can comfortably sleep while on long trips. Some trucking companies provide lodging allowance so their drivers can stay at a decent hotel overnight. The reason they are considered short-haul truckers, though, is their predictable schedule and regular routes, which allow them to establish good relationships with their clients.
Short-haul trucking provides drivers with an ideal combination of job stability and the autonomy of the open road. It is a fulfilling career for those concerned with seclusion, time away with family, and long-distance travel. However, like any other profession, short-haul trucking has its share of benefits and challenges.
If you are thinking of pursuing a career in the trucking industry as a short-haul driver, it would be best to know its pros and cons before making a big decision. Like any other life decision, this one may not be permanent. You are free to try one and see if it is a good fit for you.
Under normal situations, short-haul drivers go home after each shift, which means they can spend more time with their family. Regional truckers might be away from home for several nights, but since you have a fixed schedule, you can see your family more often than the long-haul truckers do. Also, since you have more time at home or for leisure, you can establish a sound work-life balance, which helps keep your stress level to a minimum and prevent burnout. So if you want to see your loved one often, a short-haul trucking career might be the option for you.
Since short-haul drivers pass on the same roads and highways on a routine basis, they can become local road experts. These truckers know where speed traps are located, what routes are the quickest to traverse, which roads have a low traffic, and what intersections have less complicated turns. Highway familiarity makes driving safer and less stressful.
As mandated by the Hours-of-Service laws, drivers of commercial vehicles need to log their hours of service (HOS) with an electronic logging device (ELD). The HOS laws regulate the breaks and rest time taken by drivers must take to try to reduce the number of drivers falling asleep while driving. This can be restricting to long-haul drivers, especially when they are in a hurry to complete a delivery. The HOS rules do not govern Short-haul truckers or those driving within a 100 to 150-mile range. It is also not required on short and quick trips, saving truckers money and time. It also gives truck drivers the freedom to carry out their own route choices.
You will never run out of short-haul driving jobs, particularly in urban areas, with most trucking giants leveraging the cost-effective system of establishing strategic depots and assigning drivers in a particular area radius.
Every career has its cons, and short-haul trucking is no exemption. Among the difficulties short-haul drivers need to face are:
This process of backing up the big rig’s trailer makes the job of short-haul truckers extra tricky. Since they need to fulfill multiple deliveries in a day, these drivers have to carefully maneuver their trucks into the loading docks numerous times. This is an exhausting and time-consuming process that necessitates careful attention and intelligent use of your truck’s mirrors, stops, and starts. This setback can be minimized by efficient routing or careful route planning.
Since they frequent city streets, short-haul drivers deal with heavy traffic and road construction more often. Road works often warrant rerouting just so you can deliver supplies on time. To overcome this challenge, dispatchers should make sure the drivers have access to the latest and most efficient routes possible. This can be achieved with the help of advanced GPS fleet tracking.
Short-haul truckers need to pull off frequent pickups and deliveries, so even a minor delay can have a domino effect on their delivery schedule for the rest of the day. Therefore, a short-haul driver needs to work closely with the dispatcher to avoid delays.
