Truck Driving Jobs in Minnesota- Bay and Bay Transportation offers tricks and tips for OTR truck drivers
At Bay and Bay Transportation, we want to make sure that we’re in contact with our drivers at all times. Not only does this ensure the safety of our truck drivers, but increases the efficiency of our business and keeps routes and trips fully updated. There are a variety of ways for our truck drivers to keep in contact with the office, other Bay and Bay drivers, and even with other truckers while on the road.
CB (Citizen’s Band) Radio – One of the staples of the truck driving job, most people think of the CB radio when they think of truck drivers communicating on the road. This form of communication has been a solid option for drivers for most of trucking’s history. Drivers can use a CB radio to communicate weather conditions, accidents, delays, debris on the road, local directions, and any other questions drivers may have while on the road. Most drivers use channel 17 or 19 to communicate with each other, while local law enforcement officers will monitor channel 9 for emergency situations. Some companies also use specific channels for inter-company communication so that they don’t clog the other available channels.
Communicating on the road also has a distinct language all its own. If civilian motorists were dialed in to the proper CB channels and heard truck drivers talking, they would swear they were in a foreign country. Some of the more popular phrases include:
- Bambi – a deer on the road, dead or alive
- Gator – a blown tire on the road with the potential to damage the truck
- Driving Award – a speeding ticket
- Double Nickel – 55 mph
- Go-go juice – diesel fuel
There are plenty of other colorful code words and phrases used to describe common road items and situations. Feel free to tune in and get educated.
Cell Phones – It’s almost unheard of for someone to travel without a cell phone these days. They can be used to keep in contact with the company, catch up with friends and family, or other drivers. Many drivers prefer to stick with a nationwide provider to ensure better coverage throughout their travels. Smaller providers are fine for local routes, but service can fizzle out the further you travel from home. Additionally, external antennas can be attached to the truck to provide more stable cell service. These are not miracle devices though. An external antenna will only strengthen a signal that is already there. It can’t create a signal.
Internet – The internet is becoming more widely used to communicate on the road as well. It’s the easiest way to communicate in-depth information or something that may need to be referenced multiple times in the future. With the new 4G Service on cell phones, most websites, emails, and attachments can be accessed on a smart phone. More truckers are also bringing their laptops on the road, and invest in wireless cards so that they have constant internet access where ever they land.
Keeping in contact is especially important while drivers are on the road. They need to keep communicating with dispatch, the central office, other truckers, clients, and those at home. It is not only essential to the job, but to keeping normalcy in an ever-changing life. Communicating is a part of every culture and needs to be practiced daily to be kept alive. If you’d like to become a part of an established culture with its own unique language, apply for Minnesota truck driving jobs at Bay & Bay Transportation today.