7 Skills That Will Make You An Excellent Truck Driver

There are various factors involved in truck driving, such as handling the truck, managing the load, communicating with the handlers and ensuring that the load gets delivered safely at the desired destination. To accomplish these tasks with ease and to become a competent truck driver, you need to possess certain skills that go beyond the natural truck driving skills that you acquired in your training. So, let us discuss the 7 skills that you should possess to become an excellent truck driver, and for doing forklift driving jobs in Sydney.

Navigation skills
Today, modern trucks come fitted with advanced GPS and navigation technologies. These technologies help you streamline your driving routes and adhere to your cargo delivery deadlines. They also inform you about any traffic congestion on the route, closed roads and weather setbacks. These features help you plan and prepare you for such eventualities.

However, relying blindly on technology can also be dangerous. An excellent truck driver should know how to navigate the truck skillfully without any electronic assistance. It is a heavy and long truck that you drive. Apart from technology, you do need basic handling skills to be able to manoeuvre the truck aptly through a sharp bend or while on a busy road. Your core navigation skills will make you a better driver for forklift driving jobs.

Excellent communication
An excellent truck driver must possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. We understand that it is a solo profession, wherein you are alone on the road most of the time. But, good communication skills will help you work well with the dispatcher and the customer. Generally, many issues arise due to lack of communication and improper relay of important messages, which results in late deliveries and unwanted confrontations with the customer or the dispatcher. Effective communication will help you resolve delivery and pick up queries of customers and create a satisfying overall experience for the customer, resulting in improved business.

Self-Motivation
Truck driving can be a monotonous and challenging job. Sometimes, crowded routes and traffic jams can raise your stress levels. However hard you try, these factors are beyond your control, and you can do nothing to change or avoid them. In such cases, maintaining your sanity and being self-motivated will help you wade through the situation calmly. Self-motivation is an essential skill that every truck driver should possess. It helps you remain calm and stable in the face of difficulties. It doesn’t let the external factors affect your work or your interaction with the customers. Plus, self-motivation helps immensely in relieving stress and anxiety, making you an excellent driver for forklift driver jobs in Sydney.

Responsibility
This is a fundamental skill that every truck driver must possess. Responsibility is not something that can be learnt. It is a skill that gets developed from within. This skill is what defines your character and your attitude towards your job. As a heavy truck driver, you are not only responsible for the truck but also for the freight loaded in the truck. You must deliver the goods safely at the desired destination in a timely fashion. It is vital that you realise and inculcate responsibility towards these aspects of your work so that everybody recognises you as an excellent driver for forklift driver jobs.

Organisation
Being organised is a significant skill set that every truck driver must acquire. Most truck drivers are unorganised with their paperwork. Good organisation skills will help you complete your task faster, in a more systematic manner. Make sure you keep the details of all your load deliveries in an organised manner. Plus, all your relevant documents like licence, permit and paperwork should be properly arranged and stored before you embark on your journey. This will add more efficiency to your work, and you’ll save time searching for papers during deliveries and dispatches.

Alertness
Competent truck drivers and forklift drivers are always aware and alert while driving on the road. Being aware of your surroundings while driving helps you foresee any unavoidable situations. Staying alert will help you evade various unexpected, unwanted circumstances that arise on the road. This will give you precious few seconds to think of an effective alternative to come out of the situation. While you cannot control the movements of other vehicles, being alert on the road will help you prevent a collision or an accident.

Mechanical skills
And finally, you must know about the truck that you’re driving to become an excellent truck driver. While on the road, you’re alone most of the time, without any external assistance for miles at a stretch. In such cases, if you face any engine problems, you will be left high and dry in the middle of nowhere. A rudimentary understanding of the mechanics of the truck will save you from being stuck in such situations. Learn the mechanical aspect of the engine and know more about engine lubrication. This will help you solve any minor problems while driving.


It requires dedication and practice to become an excellent truck driver. Once you acquire the skills listed above, you will become a successful and the most sought-after truck driver in the trucking industry. If you are seeking such skilful jobs for forklift drivers in Sydney or want to know the tips to become a better driver, visit us at https://www.drivers.com.au/truck-driving-jobs/sydney/forklift.