The Importance of Communication While on the Road

Working in the haulage industry can be a solitary job. In fact, the idea of being out on the open road is what attracts many people to the career. For some drivers, however being away from home for days, even weeks at a time, can feel slightly isolated. Technological advances have provided the modern driver with tools such as radios, hands-free phones, and even Internet access wherever they go. Below are some of the more valuable uses of the technologies available.

The Online Freight Exchange

It’s increasingly easy for people to connect with each other online, and this has made the advent of the online freight exchange a vital networking tool for anyone in the transport industry. An online freight exchange enables the trading of haulage jobs and capacity within a safe and secure network. As well as securing loads, the bane of every lorry driver's life, empty return journeys, is easily and efficiently addressed. In the past, a driver could waste hours and fuel on empty return trips, but now it's possible to pick up a load on short notice and earn good money without going out of one’s way. In order to use an online freight exchange while on the road you'll need to ensure you can access reliable, high speed mobile internet on your smartphone or a tablet or laptop – and, of course, only go online when you’re not driving.

Heads-Up

While listening to the travel broadcast or picking up the CB are the more traditional ways to get a heads-up on the roads, they’re no longer the only way. Online road mapping services often include increasingly accurate traffic information, and live updates on roadworks and closures are also available.

On top of this, there are plenty of online lorry driver communities, where you can share stories, have a chat or ask for travel advice, especially in unfamiliar areas. Lorry drivers may have insight that other drivers might lack; for example, they may be aware of roads that are technically wide enough but in reality deeply inconvenient or even dangerous for bigger vehicles. Similarly, a road may pop up on travel advice websites, but haulage communities may advise you to take another, better road. Again, it should go without saying to only go online to join chats or read typed/written messages when you’re making a stop.

Avoid Loneliness

Loneliness is not only unpleasant, it can also be highly detrimental to a person’s mental health. For this reason it’s vital to have human contact on long drives, whether this takes the form of CB radio, picking up hitchhikers, phoning a friend (hands free of course!) or chatting to your dispatcher. With modern technology, we have more options than ever to keep in touch and when the vehicle’s parked you could video call a loved one, or spend some time on a lorry drivers’ forum or an online freight exchange. It’s also easier than ever to find a companion for your journey: with the rise of app-based hitchhiking, hitchers can now use an app to find somebody heading a certain way with room in their car or lorry, so consider downloading one of these if you're susceptible to loneliness.

Remember to observe proper road safety at all times, and if you’re ever in doubt as to whether you’re losing concentration, pull over, rest and reassess the situation.