Driver Handbook
Driver experience organized into practical entries you can find by question.
The rate looks good. How much fuel will this load actually use?
Estimate: Estimate all working miles, not just loaded miles. Include pickup deadhead, expected detours and necessary movement before the job ends. Use historical MPG from comparable equipment, loads and conditions.
Operating Costs and SavingsA fuel card advertises a large per-gallon saving. How do I compare it?
Operator example: The current WEX Fleet Card page makes rebates conditional on factors including location and purchase volume, and excludes listed major truck stops from that rebate. These terms apply to that product, no
Operating Costs and SavingsAre the cheapest tires and ELD the least expensive choices overall?
Official basis: EPA SmartWay provides low-rolling-resistance tire information for screening options; it does not promise identical savings for every truck. For an ELD, check the exact model and any revoked registration i
Operating Costs and SavingsDoes having a fuel-card statement mean IFTA has been filed?
Official basis: CDTFA’s guide requires quarterly IFTA reporting, using distance, fuel use and eligible tax-paid purchases to establish tax or credit. Purchase location and place of use are different information. Buying i
Communication on the JobWhat should I confirm when dispatch sends an assignment?
Check pickup and delivery separately with your dispatcher: date, local time zone, appointment or time window, truck entrance, cargo and equipment requirements. Customer opening hours are not necessarily your appointment.
Communication on the JobHow do I report a delay or an assignment I cannot complete safely?
As soon as the original ETA becomes unrealistic, tell dispatch your general location, the cause, your current estimate and when you will update them. Give a range when appropriate; do not present a guess as a guarantee.
Communication on the JobHow should I record a long wait and ask about detention?
Check your arrangement with the company and the load-specific conditions for detention eligibility and timing. Driver compensation and charges the company seeks from its customer may follow separate arrangements. A recor
Communication on the JobWhat should I say before signing when cargo or paperwork does not match?
For quantity differences, visible damage, a seal mismatch or unclear wording on a BOL or POD, describe only what you actually observed. Contact dispatch or the designated person to confirm the next steps.