4 Essential Things To Remember When You Drive For a Living

In the gig economy, there are more ways than ever for enterprising individuals who love driving to make money from their vehicles. And in this increasingly uncertain economy, the idea of taking control of your income, your career and your destiny by getting behind the wheel is understandably appealing. But whether you’re thinking of training to become a long distance delivery driver, transforming your vehicle into a taxi or doing local deliveries for Amazon, you may find that driving professionally is a very different beast to driving for fun. Even if you’ve been making a living from your car for some time now, you’d do well to remember these 4 essential tips…

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Clear your head before you get behind the wheel

When you drive professionally, your livelihood will likely be determined by the quality of your driving. This means that you will likely have to drive in a safer and more conservative way than when you drive for fun. And you can’t let a stressful day, an argument with your spouse or an impatience with rush hour traffic put lead into your foot. Taking care of your body and mind are as essential as taking care of your vehicle. Anger, stress and fatigue may result in bad customer reviews resulting in less work. So make sure you’re in the right frame of mind before you get behind the wheel. Make sure you’re well rested and have used mindfulness meditation or a trip to the gym to drain away the stress of your day. 

Plan rest breaks into your journeys

If you’re driving long distance, you may be tempted to eschew rest breaks for the sake of making good time. In fact, it’s estimated that some 65% of fleet drivers don’t take adequate rest breaks. As such, they may find themselves driving while fatigued, which can be every bit as dangerous as driving while drunk. The extra risk is simply not worth the gained time you’ll make. So plan regular rest stops of at least 15 minutes every two hours into your journey. 

Know a good local towing company

In driving, as in all things, you should hope for the best and plan for the worst. And this means having a contingency plan in place should the worst happen. Even when you have every faith in your own abilities. You should have a towing company like Wil-Tow or EastCoastTowing saved on your phone. Someone who can render effective roadside assistance or tow you to a garage that can get you back up and running as quickly as possible. All without costly monthly fees. 

Go easy on the caffeine when driving long distance

Finally, many nascent long distance drivers will chug numerous coffees on their journeys. But while that first latte may give them a caffeine jolt, the subsequent coffees you drink can actually make you drowsier by increasing your levels of the neurotransmitter adenosine. So while you think you’re getting more alert, you’re actually making yourself sleepier. Instead, make sure you bring a bottle of water with you. Nothing will make you feel more alert and aware than keeping your brain hydrated. 

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