Navigating the road isn’t just following signs and signals—it's making countless decisions each day even before the ignition is turned on. From choosing the best route to gauging the speed of oncoming traffic, our professional drivers are faced with a myriad of split-second decisions each time they get behind the wheel.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the decisions and challenges that shape our drivers’ minds. Each decision they make on the road requires a unique blend of safety knowledge, situational awareness, judgment, and instinct. We spoke with 2022 Trainer of the Year and 2020 Driver of the Year, TJ Hargis, to explore his thoughts and reactions and what it means to be a professional driver today.

• Safety Awareness: “Safety awareness covers a broad scope of things from the time you wake up until you go to bed. Everything we do, we must be aware of the hazards. Whether you’re getting in and out of the truck, walking across an icy parking lot, on the deck of your trailer, etc. We have to be a defensive driver not an offensive one. We must consider everything going around us, so we have time to react to it. For example, if you hard brake in a normal car, you may slide a few feet, in a truck it’s much worse. As drivers, we are constantly assessing road conditions, weather, and potential hazards to ensure our safety and the safety of others. Driving in inclement weather is tricky. We have a multitude of weather applications to assist with audible warnings to us. Maverick is great about giving us a heads up about major events. We have to be aware of where we’re going and what weather to expect. Additionally, our field of vision is less when the weather is not ideal. I keep my head on a swivel so I can be proactive not reactive.”

• Time Management: "It is important that I make sure I optimize the use of my time based on delivery options while not compromising my driving and safety.”

• Route Planning: “Over time, routes and roads tend to stick around in my head. Technology and my printed atlas are so very helpful when planning my trips out. I must make sure all roads are truck legal while also being efficient.”

• Stress Management: “I try not to let anything truly bother me. I may get frustrated, but it’s never something that I let get to me. I can’t control what other people do, but I can watch out for them and control how I react. I do mirror checks all day long to watch the traffic around me.”

• Family and Home: “From the time I leave my house, I am managing my time to set myself up to be home as soon as I can that weekend. Proper time planning and pushing myself ensures I get optimal home time with my family. I work very hard to not waste time. I want to get every mile I can.”

• Advice to non-drivers: "Please give us common courtesy. If you see a blinker, we’ve seen something that urged us to change lanes. We’re trying to get somewhere in a timely manner and are trying to maintain consistency and safety. We are constantly watching out for you.”

Listed below are additional things that our professional drivers must think about daily while out on the road:

• Emergency Preparedness: Being ready to react to unexpected events, such as vehicle malfunctions, accidents, or road blockages, with a calm approach.

• Vehicle Handling: Monitoring the vehicle’s performance, including checking fuel levels, tire pressure, and the functionality of essential systems like brakes, trailer lights and steering.

• Situational Awareness: Keeping an eye on surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and any sudden changes in traffic flow.

• Regulatory Compliance: Staying aware of and adhering to traffic laws, weight limits, and any industry-specific regulations.

It’s clear that behind each professional driver, there are hundreds of decisions being made to ensure your safety, the safety of others and theirs. Driving a truck demands a constant state of awareness that most of us can’t comprehend. So, the next time you buckle up, remember the decisions you're making and observe the magnitude of responsibility these professional drivers hold.