Heading into the last part of the year, it’s important to identify goals and objectives for finishing the year strong and setting yourself up for the future. It’s easy to think that this close to the end of the year, it’s better just to wait until the new year along with other resolutions.
But when it comes to your business finances, can you really afford to wait months before trying to make sense of them? Do you have a stack of paperwork and receipts sitting in your cab or at home? Don’t wait until New Year’s to get started. Make some small tweaks here and there, and you can set yourself up for a strong finish.
End the Year on a Strong Note
This first part is especially important for first-year load board truck drivers because you don’t have years of experience to rely on for what to do or what to do differently. Remember as an owner-operator, you are in charge of your company, and if you want to be around in the next year, you need to make sure you keep your paperwork and books in order.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a new owner-operator, or if you’ve been driving for years, these trucking tips should be kept in mind throughout the year:
- Get Your Paperwork in Order: Hopefully, you have been doing a pretty good job of this all year long, but we understand schedules get crazy, and routine tasks get left for later. Take a day to organize your documents, bills, receipts, invoices, etc. so that you have one less thing to worry about come holiday and tax season.
- Get Your Health in Check: Being a truck driver and living life on the road has been linked to serious health concerns. Now is the perfect time to implement healthier eating habits and more physical activity into your daily life. Have you been in for a doctor’s visit recently? Go ahead and get one scheduled.
- Be Mindful of Your Communication Skills: As a driver hauling truck loads, building strong communication skills is important, important for work and personal life. Are there any areas you could improve on when it comes to communicating with others?
- Don’t Get Lazy with Safety: The holiday season can be chaotic thanks to poor weather conditions and more deliveries and pickups. Challenge yourself to keep a spotless driving record, which will keep you in good standing, insurance rates in check and, more importantly, keep you and others on the road safe.
No matter how successful you were this year, there’s always time to look at the last year, and see how you can achieve more. If you’re looking for more resources exclusively for truck drivers, head over to FreeFreightSearch.com, between our blog and the world’s largest FREE load board, there’s something for everyone.