🚛 The 10 Unwritten Rules of Trucking Every Rookie Needs to Know

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

So, you passed your CDL test. Congrats, rookie.

But before you go acting like you own the road, there’s a whole set of unwritten rules that separate you from getting cussed out on the CB—or worse, going viral for the wrong reasons.

Let’s break it down trucker-style—no fluff, just facts, with a side of "you’ve been warned."

1. Don’t Ever Park Nose-In at the Truck Stop

This is rule number one, and somehow it’s still broken daily.

If you nose-in to a pull-through spot, you’re blocking the guy next to you from being able to leave early in the morning.
You might think it’s harmless—until he wakes you up banging on your door because dispatch is breathing down his neck.

Unwritten rule: Park like you respect the space. 'Cause someone’s watching... and probably recording.

2. The Fuel Island Ain’t Your Personal Parking Spot

Rookies love to fuel up and then take their sweet time going inside for snacks, showers, and TikToks. Meanwhile, four trucks are backed up, horns are honking, and now you’re "that guy."

Here’s the rule:
Fuel, pull forward, then go inside. Anything less is just disrespectful to every other driver trying to stay on schedule.

3. Learn CB Etiquette—Then Keep Quiet Unless You Got Something Smart to Say

CB radios ain’t dead—they’re just full of drivers who don’t want to hear rookies bragging, complaining, or chirping about stuff they don’t understand yet.

And if you’re gonna run your mouth, you better know how to back a trailer in one shot, fuel in the wind, and handle a chain-up without crying. Otherwise? Zip it and learn.

4. Flash In, Flash Back

This is the code of the road.
When you pass a truck, and they flash their lights to let you over, give 'em a quick double-tap of the hazards to say thanks.
It’s old-school, but it shows you ain’t a selfish driver.

You’ll see who knows the code—and who’s just another steering wheel holder.

5. Never Trust GPS Blindly

You know who ends up stuck under low bridges or backing out of alleys in downtown Chicago?
Rookies who blindly trust a car GPS app.

Always cross-check your route. Use a truck-specific GPS AND a good old-fashioned atlas.
The best drivers don’t just follow—they plan.

6. Don’t Block the Scale Line or Hang Out on the CAT Scale

This one’s easy: after you weigh, pull off. Don’t sit there doing math while ten drivers are trying to scale in and roll out.

Pull off, check your numbers, reweigh if needed.
It’s about flow. And respect.

7. Phones and Cameras Can Wait

We get it—you wanna be a trucking influencer.
But here’s the hard truth: if you’re filming while driving, you’re putting lives at risk. One moment of distraction and you’re on the evening news, not a YouTube short.

Set your camera after you park.
Nothing’s worth sacrificing safety—or your CDL.

8. Ask for Help, Not Excuses

Being a rookie means learning. Asking for help is part of the game.

But blaming your trainer, your dispatcher, or your ELD won’t earn you respect.
Own your mistakes, take your lumps, and grow. That’s how the best drivers get made.

9. Help When You Can—Even if You Ain’t Asked

You see someone struggling to back into a tight dock? Offer a hand.
Even a simple “you good?” or standing there to spot can mean the world to a new driver.

It ain’t about looking cool. It’s about being decent. One day, that’ll be you again—just in a different way.

10. Clean Up After Yourself—Always

Truck stop bathrooms, parking lots, trash bins—treat them like you’re sharing space with your mama.
Nobody wants to see your burrito wrappers, pee bottles, or coffee-stained gloves left behind.

Pro truckers leave a place better than they found it.
Be part of the solution, not the stereotype.

💬 What’s YOUR Unwritten Rule?

Drop a comment or yell it over the CB—
What's the one rule every rookie should know before they ever haul their first load?

Let’s school the new drivers before they learn the hard way.

📢 Call to Action

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