Essential Safety Tips for Truck Drivers

Truck driving is one of the important sources of income in raising the economy of the country.  Truck drivers ensure on-time delivery irrespective of company and routes. But deep down the line, it is counted among dangerous tasks. Truck driving jobs turn up with endless heavy and big opportunities including the safety of the vehicles, products, and own life. One of the core benefits of being a CDL truck driver is having a thorough, consistent, and proper working schedule that eases the flow of commodities. 

Below mentioned are a few of the essential safety tips which every truck driver needs to strictly follow and keep in mind. This is crucial not just for their sake but also for the other passers-by. Irrespective of the driving job, vehicle, and truck company, the safety guidelines are the same. 

# TRUCK DRIVING SAFETY TIP 1: DEFENSIVE DRIVING

When asked about the definition of defensive driving, it’s nothing but being aware and vigilant constantly for changes or any unexpected road curve. Truck drivers even need to take motorists into consideration while driving on the main road as they are not aware of the truck guidelines and the functions. Ensure to leave enough space around your truck when driving on the road. Before leaving the space don’t forget to consider the braking distance which is the accurate time taken by the trucks to reach the final place after the brake is applied. 

 # TRUCK DRIVING SAFETY TIP 2: REGULATED SPEED

Never prefer harsh driving, it will take your life. Follow the speed limit so that you and material remain safe. When it comes to the trucking business, there are times when the posted speed is brakeless. Ramp very slowly by taking corners and curves. Trucks can tip easily over if approaching at great speed. You also need to consider traffic and weather conditions before managing the truck speed. When applying for trucking jobs in lady lake FL , you must have good hands on speed. You should avoid driving at maximum speed anywhere except the deserted interstate on a good and clear day.

#TRUCK DRIVING SAFETY TIP 3: REGULAR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

Before stepping out and enjoying driving the truck on the main road, 

Make sure you complete your pre-trip inspection. The tires and brakes are especially vital given how much weight is riding on them. Any abnormalities should be reported to dispatch right away. If you skip steps in your inspection or gloss over them, you are compromising your safety and the safety of others on the road!

#TRUCK DRIVING SAFETY TIP 4: CHECK WEATHER CONDITIONS

Subscribe to weather alerts, so that you’re aware of the weather conditions before departing on a trip. Winter weather is especially dangerous as it causes roughly 25% of all speeding-related truck driving accidents. You should be cutting your speed in half for snowy or icy roads. Allow more time for everything in winter weather—signal longer before turning, double your following space, and change speed more carefully. If you see other truckers pulling over, consider doing the same.

#TRUCK DRIVING SAFETY TIP 6: MINIMAL LANE CHANGES

The most adept truck drivers pick a lane and stay in it. The chances of getting into an accident increase every time the truck moves to another lane. If you absolutely have to change lanes, move over very carefully and slowly. Check your mirrors, be aware of blind spots, and signal well ahead of time. Remember that most motorists don’t know how to react to a lane-switching truck, so you’ll have to take that into account. Avoid lane changes during heavy traffic, poor weather conditions, or during night driving.

#TRUCK DRIVING SAFETY TIP 8: ROUTE PLANNING

If you plan your route ahead of time, you’ll be aware of road and weather conditions, detours, work zones, and other obstacles. Non-commercial GPS navigation systems and apps may not be the most complete or accurate guides for truckers. They also don’t provide warnings of height and weight limitations. Invest in a GPS especially designed for truckers that show vital info like which exits to take, distance before exit, when to change lanes, etc. Don’t rely on anyone’s resources entirely, and cross-reference your information. The Rand McNally Road Atlas is another invaluable tool for truck drivers.

 #TRUCK DRIVING SAFETY TIP 9: REMAIN ALERT

This is probably the single most important of the safety tips for truck drivers. Good driving requires you to remain alert at all times and that means no distracted driving. At any given second you may face changing traffic, road conditions, poor weather, or unpredictable motorists.

 If you’re distracted, you won’t be able to react in the fraction of a second that is needed.

Texting is the worst driving distraction as the odds of being involved in an accident are 23 times greater for truck drivers who are texting. Add to that list anything that will take the focus off the road such as eating, map reading, or interacting with a navigational device excessively. Make sure you are well-rested and getting enough sleep to feel refreshed and alert behind the wheel. If you’re drowsy, pull over. These cautionary are drilled into truck drivers for good reason but are still worth repeating. If you need to attend to something other than driving, then get off the next exit. Remember that none of those distractions are worth risking your life over.

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