Truck drivers are the backbone of any country. They haul goods and services to all corners of the world, making it possible for us to live in modern society. Truck driver safety is a major concern for many fleets, especially during this time of year when we see an increase in traffic on the roads. Truck drivers are at risk of injury or death due to the nature of their work.
Truck driving is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there were 4,317 fatal crashes in America involving large trucks from 2008-2012 – an average of 1 every 8 hours or about 2 each day!
We want you to be safe on the road so we’ve compiled some safety tips for truck drivers below. These will help keep you and your family safe while also keeping other motorists around you safer too.
Safety Tips for Truck Drivers
1. Wear Seatbelts
The best way to stay safe is by wearing a seatbelt. It’s the law and it will keep you safe. Not wearing a seatbelt can cause you serious injury in case of an accident or maybe worse. To avoid any inconvenience to yourself and others, do wear seatbelts.
2. Seven Second Rule
Maintain at least a safe distance of seven seconds from the vehicle ahead of you. This way, you can avoid any mishap, and if something happens unexpectedly in front of you, you’ll have time to properly react to that.
3. Avoid Distractions
The best way to avoid an accident is by being aware of what’s happening around you at all times. Keep both hands on the steering wheel in the 9 and 3 o’clock positions. If something happens that requires a reaction, it will be easier for you. You’ll also have more time to think about how best to respond because of no distractions.
4. Safe Loading and Unloading
Whenever you are traveling with freight, make sure that all the things are in place and properly tied up before you start your journey. Don’t pull out of the loading dock without making sure the load is secured. The same goes for when you are unloading. Be careful to be in the proper position for that.
5. Cruise Control
Avoid using cruise control where it is unnecessary. It can be dangerous to use cruise control on wet or icy roads or in bad weather. While driving, there are so many areas where you have to manually adjust the speed of your vehicle. So cruise control fails there.
6. Follow Traffic Rules
If you are following traffic rules, you are ensuring your own safety as well as the safety of others. So just follow the rules deployed by law and you will be able to avoid any danger and if something unforeseen occurs, you will be able to handle it by following standard protocols.
Moreover, make sure that you have paid all the taxes before hitting the road. However, you may read more here and understand the need to file taxes to keep your business running.
What to do When you Involved in an Accident?
- Call any person with authority for proper investigation.
- Call your trucking insurance company to file some claims.
- You may also need a dedicated truck accident lawyer to assist you in filing claims, or lawsuits if needed.
- Make sure you have the important papers intact in case there will be any issues with the complaints.
These tips can be used as part of the company’s training program or just shared with individual drivers who might not have seen them before. The more safe drivers there are on the road, the better it is for everyone traveling. Make sure to read and understand all the instructions before you start your journey.
