Truck Driving Safety Tips

Driving a commercial vehicle can be an extremely rewarding career, however it also comes with a lot of responsibility as it relates to keeping yourself and others on the road safe. Here area few of our top safety tips:

Ensure your truck is well-maintained.

A truck that is in good condition, is by definition a safer truck. Accidents can be greatly reduced is you are periodically checking fluid levels, inspecting brakes, mirrors, clutches, etc. You should also be routinely inspecting things like signal lamps, tire pressure, and tow joints. Ensure that your truck is also equipped with safety equipment such as a first aid kit, emergency triangle and fire extinguisher.

Stay alert

Driving truck can be both mentally and physically demanding. If you don’t get enough rest in between shifts, it can cause you to be drowsy or distracted. If you are feeling overly tired and not able to concentrate, it is time to pull over, take a break – or even a nap.

Additionally other types of distractions like texting or calling can be extremely dangerous. Avoid such distractions!

Be aware of blind spots

Commercial trucks have much larger blind spots or “no zone” than smaller vehicle do. Often drivers of cars do not realize this, and may be driving in your blind spot and be unaware of that. As a truck driver, it is your responsibility to navigate safely.

Alert other driver to your intentions

Alerting other drivers to your intentions can help avoid mishaps on the road. Try to limit changing lanes, and when you do need to change lanes, give drivers enough notice with your signals. If you are driving under the speed limit either because of bad weather or because of a heavy load, drive with your flashers on.

Adjust your driving to the weather conditions

Depending on the weather, you may need to adjust your driving speed. For example, it is generally recommended that you reduce your speed by 1/3 in heavy raid and by ½ in snow or ice. This will give you more time to stop if you need it. And if the conditions get really bad, pull over.

Contact Trukademy today

If you require safety training whether it be pre-trip inspection, winter driving etc., Trukademy can help. Contact us today to learn about available courses.