5 Essential Safety Tips Every Trucker Needs to Follow

Safety comes at the forefront for every truck driver. Most truckers spend hours and sometimes, days together on the road. In such cases, it becomes necessary to keep their life and vehicle unhurt.

Disobeying federal regulations and ignoring traffic rules means putting your safety at risk. Professional drivers follow ground rules to ensure their security underway. Here are five tips to help truckers maintain maximum safety on tour:

1. Check vehicle before setting out

Safety starts with the pre-drive examination. It helps defend against mechanical failures and accidents. A pre-drive inspection can save time and money on the move.

• Pre-drive examination ensures a truck is in safe order and complies with federal and state regulations.
• Drivers should ensure that their truck is in proper condition before setting out on their trip. Tires, brakes, and lights should be checked properly.
• Improper upkeep of electrical fuses and auto parts can result in a truck fire. Houston truck fire attorneys recommend regular maintenance and inspections to identify potential problems and avert such accidents.
• The drivers should follow vehicle’s maintenance guidebook to check wear and tear caused by driving.
• All commercial vehicles should be equipped with a fire extinguisher and emergency triangles. Drivers must carry a tool kit, a flashlight, and replacement lights for use in case of an emergency.

2. Your safety is important

In addition to keeping their vehicles in proper order, drivers need to look after themselves. By taking proper care, drivers can deal efficiently with problems that arise all of a sudden.

• Truckers should get adequate sleep to ward off fatigue. During changing weather conditions, be mindful of the medicines you take, as some of them may cause drowsiness.
• Drivers must stick to service limit hours and break time requisites. It is important for a driver to take a 30 min break after being on duty for eight hours, not necessarily driving the whole time.
• It is necessary to submit completed self-certification forms mandated by CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) issuing state at the time of filing the medical card.
• Inability to furnish proper paperwork can cause suspension of driver’s license and end in a costly penalty during a highway inspection.

3. Anticipate the unexpected

Even if truckers take the same route every day, they should keep an eye on the unexpected risks.

• The usual routes can change due to travel patterns. Be watchful of weather and highway conditions, particularly during holidays or when traffic is more.
• Check factors like load weight that impact safe maneuvering of the vehicle. When a driver hits brakes on a speeding fully loaded tractor (weighing more than 80, 000 pounds), the repercussions can be catastrophic.
• Pay attention to the speed limits around construction sites and school zones. These areas are usually more congested and are prone to accidents.

4. Eyes on the road

Drivers need to keep away from all sorts of distractions while driving.

• There are several instances of accidents that can be traced to texting while driving.
• Besides texting, many drivers indulge in hands-free communication tools for talking while driving.
• Grabbing a bite or sipping coffee while driving can pose as a distraction as it can take driver’s attention off the road.
• Truck drivers have to be watchful of the animals that unexpectedly come out on the road. Drivers can prevent animal accidents by making sure their headlights work properly and regularly watch out for stray animals.

5. Follow safe driving rules

Truck drivers have to deal with several blind spots while driving.

• One crucial blind spot is the passenger or the right side of the truck. Drivers are not able to see clearly on this side of the vehicle, and this results in sideswipe accidents. If possible, drive in the right lane to reduce passenger/right side accidents.
• Proper signaling is essential when changing lanes. Drivers should give notifications to all the nearby vehicles when passing by or change lanes. Signaling will ensure safe execution of vehicle pass or lane change. Ignoring speed and signal of other vehicles can cause accidents.

Sometimes, it becomes difficult to understand the real reason behind vehicle accident. Houston fire attorneys come across several incidents caused by electrical fires and auto defects. Cautious drivers who maintain their vehicle and take care of their health are better off on the road.