Driving a truck for a living is a difficult, dangerous job and requires a great deal of skill. Being safety conscious is vital, it is what will keep you alive when faced with tense moments when behind the wheel.
Our 10 best tips:
- Be alert and aware of who’s in front of you, beside you and behind you at all times.
- Keep an eye on weather reports prior to departing on a trip and check the reports as often as you’re able while traveling.
- Avoid traffic whenever possible. The more traffic, the greater the odds of an accident.
- Check out delivery spots on foot. When delivering, especially to a new customer, find a place to park safely, leave your rig for 5 minutes and scope out the place.
- Be extra cautious at night. Be alert, be aware and move slowly.
- Leave room in front of your rig. The more empty space you have in front of your unit, the more time you’ll have to slow down, if necessary.
- Keep lane changes to a minimum. The odds of an accident increase dramatically each time a vehicle makes a move to another lane.
- Use a trucker’s GPS. This GPS will show vital information such as which exit to take, distance before exit, when to change lanes, traffic reports etc.
- Slow down. This is the most important driving safety tips for truckers. Always take the corners and ramps very slowly.
- Take breaks and check your truck. Stop, take a break and check under the truck for any dripping coolant or oil.
As a professional driver you should never skip any safety tips. If steps are skipped, you are compromising your safety and the safety of others traveling with you on the road. Nothing is worth risking your life for!
Source: SmartTrucking (15 May 2020)