Truck driving, like any other career, is fraught with dangers. There are actions you may take to mitigate the risks of driving a truck. What's the finest rule of thumb to follow? Before you act, give it some thought. It may seem insignificant, but spending a few extra moments to slow down may make a significant impact. Even a little pause might help you clear your mind and consider your options more carefully.
What are the truck driving dangers? These are events that can affect ones driving safety. They can either be external (out of drivers control) or internal (those that can be predetermined before setting off). The top eight risks of becoming a truck driver are listed below.
Getting more sleep or improving attention might have prevented nearly half of the major truck accidents and dangers of being a truck driver. Driving while sleepy, as you've already seen, typically results in more inattentive driving. Even an extra hour of sleep or a few 20-minute power naps may make a significant difference in your ability to make sound judgments on the road and observe all of the subtleties of the road conditions.
The best thing you can do as a driver are to:
If you're tired, drink some water and take a rest if you can. In the long term, a quick slow down will allow you to continue driving safely and eliminate one of the most dangerous aspects of being a truck driver.
(banner1)Weather and road conditions may have a significant influence on your trip, as many experienced drivers are aware. There's a lot of pressure to fulfill drop deadlines and maximize your mileage. It's all too easy to convince yourself that going a bit faster won't hurt. It's considerably more difficult to persuade oneself to slow down and thoroughly assess the situation.
One of the perils of being a truck driver that you can't control is road conditions. However, you have power over how you react and prevent the truck driving dangers. Your ability to judge the roads and traffic to make safe driving judgments will improve with more experience and time on the road.
Any seasoned motorist knows that there are some spots you just don't want to visit during the day. Of course, as any experienced motorist knows, you don't always know where those zones are, especially when traveling unfamiliar roads. Spending the night at the shipper's or consignee's lot is often safer than most truck stops. Call ahead a few hours if you're driving somewhere new or unfamiliar with the region. The receivers can inform you if it's okay to park and sleep there or whether it's "daylight only" in the area. If the location isn't secure for a sleep break, contacting ahead should give you enough time to find a safe place to rest nearby.
Circle checks are a simple step that may help you save a lot of time and effort in the long run. Sure, taking a 20-minute walk around the block every time may seem inconvenient, but it will save you from far worse difficulties down the line. A circle check is a pre-departure inspection of your rig to look for any damage or concerns that need to be addressed. Do you want to double-check that you've completed all of the steps? To ensure you arrive where you need to go without any unexpected maintenance difficulties, Smart Trucking provides a solid basic introduction to the D.O.T. pre-trip inspection.
Getting trapped under a truck is enough to make any CDL driver reconsider his or her decision to drive. Fortunately, it can be avoided.
Bring a companion if you need to conduct repairs under the trailer. If something goes wrong, they can help right away.
When pinning up, be really cautious. Some repairs, though, you may feel comfortable tackling on your own. A word of advice for the wise. Don't interfere with the brake chambers unless you're a qualified mechanic. Allow a competent technician to handle any brake chamber issues, and you'll thank yourself later.
Climbing onto the back of your truck is appealing. After all, you could simply be heading up for a quick fix. It's simple to apply that logic, but the ramifications can be disastrous. Serious injuries might result from a single slip or fall from your rig.
Instead, if at all feasible, bring a ladder with you or wait until you have the right equipment before climbing. When driving a flatbed truck, use additional caution on trailer decks and when standing on a cargo.
Even though you double-checked your cargo before leaving, things might change on the road. The great majority of the time, you'll be able to open both doors of your trailer at the same time with no issues. But, according to Murphy's rule, the only time your load will move is when you're hauling the most weight.
Open the doors. If things change in travel, your cargo will not tumble out if you open one door at a time.
One of the most significant risks of being a truck driver is other drivers. Always be aware of your surroundings and other cars.
You're considerably more conscious of passenger cars as a professional driver than most of them are of you. These (and other CDL) drivers, however, might pose a hazard to you on the road. While you probably know a few driving recommendations for passenger vehicles on how to share the road, you must also keep an eye on yourself. Keep your eyes peeled for potential hazards and leave plenty of room between vehicles.
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