A driver of large commercial or industrial vehicles like trucks, trailers, tractors & excavators has years of experience. Still, accidents occur due to many reasons. Nowadays, truck driver safety is one of the major concerns. This is not only important for experienced drivers but also essential for those who are starting their careers in the truck & trailer industry. In this blog, we will focus on the top 5 essential tips for truck driver safety improvement.
- Defensive driving
Driving an oversized truck trailer always requires highly experienced & defensive driving skills. This is one of the best ways to avoid on-road challenges & improve safety. It’s essential for every driver to drive a truck or large cargo vehicle whether it’s fully loaded or partially loaded or empty in a very defensive manner. According to the research, more than 80% of truck accidents occur due to a lack of defensive driving skills. The below tips might help the drivers to improve this skill.
• Stay aware of blind spots
• Maintain a safe distance on the road
• Drive with a descent speed
• Don’t try to overtake rashly
• Blow horn properly
- Consider proper maintenance schedule
According to experts, irregular truck maintenance schedules lead to major accidents. Maintaining a proper schedule is highly important to enhance safety whether it’s large commercial vehicles or trucks & trailers. Schedule maintenance helps to determine the current conditions of the truck trailer. Experts mainly consider the following things during maintenance:
• Tire pressure check
• Electrical system inspection
• Braking system check
• Checking coolant & fluids
• Cooling system checking
- Use safety gear & equipment
Safety gears & accessories help to protect the truck drivers if any issue arises. There are too many truck safety accessories & equipment available in the market such as gloves, safety goggles, air-powered landing gear equipment, screwdriver, safety lamps, etc. These equipment & tools help to enhance truck driver safety, on-loading & off-loading safety, trailer driving safety & more. Apart from that, maintaining adequate situational awareness helps to avoid accidents preemptively & manage road conditions.
- Consider road conditions
Well, managing road conditions is a very big deal for truck drivers. This is because it can be changed at any time. Basically, the roads highly depend on weather conditions. Here are 8 drastic weather & road conditions that put truck drivers at risk.
• Icy roads
• Sudden snowfall
• Heavy raining
• Storms
• Heavy wind
• Road construction works
• Accidents
• Animal on road
While driving a fully loaded trailer, facing these conditions is not a joke. Controlling a good speed, following the traffic rules & maintaining the safety guidelines can help to avoid accidents during these situations.
- Take breaks
In the truck & trailer industry, driver fatigue is one of the major causes of accidents. Taking breaks adequately helps to keep the driver safe & keep them away from these kinds of accidents. Long & hard-driving makes the truck drivers stressed, tired, etc. So taking some short breaks helps them drive the truck safely & makes the driver stress less & fatigue-free.
Final words
Above mentioned truck driver safety improvement tips are essential for both experienced drivers & novice drivers. Accidents are unpredictable. So it’s important to follow the driving guidelines & use safety accessories to avoid accidents & injuries. Enhance truck drivers’ workplace productivity with Patriot Lift Company’s On-lift air-powered landing gear automation equipment. As an OSHA-recognized company, they offer premium quality equipment at an affordable rate. All their products are accurately manufactured & scientifically tested to meet the highest level of safety. If you are interested to buy their products, order yours today.
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