June 1, 2017

Safety tips for truck drivers

By Jonathan Damashek

Posted in Truck Accidents

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Truck driving is a crucial job for our society: Drivers ensure that the population receives essential goods needed for every-day life in a timely manner.  Unfortunately, driving a truck can be extremely dangerous, and there are several precautions drivers must take into consideration to avoid injuries and accidents.

According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012 over 100,000 injuries and 30,000 accidents involving large trucks were reported. Driving a truck requires expertise, caution, and patience. Below you’ll find several easy-to-follow truck safety tips that will help improve safety and make the next delivery smoother.

  1. Lookout for your blind spots

Other drivers may not be aware of truck’s blind spots where crashes are most likely to occur. These include:

  1. Behind the side mirrors
  2. Behind the truck
  3. Off to the side in front of the cab

Other vehicle drivers that are not aware of these dangerous spots might drive close, and it is the truck driver’s responsibility to be cautious before turning or changing lanes, and to maintain safe distance.

  1. Reduce speed on curves and work zones

Although following speed limits is a wise decision, sometimes posted speed limits are still too fast for trucks. Speed limits are usually meant for cars; and for safety reasons we recommend to set your speed far lower than the posted limit to make up for the size of your vehicle. In addition, one third of all fatal work-zone accidents involve large trucks. Never rush through interstate construction.

  1. Always check your truck

Never start a delivery without completely checking your truck. Fluid levels, horn, mirrors and brakes are extremely necessary to get to a destination safe. If you see something unusual report it before attempting to drive.

  1. Respect your cargo’s limit

Under any circumstance load more weight than what your truck allows, this can be extremely dangerous for you, for other drivers and pedestrians. In addition, the higher you stack the cargo, the more drag on the truck. Stack the cargo lower and spread it through the full space of the truck for more control.

  1. Your safety

Getting enough sleep, eating right, exercising, not drinking, and taking quality home time will help you feel more refreshed behind the wheel and will help you avoid accidents and injuries.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a truck accident, call us today for a free consultation. We are here to help.