Regardless of the experience you have as a commercial trucker, you should always prioritize your safety and the other drivers you’re sharing the road with.
Trucking is much more than just driving from one place to another. Spending that many hours on the road is exhausting and can be monotonous or boring at times. Regardless of the experience, you have as a commercial trucker, you should always prioritize your safety and the other drivers you’re sharing the road with. Here are a couple of tips about staying safe when you’re trucking.
How To Stay Safe While Trucking On The Road
Wear Your Seatbelt While Trucking
This might go without saying, but relatively common for truck drivers to forego their seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t just protect you if you get into an accident, but it’s legally required in most places.
Put Your Phone Down
Using your phone while you’re trucking is extremely dangerous. If you’d like to make calls on the road, you can use a hands-free headset and Bluetooth, but it’s safest to pull over or wait until your next break if you need to text. Keep in mind that checking your notifications, changing up your music, or reading texts also count as a distraction.
Pay Attention to Speed Limits
It can be tempting to go a little faster to arrive at your destination a little earlier. However, speeding can drastically increase your stopping distance and make sudden turns to avoid something on the road more difficult. By keeping your truck to the speed limit, you can ensure that you and everyone around you stay safe.
Stay Sober & Alert
You should already know driving under the influence is a huge no-no, but do you know how long alcohol stays in your system? Even if you’ve had a few drinks the night before, you could still be over the legal limit in the morning. Other drugs, including over-the-counter medication, can also impact your trucking ability and make you drowsy.
Plan Ahead
Planning your trucking route isn’t just about pulling up the directions. You should also check the weather, construction, or road closures along your anticipated route. Being prepared for challenging driving conditions can help you plan to take a different way to avoid traffic or hazardous weather. This makes your drive smoother, and you won’t have unexpected delays so you can make your drop on time.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for all Your Trucking Needs!
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Tags: road safety, truck safety, trucking