The unfortunate reality is that large truck accidents constantly happen, as hundreds of thousands are estimated to occur each year.
Truck driving is a difficult profession, mainly because there’s a lot of concentration involved along with lengthy hours. However, it’s also a crucial job, because the delivery of goods is essential to businesses across the country. The unfortunate reality is that large truck accidents constantly happen, as hundreds of thousands are estimated to occur each year. It can be a dangerous job to undertake, but there a plenty of ways to turn this dangerous job into a safe environment.
Be Aware Of Blind Spots
When you’re driving a large truck, it’s hard to be aware of everything around you. You don’t have the luxury of a rear-view window, and your areas of visibility are limited. The worst spots for truck drivers are located to the side in front of the cab, slightly behind the mirrors, and directly behind the truck. These are virtually dead zones. As a truck driver, you need to always move with caution when changing lanes.
Safe Turns
On the road, we have a wide variety of speed limits for different situations, but truck drivers should stay a bit below these limits. It’s a matter of safety, and it’ll help you when you go to make turns. If you’re struggling with turns, there are a few rules to keep in mind. The first is that you should always signal well before the actual turn. This gives other drivers enough time to maneuver accordingly, and it also makes things easier for you. Be aware of how far the truck swings out, as this obviously impacts other drivers. Be sure to constantly check your mirrors. It seems standard, but some truck drivers will be careless with this aspect.
Cargo Loading
If you’re transporting a large amount of freight, you need to be smart about how it’s packed into the truck. The higher it’s stacked, the tougher it becomes to accurately drive. The lower you stack the cargo and space it out, the easier it will be for you to drive through on a long trip.
Be Aware Of Weather
The weather always plays a crucial role in how we drive, as it’s one of the biggest causes of accidents. As a constant theme with truck driving, it’s incredibly important to drive slow. Driving slow gives you more time to react, and it’ll also help the other drivers on the road. Especially if the road is slick, you can’t take the risk of driving fast.
Trust Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star For All Of 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, Pinterest, and Google+.
Tags: truck driving, truck safety, trucking basics