At P&S Transportation, truck driving safety is our number one priority—protecting our drivers, customers’ cargo, and other vehicles on the highways. We ensure our drivers have superior training to follow the best practices in truck driving safety every time they’re behind the wheel.
In this article, we’ll share proven advice, cover important topics, and provide practical tips to help you stay safe on the road. We will cover various aspects of truck driver safety, from pre-trip inspections to managing driver fatigue, defensive driving techniques, and emergency preparedness.
Each section provides practical, actionable advice to implement in your daily driving habits and skill set. Let’s explore the critical trucker safety tips to help you stay safe and confident on the road!
Importance of Truck Driver Safety
As a truck driver, your role in highway safety is critically important. Following the trucking industry’s standards, local and national roadway laws, and regulations benefits our communities’ well-being and the transportation industry’s efficiency. Truck accidents can have significant impacts, but the flatbed truck transportation industry can work together to reduce these risks with the proper precautions.
Recent statistics highlight the crucial importance of truck driver safety. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2021, there were ~494,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks. Of those, 5,149 were fatal crashes, and 110,000 resulted in injuries. These numbers emphasize the importance of strict safety measures and constant caution.
Preventative safety efforts are recommended and essential to ensuring that each journey ends safely. By following the outlined truck driving safety tips and practices, you actively contribute to a safer environment for yourself and everyone else on the road.
Keep a Pre-Trip Inspection & Maintenance Log
One of the most essential trucker driving safety tips is always conducting a pre-trip inspection before hitting the road.
Your thoroughness in these checks and keeping a maintenance log can make all the difference in ensuring your truck remains in top condition, identifying issues before they become significant, and preventing potential breakdowns and accidents. Here’s our step-by-step guide to conducting a thorough pre-trip inspection:
Step-by-Step Guide to Pre-Trip Inspections
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Check the Brakes
Ensure the brake pads have not worn down and the braking system functions correctly. Faulty brakes are common causes of accidents.
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Inspect Tires
Look for signs of wear and tear, ensure they inflate correctly and do not have leaks in air pressure, and check for any stuck objects that could cause a puncture.
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Examine Lights
All lights, including headlights, taillights, brake lights, and blinkers, should be operational. Proper lighting is essential for visibility, especially when driving when it’s raining or at night.
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Verify Fluid Levels
Check the levels of engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Low fluid levels can lead to mechanical failures.
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Assess the Battery
Ensure the battery is securely mounted and the connections are clean and secure. A weak battery can cause problems when starting the truck engine.
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Review the Windshield and Wipers
Make sure the windshield is clean and free from cracks and that the wipers are in good working condition to handle any weather. This step often prevents most daytime causes of poor visibility.
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Record everything in your maintenance log
Your maintenance log is a critical part of your trucker’s tool kit. In it, list issues, inspections, and repairs with relevant documentation, such as annotated photographs, written descriptions, or a list of Diagnostic Troubleshooting Codes (DTC) or truck fault codes.
Defensive Driving Techniques for Truckers
If you’re an experienced driver, you’re probably familiar with defensive driving. Still, this cautious practice is critical for truck driving safety, so let’s review the basics for a refresher.
Defensive driving is a mental approach or conscious effort to anticipate and react to potential hazards on the road. There are five main defensive strategies that all drivers, especially truckers, need to know.
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Strategy 1: Watch Your Speed
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), driving above the speed limit is the leading cause of all motor vehicle crashes in Alabama. An impact with a large truck at high speeds almost always has devastating consequences, such as property damage, vehicle damage, injuries, and even death.
As a truck driver, staying at or under the posted speed limit while driving your large truck on the open road is essential for keeping other drivers, pedestrians, and your customers’ cargo safe.
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Strategy 2: Be Hyper Alert About Blind Spots
Most people experience blind spots or places on the road that none of their mirrors can help them see as part of the driving experience. However, for truck drivers, a small mistake while merging due to blind spots can be a severe collision risk.
The best way to prevent blind spot-related accidents is to be hyper-alert and observant of your surroundings, be patient, and drive at a legal speed. As a truck driver, it’s recommended to:
- Allow other drivers to take the opportunity to merge first.
- Allow for extra room around your truck while turning or merging as if you know there are vehicles in your blind spots.
- Give extended warning for any merges by turning on your blinker early in advance.
- Pay careful attention to your mirrors and the road at all times.
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Strategy 3: Don’t Give in to Road Rage
Sometimes tension rises between yourself and another driver on the road. It’s not unnatural to become heated.
However, just because it feels natural to give in to your road rage doesn’t mean you should. In such a large vehicle, temper flareups could easily lead to driving habits that could cost your job or even a life, including your own.
Dealing with angry drivers can be stressful, but remaining calm and collected is the best way to prevent many dangerous situations. If necessary, pull over at a truck stop and take a breather.
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Strategy 4: Follow the “Three-Second Rule”
Whether you have already taken your CDL exam or you’re still working on it, you probably already know some variation of the “Three Second Rule” of defensive driving: You should always keep a car length (or two) worth of distance between your truck and the vehicle in front, so that at least three seconds can pass after they travel over a section of road before your truck crosses over the same spot.
The more potential hazards you encounter while driving, such as poor road conditions or inclement weather, the greater the distance needed between you and the vehicle directly in front of you. The point of this rule is to maintain a safe distance and give yourself plenty of time to react.
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Strategy 5: Always Remember to Use Your Turn Signal
As a truck driver, you have the most potential for causing an accident during a simple lane change by not using your signal, as your vehicle weighs the most, has the worst blind spots, and takes up the most space on the road.
Be the driver that sets the example of always signaling. This could prevent accidents and save lives.
Managing Driver Fatigue
There’s a reason many truck drivers have mandatory time off after driving long distances; everyone needs a break. Driver fatigue is a serious condition that many truck drivers face, impairing their reaction time and decision-making. Recognize the signs of fatigue: heavy eyes, yawns, distractedness, irritability, and zoning out.
Drivers exhausted from sleep overexertion are more likely to get in an accident than a sharp, awake, and alert trucker. Truck drivers who have the least trouble and the most productivity overall take short rests periodically between stops during the workday, only drive during regulatory hours of service (HOS), take time off between long trips, and get enough rest.
Safe Loading and Unloading Practices
Professional truck drivers know to follow the best safety practices when loading and unloading cargo. These are key to preventing accidents and injuries. These practices protect you and ensure the safety of your cargo and those around you. They include:
- Ensuring the proper body weight distribution while climbing into and out of the truck; the best way to do this is to have at least three body limbs on board your truck while loading or unloading
- Securing all cargo to prevent shifts during transit, and double down on it if you know you’ll encounter poor road conditions
- Covering cargo with a tarp or other protective material when there’s a chance of inclement weather
- When working in loading docks or with forklifts, following all safety protocols and staying alert
Effective Communication and Use of Technology
Clear communication with dispatchers and other drivers improves safety on the road. However, it can be tricky to facilitate communication without the right tech, especially now that Alabama has a hands-free law that forbids all drivers from taking their hands off the steering wheel while on the road to use a handheld device, like a cellphone.
We don’t want our truck drivers’ phones to cause distracted driving anyway, so our employees utilize other methods of communication behind the wheel, such as GPS, Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), and voice command programs to stay informed and connected. Keeping your focus on the road is critical to avoiding accidents.
Health and Wellness for Truck Drivers
Maintaining your physical and mental health is essential for safe driving. If you’re sick, have a physical illness, are feeling anxious, angry, depressed, or otherwise in mental distress, you aren’t able to be the best truck driver you can be. More importantly, you’re putting yourself and others at risk.
A balanced diet, regular exercise, and proper hydration can keep you in peak condition. Managing stress and staying mentally alert are equally important. Whenever you take care of your health and wellness, you also prepare yourself to handle the demands of the road.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
The highway is unpredictable, and accidents occur all the time, making truck driving a dangerous job. You may encounter poor road conditions, traffic, debris, inclement weather, reckless drivers, or problems with your truck. Being prepared for emergencies and driving safely can save lives.
Always keep an emergency bag on your truck with extra clothes, a first aid kit, an extra phone charger, a few non-perishable food items, clean water, necessary repair tools, and other emergency preparedness equipment. Know the steps to take in case of an accident or breakdown.
You should also write out a clear plan for reporting accidents and seeking help, and keep this in your emergency kit. Quick and effective emergency responses can minimize harm and ensure you get assistance.
Our Safety Messages for Truck Drivers
At P&S Transportation, we employ an extensive network of veteran drivers with plenty of knowledge to share. These truck driving safety tips are a good start for anyone new to the journey or who needs a refresher.
Here are some key takeaways when it comes to safety and driving a truck:
- Always stay aware of your surroundings
- Take breaks even if you don’t feel tired
- Never rush your pre-trip inspections.
Thanks for reading our blog! If you’re part of the P&S Transportation family, we have more online resources like this guide; check them out here.If you are a truck driver with your CDL, have an operational background in the trucking industry, or would be an excellent fit for any of our logistics office staff openings, apply to work with us or contact us today if you have any questions during the application process.