Truck driving is not for the faint of heart. The open road, though freeing, is also dangerous, especially when you drive a huge big rig that weighs however many tons. It’s like a missile. Once that thing gets off track, there’s almost no stopping it. However, we’ve got a few truck driver safety tips that can help you stay safe on the road.
Safety
We don’t have to tell you that trucking businesses face a lot of risks. The roads aren’t always the safest place, and that’s why it’s so important to take steps to emphasize and improve safety at your truck business. While this is beneficial because it will lessen the chance of your drivers and employees getting hurt, safety can also help you avoid truck insurance claims. In turn, that can help your truck insurance rates.
The following articles give suggestions and tips for improving different areas of safety at your business. Take some time to check out the various topics that we explore in the articles. We’ll explain the dangers of distracted driving, the importance of pre-trip vehicle inspections and preventive maintenance, why you should always wear a seatbelt, and more. Safety is an ongoing process, so it’s important to always be looking for ways to make your business a little safer. The following articles might help you think of ways to do that.
What is a BASIC in trucking and why do the BASICs matter?
There are a lot of regulations that trucking businesses need to be aware of and follow. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is the agency charged with overseeing CMVs and regulating trucks. The FMCSA has the power to intervene with truck businesses in the form of written letters of warning or investigations.
Truckers and texting and driving: The consequences of distracted driving
A topic that has gotten a lot of attention from the trucking community and the population at large is distracted driving. There are dire warnings about texting and driving – you’ve probably seen some billboards or a TV commercial imploring people to put their phones down and drive.
Here’s what you need to do if you’re in an accident while driving your truck
Truck driving comes with many risks. The roads can be a dangerous place and accidents happen so fast. We know that it’s not the cheeriest, happiest thing to think about, but you have to be prepared for what to do if you’re involved in an accident while driving your truck – semi truck, flatbed truck, or box truck.
10 tips for safe summer trucking
Summer is here. Along with the higher temperatures and sunshine come some risks for truck drivers. One might think that winter, with ice and snow and rain, would be most dangerous, but summer has its fair share of risks, too. Summer can be a dangerous time to drive your truck, whether you drive tractor trailers, box trucks, or flatbeds, so check out these summer truck driving tips.
5 workplace safety policies you should have at your trucking business
If you drive trucks and operate a trucking business, you know how important safety is. The roads are a dangerous place. Driving is probably the most dangerous thing we do all day. And that’s why it’s important to minimize the risk to your drivers as much as possible.
The dangers of speeding for truck drivers
As a truck driver, you’re under a lot of pressure to meet your deadlines, keep to the schedule, and get your cargo where it needs to be fast. There could be a lot of temptation to speed. Pushing the speed limit might seem like a great idea when you’re running behind schedule, but there are many consequences and dangers associated with speeding.
Why you should wear your seatbelt every time you drive
When you’re behind the wheel of a truck, wearing a seatbelt is a key part of staying safe. Driving is one of the most dangerous things we do on a daily basis, and we’ve gotten so used to it that we forget just how dangerous it is. We get too comfortable. We might even decide not to wear a seatbelt.
How to prevent truck cargo theft while you’re on the road
If you’re a trucker, your business depends on getting your cargo from Point A to Point B. Unfortunately, unscrupulous cargo thieves often have different ideas. Finding out that your semi truck or box truck has mysteriously driven itself away (or that the trailer has mysteriously unloaded itself) is enough to ruin a perfectly good day.