safety

Safety is an extremely vital part of operating a commercial vehicle. Not only must you be able to properly handle such a large vehicle, you must be observant of other cars. Training, pre-planning, and inspections are essential before a driver can ever take off. However, there are new safety rules, regulations, and best practices that pop up throughout the trucking world all the time.

Weather and security measures can put your drivers and clients’ cargo at risk. Plus, with the new advances in technology, devices like cameras and driving habit detectors play a huge role in commercial truck driving safety.

As a commercial vehicle driver, it’s important to stay knowledgeable about new advances and practices to keep drivers accountable and properly assign accountability.

In these articles, we’ll go over all things trucking safety. We’ll cover topics like driving behaviors, tips, news, inspections, and proactive measures that can keep your drivers safe and your insurance rates low.

A Guide to Screening Truck Drivers

While hiring new truck drivers, you have to follow strict industry standards regulated by the US Department of Transportation (DOT). The organization evaluates the transportation and trucking industry to ensure they follow firm safety guidelines. Thus, during the hiring process, you need to screen the truck drivers so you can identify who would be a good fit.

If you don’t know how to go about it, here’s a beginner’s guide. After reading this post, you’ll know how to identify good quality truck drivers that obey the DOT’s regulations.

CDL Requirements: How to Qualify

Are you interested in becoming a truck driver? If yes, then you’ll most likely need a commercial driver’s license. Without one, you wouldn’t be able to operate the majority of commercial motor vehicles. However, before applying for your CDL, you should be aware of the basic qualifications. That way you’re prepared and know what’s expected of you.

In this article, we’ll discuss the many CDL requirements and what can disqualify you from operating a commercial motor vehicle.

DOT Physical Exam: What to Know

If you want to pursue a career as a truck driver then you need to pass your DOT physical exam. The exam focuses on various aspects of a driver’s health and failing one of the tests can result in their driving privileges being revoked.

This exam is mandatory by law since operating a commercial vehicle entails numerous risks. The results of your exam are valid for 24 months unless you have a health concern that needs to be monitored more closely.

We understand these strict guidelines can make the process a tad overwhelming. Therefore, to make it easier we’ve provided a brief overview of what’s included in the DOT physical exam. Let’s begin.

Safety Guide for Trucking in Snow

Trucking in the snow is more challenging since overall visibility and control over your vehicle are reduced. Driving a semi in the snow requires a certain set of skills, experience, and knowledge. This is because the chances of getting into an accident increase significantly in the winter.

Not to mention, truck drivers are having to operate large and heavy vehicles in these conditions, which makes it even more difficult. Being aware of the risks can help you avoid an accident while trucking in the winter.

In this article, we’re going to discuss some safety tips for truckers hauling goods in the winter.

Tips for Transporting Hazardous Materials

Statistics reveal that nearly 3 billion tons of hazardous material are transported in the US every year. Interestingly, most of these materials are transported with the help of trucks. Although these trucks are equipped to safely transport hazardous substances, there’s still a chance you can get into an accident.

Since many of these substances are toxic or flammable, you must ensure they’re safely transported. We will mention some of these tips for your guidance and help you maximize protection against any unwanted incidents.

Loading Dock Safety Tips

If you’re a truck driver, you’ll be spending at least some of your days at a loading dock either dropping off goods or picking them up. The loading dock can be a dangerous place as trucks, trailers, and forklifts are typically moving at the same time. There are risks for pinch point injuries from rolling doors, fall hazards from elevated docks and truck beds, and accidental collisions between equipment and workers—among other hazards.

Even if you aren’t the one doing the loading/unloading, it’s everyone’s job to make sure injuries and accidents are avoided. As a truck driver, you’re responsible for your safety and the safe transport of your load.

Therefore, in this article, we’ve provided some vital safety tips for truck drivers at the loading dock.

Night Driving Safety Tips

Night driving can be difficult due to driver fatigue, reduced vision, drunk drivers, and wildlife. Drivers are four times more likely to get in an accident at night, the majority of the time the main cause is driver fatigue.

However, for truck drivers, there are numerous benefits to driving at night. For instance, there’s less traffic and more parking options available. While some truckers may prefer driving at night for these reasons, that doesn’t mean there’s no risk involved. Fortunately, there are a few tips that can help you minimize these dangers and make your trips at night safer.

In this article, we’ll discuss ways truck drivers can stay safe during their night trips.

How to Safely Back Up a Tractor Trailer

While backing up a tractor-trailer may seem no different than any other vehicle, it’s not. It’s quite challenging due to the size and complexity of a commercial vehicle. A large number of truck drivers struggle with this task since it’s one of the hardest maneuvers.

Putting your tractor-trailer in reverse is one of the biggest causes of truck damage. A high number of claims filed in the trucking industry involve a driver backing up a tractor-trailer. Therefore, backing up a semi is a crucial skill and needs to be taken seriously!

In this article, we will give some suggestions on how to safely back up your big rig.

Sun Glare Reduction Tips for Truckers

Sun glare on the road is a big problem for almost every truck driver. This glare not only makes it harder to see the road but also causes severe headaches and tension around the eyes. This can also lead to driver fatigue. Unfortunately, even after the sun goes down headlights can reflect off road signs and affect your ability to see clearly.

Therefore, since it’s a constant problem, finding an optimal solution should be of top priority if you’re a commercial driver. In this article, we are going to discuss some sun glare reduction tips to make navigating your routes easier Let’s begin.