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Avoid these 11 rookie mistakes while driving a truck

Avoid these 11 rookie mistakes while driving a truck

Trucks play an indispensable role in the supply chain, transporting heavyweight goods across long distances. Statistical data derived in 2020 suggests that the value of the trucking industry is $732.3 billion in the country. Unfortunately, truck accidents are prevalent nationwide, often proving fatal to truck drivers and other vehicles on the roads and causing colossal property damage. So, here are some mistakes that truckers should avoid to ensure safety in their journeys:

Not keeping a check on the speed
Driving long distances can be excruciating, especially for drivers of heavy vehicles like trucks. Hence, truck drivers often exceed the prescribed speed limits to finish their journeys as quickly as possible. In the bargain, they end up risking their lives and those of others. Before embarking on a journey, it is important to understand the speed limits on the roads one would be passing by. One should also actively look for speed-limit indicators while driving and ensure staying within these limits, regardless of the distance between the source and destination.

Not being careful while reversing
Reversing is often a challenge for truck drivers, as the vehicle is heavy. And gauging blind spots can be tricky. Hence, truckers should be extremely cautious while reversing their vehicles, examining the area carefully and looking for any obstructions before reversing. Moreover, it is best to avoid reversing over long distances – spending a few minutes more to take a U-turn is a safer option than risking an accident and reversing an entire stretch.

Not reading through the company’s safety policies
Typically, a company’s occupational health and safety (OHS) department, which deals with workplace safety, accident prevention, and the imparting of safety training to employees, is also responsible for enforcing safety protocols for employees. It is imperative for truck drivers to read through these safety policies to ensure their well-being. They must also promptly troubleshoot any questions with the concerned authorities.

Not checking the trailer’s position while driving
An effective way to determine one’s safety on the road while driving a truck is to check the trailer’s position frequently. If the trailer moves outside the road or deviates from the line, it indicates a safety threat to truck drivers. Being constantly aware of the trailer’s position can prevent fatal road accidents.

Skipping pre-inspection
Pre-inspections are essential procedures to facilitate truck safety. All truck drivers, regardless of their expertise and experience levels, should engage in pre-inspection of the vehicle before every journey. Pre-inspection essentially involves checking various truck components, including the steering wheel, brakes, tires, wheels, lights and reflectors, and seatbelts, to ensure that none of these aspects threaten one’s safety. Any issues in these parts should be promptly addressed before the journey begins. Truckers may even create pre-inspection checklists to follow the procedure meticulously.

Not being aware of the different blind spots
In general, a trucker should be aware of four different blind spots while navigating a truck. The first blind spot is situated directly behind the vehicle, the second and third on either side and the fourth in front of the truck. Understanding these blind spots can help truckers gauge the distance between their trucks and other vehicles more accurately. Maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles is particularly important for heavy vehicles, as they require more time to come to a complete halt.

Not sleeping adequately before the journey
Approximately 18% of truckers admitted having fallen asleep while driving their trucks. Such sleep deprivation can cause serious injuries and fatalities to truck drivers. A trucker’s job can be extremely tedious, demanding their absolute attention and long periods away from their homes. Hence, individuals with such demanding jobs must ensure adequate sleep and rest. Restful sleep of 7-8 hours during one’s off-shift time is essential to stay alert while driving a truck.

Not checking the mirrors frequently
Checking the mirrors frequently helps truckers maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and determine blind spots to avoid accidents. Truckers should constantly check the front-view and rear-view mirrors to look for vehicles approaching from all directions.

Using mobile phones while driving
According to reports by the National Safety Council, using mobile phones while driving causes 1.6 million crashes yearly. Being away from their loved ones for long periods can cause truck drivers to use their phones frequently while driving. However, while driving, it is essential to avoid all such distractions and focus only on the task at hand. It is a good idea to devote a fixed time to connect with loved ones during one’s off-shift time.

Not taking breaks during the journey
Driving a truck is a tedious job that involves being sedentary for extended periods. Such long periods of inactivity can increase one’s susceptibility to health conditions like cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases. Hence, truck drivers should take regular breaks in the course of their journeys, alighting their trucks to move about for a while. Moreover, one may perform basic stretches and exercises during such breaks to stay fit. Planning one’s breaks and stops beforehand ensures that this break time is not postponed during the journey.

Not loading the truck properly
Not using the right technique and equipment to load and unload goods can cause the cargo to skid, leading to severe accidents and fatalities on the road. Truck drivers should actively seek assistance loading and unloading their vehicles if required and master the techniques before carrying out these tasks independently.

Besides avoiding such rookie mistakes, it is also important to test-drive trucks and shortlist only reputed truck brands and dealers while purchasing a truck. For example, while purchasing Dodge pick-up trucks from local Dodge dealers, one should check for various key aspects, such as the price of the vehicle, the Ram model to opt for, and the reliability of the dealer. Checking online reviews and seeking feedback from local Ram owners is an excellent idea to ensure the dealer’s credibility.

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