Important Trucking Safety Tips
When you’re first starting out in your trucking career, you might not know what to expect. After all, driving a truck for a living is much more difficult than commuting to work in a normal passenger vehicle. You need to stay awake for long stretches of empty road and deal with traffic and also make sure your cargo doesn’t go missing. Here are some of the ways that you can stay safe while you’re out on the road.
Watch Out for Blind Spots
Blind spots are dangerous for any driver. They’re much more dangerous for truck drivers because the trucks take longer to slow down and your blind spots are wider due to the size of your vehicle. There’s no rear view window and you won’t be able to see all the way around your cab, either. Behind the mirrors, the sides of the cabin, and behind the truck are the worst spots where visibility is almost zero. That’s why when you need to change lanes, you must watch out for other cars that might unexpectedly speed up to get around you before you can complete your move.
Turn Safely
There are different speed limits you need to aware of no matter where you go. Mountain roads are going to be narrower than busy city highways, but both are equally risky, although for different. Make sure you turn on your signal long before you intend to turn. This means other drivers know where you plan to go and won’t get caught in your way, especially if you miss the exit ramp you need to get on to reach your destination. Your trailer will swing behind you, so keep an eye on the mirrors as you go, and make sure your cargo won’t go flying due to the effects of high winds or simple physics.
Secure Your Cargo
Packing the cargo into your truck takes a fair bit of skill. By making sure that everything is in its right place, the cargo won’t shift around and cause drag or any other problems that can affect your ability to accelerate to top speed or drain your gas mileage. Weather conditions can also affect how well you can travel, and if your cargo will stay put. When there is bad weather, you will need to drive more slowly and more carefully.
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