Nearly 4,600 fatal accidents involving semi-truck drivers occur every year. Whether it’s due to distracted drivers or aggressive drivers, road accidents lead to severe injuries, costly damage, and even death.
With all these potential dangers, safe driving is essential for semi-truck drivers. To enhance road safety, you need to know safe driving practices. Knowing these safety tips can help you reach your destinations safely and prevent semi-truck accidents.
Below is a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about proper truck safety.
1. Develop Preventative Vehicle Maintenance Schedules
Your safety on the road starts with the safety of the truck you drive. Semi-trucks that aren’t up-to-date with their regular truck maintenance are more likely to break down and cause accidents.
Create a regular preventative maintenance schedule to keep your truck in top shape. The schedule should outline the specific maintenance tasks you need to perform and the frequency with which you should perform them. Here are some maintenance tasks you should conduct:
- Perform tire service regularly
- Inspect the brakes
- Check the fluids, including the oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid
- Keep the truck clean to prevent rust and corrosion
When you follow these tips, you can help ensure your safety and that of other motorists on the road.
2. Ensure Thorough Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspections
Pre-trip and post-trip inspections are essential for ensuring truck safety. These inspections involve examining the semi-truck for any potential problems before and after each trip. To ensure comprehensive pre-trip and post-trip inspections, use a checklist to ensure all necessary items are inspected.
You can use technological tools like electronic logging devices (ELDs) and mobile apps to automate the inspection process. Once you discover any issue, report it. Early reporting can prevent small issues from becoming major safety hazards.
3. Plan Your Trip in Advance
Planning your trip can help increase your driving safety. Be alert to potential issues such as:
- Road conditions: Check the weather forecast and plan an alternate route or consider delaying your trip in case of bad conditions
- Construction zones: Be aware that construction zones can be dangerous due to narrow lanes, uneven pavement, and heavy equipment
- Rest areas: Find places where you can rest and refresh yourself during long drives
- High-traffic areas: Beware of routes that are prone to traffic congestion and avoid them
- Restricted routes: Ensure your route doesn’t include semi-truck restricted roads and hazards such as low-weight limit bridges, low clearances, and more
- High crime areas: If you are transporting valuable shipments, avoid using isolated routes and poorly lit locations
When you plan your trips, you can anticipate potential issues and take steps to avoid them. This will help increase your driving safety.
4. Practice Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is important for all drivers, especially semi-truck drivers. Since they operate large and heavy vehicles that require a longer stopping distance and have limited maneuverability, they need to be more careful when driving.
When you drive defensively, you stay on the lookout for potential hazards and risks on the road so you can take steps to avoid them. Some defensive driving techniques you may practice include:
Watch Out for Blind Spots
A blind spot is an area around a vehicle that is not visible to the driver. They can be a major hazard for semi-truck drivers since trucks are often high off the ground and it can be hard to see other cars behind or those next to you.
As a driver, you need to adjust mirrors well to minimize blind spots. You can also use turn signals to indicate your intentions to other drivers on the road.
Practice the Three-Second Rule
The three-second rule can help prevent forward and rear collisions. The rule recommends that semi-truck drivers allow at least three seconds to pass between the vehicles in front of them to reach a specific point on the road and the time it takes their truck to reach the same point.
Keep a Safe Following Distance
A semi-truck is much heavier than a passenger vehicle, and it takes longer to stop. If a driver is following too closely behind another vehicle, there may not be enough time to stop in case of an emergency, such as sudden braking or a vehicle collision. Keeping a safe following distance can help you avoid rear-end collisions.
What’s more, when following too closely, the driver’s visibility of the road ahead is reduced. This can make it difficult to anticipate any potential hazards or obstacles that may appear on the road.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
From breakdowns to bad driving conditions, emergencies can occur anytime. As a semi-truck driver, you need to prepare for these situations.
Always have an emergency kit in your truck. It should contain basic supplies such as water, food, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and blankets. Additionally, make sure you have a way to communicate with your dispatcher or a 24-hour emergency road service.
5. Take Proper Rest and Breaks
Fatigue can impair your ability to operate your semi-truck safely, increasing the risk of accidents. This is why you should prioritize rest and breaks. It will help you maintain alertness and stay safe on the road.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations that limit the amount of time that commercial drivers can spend on duty and driving. This can help reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents.
According to the regulations, drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) must take a break of at least 30 minutes after 8 hours of driving. They are also limited to a maximum of 11 hours of driving per day. Additionally, truck drivers should take at least 10 consecutive hours off-duty before starting a new work shift.
Taking proper rest and breaks is not only required by law but it’s also crucial for driving safety.
6. Keep Your Cargo Secure
A poorly secured load on a semi-truck can have serious consequences. If the load isn’t properly secured, it can shift or become unbalanced during transit. This can cause your truck to lose stability and potentially jackknife or roll over.
As a result, it can be a safety risk for you and other motorists. To prevent cargo from losing balance and falling onto the road, use proper tie-down techniques and devices. Make sure they’re tightened and fastened correctly.
Distribute the load evenly to stop your semi-truck from tipping over or swaying while you’re driving. You can also use bracing and blocking to prevent cargo from moving around during transportation. Additionally, inspect your cargo to ensure it is secure.
7. Avoid Distractions
Distracted driving is a serious safety concern. Some of the common distractions while driving include texting, eating or drinking, talking on the phone, and even listening to loud music.
This type of driving is also one of the leading causes of accidents on the road. For instance, the odds of getting into an accident are 23.2 times greater for drivers who are texting while driving.
To avoid distractions while driving your semi-truck, you can take the following steps:
- Put your phone away: If you must use your phone, pull over to a safe location first
- Make a plan: Eat and drink before you get on the road
- Avoid multitasking: Focus solely on driving and avoid trying to do other things while behind the wheel
- Keep music volume low: You can listen to music but keep the volume low enough so you can still hear other sounds on the road
- Use hands-free devices: They will help keep your hands free and your eyes on the road.
When you stay alert on the road, you can help ensure your safety and the safety of other road users.
8. Use a GPS or Mapping Device
Driving on the correct route can make your trucking experience less stressful. Using GPS can help you navigate unfamiliar routes and find the most efficient route to your destination.
Your GPS can provide real-time traffic updates, allowing you to adjust your route to avoid potential hazards on the road. But remember that GPS technology isn’t foolproof. This is why you should consider using it in conjunction with a truck atlas.
GPS and mapping devices can also help reduce driver stress by providing clear and easy-to-follow directions. This good driving habit can improve your focus and alertness on the road, limiting the risk of accidents.
9. Prepare for Dangerous Road Conditions
Road conditions can change constantly. This can be a danger for semi-truck drivers. Here are some common dangerous conditions to look out for:
Ice and Snow
During winter weather conditions, ice and snow can create hazardous road conditions for semi-truck drivers. To be safe, reduce your speed and increase your following distance. This will allow for greater stopping distances.
Also, ensure your tires have high-quality treads.
Rain
Heavy rainfall not only reduces road traction but also causes visibility issues. Ensure your windshield wipers are in perfect condition and your headlights are on to improve visibility. You also need to reduce your speed.
Fog
Thick fog can reduce visibility. Using low-beam headlights or fog lights is ideal. Avoid high beams as they can make visibility worse by reflecting light into your eyes.
High Winds
Strong winds can affect the handling of large semi-trucks. To ensure safety, reduce your speed and maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel. Also, look out for debris that’s blown by the wind on the road.
Animal Crossings
Animals such as deer, moose, and elk can suddenly appear on the road, especially at night or early morning. Ensure you keep a close eye on the sides of the road for any movement.
Potholes
Potholes can cause damage to your semi-truck tires and suspension systems. Avoid sudden movements and slow down when driving over potholes.
Being aware of these dangerous road conditions will help you adjust your driving habits accordingly.
10. Stay Predictable While On the Road
As a semi-truck driver, consistently drive your truck to make the road safer for you and others. Here are some ways to operate your big truck predictably:
- Slow down on turns
- Activate your turn signal a few seconds before you turn or change lanes
- Avoid recurrent, unnecessary lane changes
- Keep your rig between the lines at all times
- Maintain a consistent speed
- Avoid sudden stops
When you follow these practices, you can help other drivers on the road understand your intentions and react accordingly. This will make the roads safer for everyone.
11. Drive at a Safe Speed
As a semi-truck driver, it is important to drive at a safe speed. Always obey posted speed limits. Going over the speed limit not only puts you at risk of getting a ticket but also increases your chances of getting into an accident.
Also, remember to adjust your speed based on road conditions. Be aware of road conditions, such as weather, traffic, and construction zones, and be extra cautious with your speed limit.
12. Always Buckle Up
Not wearing a seat belt is one of the causes of rising fatal crashes. Ensure you wear your seatbelt each time you drive your semi-truck.
Wearing a seatbelt can allow you to stay inside a car and control your truck in case of a crash. It can also prevent serious injuries and fatalities.
Additionally, a seatbelt can help prevent ejection from your truck in the event of a rollover. If you have strict seat belt policies, your trucking company can get lower rates from insurance companies.
13. Avoid Driving Under the Influence
As a semi-truck driver, you should prioritize safety on the road and avoid driving under the influence. Apart from avoiding drugs and alcohol, you should also keep away from prescription and over-the-counter medications. They can cause drowsiness and impair your ability to drive safely.
Check with your doctor about any potential side effects of the medications. If the effects are adverse, avoid taking them.
Additionally, avoid highly caffeinated drinks like Red Bull. They offer a temporary energy boost, which can lead to a crash in energy levels after a few hours. This can leave you more exhausted and unsuitable to drive.
14. Stay Calm and Collected on the Road
Road rage is a serious threat to driving safety. It can lead to aggressive driving behavior, such as tailgating, speeding, weaving between lanes, or even physical confrontations with other road users. This can endanger your life and that of others on the road.
When driving, make sure to keep your cool. Focus on your breathing if you feel yourself getting angry or upset. It will help you relax and maintain a calm state of mind.
Follow These Safety Tips for Semi-Truck Drivers
Semi-truck drivers need to prioritize driving safety. At Keating & Son’s Tire & Commercial Services, we can help you. Our trained team offers optimal truck maintenance to keep it roadworthy.
Get in touch today to get started.
