Stay Safe on the Road - Trucking Safety Tips

Stay Safe on the Road – Trucking Industry Safety Facts

Starting a career in the trucking industry can be a great option for people who want a steady flow of income throughout the whole year. With that being said, becoming a trucker comes with an ever-growing set of responsibilities, some of which are crucial for your safety as well as the safety of others in traffic.

While as a trucker you ought to pay special attention to your own behavior in traffic, you also have the responsibility of keeping other participants safe since you’re driving a steel monster that can crush anything and everything that stands in its path.

If you’re looking to become a part of the trucking industry, here are some trucking industry safety facts that should give you an idea of how dangerous it is to be negligent and unaware of your surroundings. Even though trucking jobs are lucrative, especially during the current state of global affairs (COVID-19), it’s still crucial to keep in mind the tremendous amount of responsibility that comes with being a professional truck driver.

Tips to Help You Stay Safe on the Road

If you have a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License), you should already know a thing or two about traffic safety. These tips are rather general and pretty basic, but they are still somewhat helpful even if you’re already a highly trained, experienced truck driver.

Here are a couple that should help keep you and others safe:

• Always Stay Within the Speed Limit

There is a myth circling around that truckers are always in a hurry and that most of them are completely oblivious to other participants in traffic. While this is most definitely not true for all, there is indeed a worrying number of truckers who like to push the speed limits just because they are driving a massive vehicle and thus see themselves as self-proclaimed masters of the road.

Needless to say, this is a wrong way of looking at things, especially when human lives are at stake. No matter how powerful your rig is, always stay within the speed limits because they are there for a (very good) reason.

• Drive Fully Rested

This is yet another safety tip that every driver should abide by, but you would be surprised by the number of drivers who don’t. Trucking can become quite hectic, especially in the middle of the season, but that is not nearly a good enough reason to become negligent and drive when you’re tired.

While driver fatigue is cited as a factor in only about 1.6% of fatal truck crashes, it’s still a worrying statistic that should be significantly lower.

• Drive a Regularly Maintained Vehicle

Driving a regularly maintained vehicle is one of the best ways to avoid unforeseen scenarios and random breakdowns. On top of that, keeping your vehicle in pristine condition at all times is much cheaper in the long run as opposed to fixing something that’s broken.

While it is true that regular truck maintenance might be a costly endeavor for some drivers, it’s always a better option than going on the road with a vehicle that could break down any minute. You’ll not only pay more for tow services, repairs, and fees, but you could also jeopardize the wellbeing of other participants in traffic if you’re driving an uninspected vehicle. For instance, your brakes could fail in the middle of a highway, and that’s a situation no one wants to be a part of. Fortunately, all you have to do in order to avoid such scenarios is keep your vehicle in good condition at all times, especially prior to driving long mileages.

• Be Extra Aware of Your Surroundings

As a trucker, you have much more responsibility on your hands in comparison to car drivers. Primarily because you’re driving a heavy steel monster that requires up to 7 seconds to come to a complete stop at an average speed of 55 mph. This usually means that in most circumstances, it’s already too late to start breaking when you’re in a tight situation.

This is why you need to be extra aware of your surroundings, keep your speed at a relatively manageable level, and most importantly – account for the breaking times. In simpler words, leave enough room for yourself to brake and come to a stop before collision.

In Conclusion

As you can tell, the vast majority of these tips are basic, common knowledge, but it’s always a good idea to keep them in mind and literally save lives. This article isn’t focused on telling you how to drive but instead on reminding you that trucking comes with a lot of responsibility and that you should always stay vigilant while on the road.

If you’re interested in starting a career, don’t hesitate to apply for an Owner Operator position at MDS Trucking V and we promise you won’t regret it. You have multiple options at your disposal, including our unique 100% revenue option for a $300 flat weekly rate!

If you’d like to know more about the trucking industry, please read some of our other articles!