5 Tips For Staying Safe on the Road as a Truck Driver
Staying safe on the road as a truck driver, whether you’re delivering packages, hauling construction materials, or moving goods across the country, can be challenging at times. However, there are several important things you can do to protect yourself from accidents and dangerous situations, which are easy to learn and effective in your day-to-day work as a truck driver.
1) Get lots of sleep
It’s important to make sure that you get plenty of sleep in order to maintain proper mental and physical health. The amount of sleep an individual needs is highly variable, but most people need around eight hours each night in order to maintain optimum performance levels. If you are having trouble sleeping, there are several strategies that can help; see these tips for dealing with insomnia. At worst, lack of sleep could lead to serious illnesses such as depression or heart disease—both of which can be extremely disruptive to productivity at work and could threaten your ability to hold down a job altogether. In fact, experts estimate that lack of adequate sleep is responsible for over 100,000 motor vehicle accidents each year—meaning it’s not just bad for your productivity; it could literally kill you.
2) Stay up to date with technology
Technology is constantly evolving, so staying up to date with new systems and technologies is important. Never stop learning. Keep an eye out for what’s new in the industry, and keep track of updates that could affect your drivers or truck company. For example, many regulations now require you to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to record driving hours and keep your fleet compliant with Hours of Service regulations. If you don’t know anything about ELDs, learn more by speaking with other professionals or checking out publications like Overdrive Online. The more familiar you are with any new rules, regulations or technology before they’re implemented—the better off you’ll be when things change. One tip: You might want to test any changes in-house first before rolling them out across your entire fleet.
3) Eat healthy
As a truck driver, you’re constantly on-the-go. It can be tempting to stop at fast food restaurants or takeout places along your route. These quick meals may be cheaper than eating at home and they’re definitely faster—but they don’t always serve your health. Because it takes longer to digest, unhealthy food can make you feel sluggish and tired. To stay healthy while driving, try bringing healthy snacks with you when you leave for work in the morning and choose healthier options (like a salad or fruit) when you eat out along your route. Remember that rest is important too; give yourself time to get quality sleep and take breaks from driving if possible so that you stay alert behind the wheel.
4) Prepare for emergencies
Although truck driving is certainly not a dangerous job, it does have its risks—especially during inclement weather. Being prepared for emergencies can reduce your risk of an accident or injury while behind the wheel. Here are 5 tips for staying safe on the road as a truck driver: Be aware of storms and adverse weather conditions; know how to identify lightning and check current storm radar reports if you’re at risk of being caught in an area where severe weather could strike. Bring necessary gear (e.g., water, first aid kit) and supplies (e.g., road flares). If you’re hauling hazardous materials, ensure that your cargo is properly secured so that nothing spills in case of an accident.
5) Share your location
One of the worst things that can happen to any driver is getting lost. You should check your GPS before you leave and pull over if you get confused about where you’re supposed to be going. Also, make sure that your GPS has an accurate signal. Before you start driving, you might want to visit Google Maps and look up some other routes in case something happens to your current route. It doesn’t hurt to have multiple paths in mind! Finally, try using landmarks instead of directions; You will pass by a gas station on your right isn’t very clear but You will pass by Cox Park after taking a left at Main Street is much better.
