Maintaining the safety of your drivers is crucial for more reasons than just their health and wellbeing. Their safety immediately affects both your bottom line and the safety of other drivers on the road.
If you are looking for a heavy haul trucking jobs then you must also adhere to the safety tips mentioned below. Here are crucial safety recommendations for truck drivers to keep them safe while driving.
1. Maintain a Safe Speed
Make sure to keep your speed safe as the first piece of advice. It can make a significant difference to pay attention to speed limits and other drivers’ typical speeds. Additionally, you should alter your speed in accordance with the circumstances in which you are now driving. Take into account the weather, traffic, and other considerations while choosing your truck’s speed.
2. Avoid Using Cell Phones While Driving
Truck drivers need to take note of this safety advice. To focus on the road in front of you while driving, keep your phone out of sight. Avoid making calls and sending texts, and if you must, think about investing in a hands-free or wireless set to assist.
3. Preventive Maintenance Schedules
The creation of a preventative maintenance schedule is another crucial step to guarantee the safety of your drivers and your vehicle. You may be able to prevent future malfunctions or defects with its assistance.
A badly maintained vehicle puts the driver in danger of an accident since a breakdown or malfunction could occur suddenly.
4. Promote appropriate rest and breaks
Every eight hours, a truck driver must take a break that lasts at least 30 minutes. Drivers are not permitted to drive for more than 14 hours without at least a 10-hour break. As soon as you start doing any form of work, the 14-consecutive-hour driving window starts. These regulations ensure that drivers get enough rest in between shifts by prohibiting driving for another 10 straight hours after the end of the 14-consecutive-hour period.
5. Wear seat belt
When it comes to being safe in an accident, seatbelts are crucial. If they are not wearing them, drivers are punished. If they are involved in an accident while without wearing a seat belt, they may also get serious injuries or possibly pass away. The simplest way to keep safe when driving is to buckle up.
6. Make a Travel Plan
You can prepare for any route alterations you might need to make by being aware of what to expect and what is already on the road. You should take the time to map out your route before you go as a professional driver to ensure your safety during the entire journey.
7. Be Patient in Bad Weather
You should change your speed if there is snow, sleet, rain, ice, or any other hazardous weather that could influence you on the road. How safe you are on the road and how much control you have over your truck can be greatly affected by speed adjustment.
8. Speed down on curves
Big vehicles like trucks, bends, and incline roads can be challenging to navigate. On curves, slow down to avoid losing control. It will assist you in avoiding falling or turning over in the curved sections. Additionally, it will ensure that your load doesn’t move and remains flat.