During this guide today we will be going over some of the most popular ways and the easiest ways to keep professional drivers driving records clean and motorists safe using professional truck drivers’ personal experiences and stories. Let’s begin with some of the best ways to keep professional truck drivers and other motorists on the road safe.
Checking the Weather Radar Often
Checking the weather radar often for weather updates from flooding, hard rain, snowstorms, black ice, extreme heat, or even extreme cold can help you avoid numerous different weather events that may not be the optimal conditions for shipping cargo. Snowstorms, Ice Storms, Extreme Cold, and Flash Floods can easily leave your rig stuck in place causing you to be in unsafe conditions. You can help play your part in keeping the roadways safe by knowing ahead of time if your rig will face weather conditions fit or unfit for your cargo.
One of the least worried about weather conditions is the extreme cold and one of the ones you should be extremely cautious about. When the weather is extreme cold you can run into things such as diesel gelling up causing your rig to not start, batteries to not hold a full charge or draining faster (especially with lithium) from the cold, and the danger of getting frostbite if you are outside in extremely cold weather for a period of time.
Wearing You Seatbelt At All Times
One of the more obvious but yet oh so important measures of being safe on the road for every motorist and the professional truck driver is wearing your seatbelt. You can greatly reduce the chance of being injured, thrown out of your seat, or even the chance of death by wearing your seatbelt properly as your seatbelt instructions suggest. Did you know that over 40% of crash-related deaths are attributed to not wearing a seatbelt? Play your part in reducing the chance of death and staying safe!
Keeping A Good Stopping Distance
When going down the road with other motorists is extremely important to make sure you follow a proper stopping distance depending on your load’s weight with your trailer. Heavier loads are harder to stop and will require an even larger stopping distance than those who might weigh much less. Knowing the exact stopping distance you need will come with time and experience but you should always give yourself more stopping room to guarantee that you are able to stop than not enough which could result in an accident. We recommend at least 200 feet for most loads and more for those with heavier loads for the general rule of thumb. This can vary on the weight of the load, size of the load, and the equipment you are transporting cargo with.
Avoid Speeding and Going Too Fast Around Corners
This tip is simple and straight to the point slow down if you are going too fast in a straight or a corner. Speed limits were posted in order to keep you and other motorists safe they are not a recommendation and should be followed as experts have judged the roads cornering and straights to predict what is safe and what is not. If you are approaching a sharp corner it is also super important to make sure your rig stays in your lane and does not go into the other motorist’s lane beside you or into the oncoming traffic lane. Slowing down can save your load, lives, and avoid getting costly fines or tickets that could impact your commercial driving license (CDL).
Get Enough Sleep and Rest
If you are feeling sleepy or extremely tired going down the road you should make sure to pull over at the nearest stop that is safe for you to do so to catch up on sleep. It is never worth the risk of causing an accident from extreme fatigue or lack of sleep. Some of the best tips to get more sleep is investing in things such as blackout curtains, new mattress, a new pillow, and keeping the air conditioner on to help you fall asleep quicker. We also recommend at busier rest stops to utilize some background noise such as a TV, Music, or Headphones to get rid of distractions in the background that could cause you to not get a good night’s sleep. It’s also equally as important to not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving as well.
Knowing Your Load’s Weight and Size
Knowing the weight of your load and the size and shape of your load can make the ultimate difference in safety. When you know the weight of your load you know the limitations of the tie-down straps, chains, bridges you can and can’t take, and also the amount of braking distance that is required in order to get your load stopped on a heavy brake. The size and shape of your load can help to determine the bridges you can or can’t take due to height as well as knowing if you need a longer size of tie-downs in order to transport the cargo. These factors are extremely important for avoiding obstacles that may happen along the way.
Inspecting Your Rig and Tie Down Straps Often
When you are transporting heavy-duty cargo it is important to check and thoroughly look over your truck, trailer, and cargo securement method of choice such as tie-down straps often. Over time straps, trailers, and trucks can develop defects or strain on the equipment causing damage and safety risks associated with your cargo load. If you find any damage to your tie-down straps and you need to replace them you can view our inventory of tie down straps here.
Avoiding Distractions
In 2020 there are a lot of distractions that can easily take your focus off of the road that you are sharing with other motorists. Although it can be super hard to do you should always do your best when driving to avoid looking at your GPS, Phone, Ipad, TV, Tablet, Computer, Laptop, or Watch for periods of time. These are just some of the many different distractions that could easily distract your attention from the road and other motorists during a long drive. Not paying attention could easily result in an accident, CDL suspension, or expensive tickets.