Being able to drive a four-door sedan isn’t the same as driving a truck. Truck driving is a whole different ballgame, which means that there are more safety precautions that need to be taken to prevent injuries.
In 2019, there were more than 6 million car accidents, with more than 33,000 of those resulting in a death. In that same year, there were just over 118,000 large trucks involved in an accident, with 5,033 being fatal.
Truck drivers usually have a stronger driving ability than the average commuter. If you employ truck drivers, you know that they also encounter obstacles that other drivers don’t. Fortunately, there are several safety tips for truck drivers that can help them overcome these obstacles.
4 safety tips for your truck drivers
By following safety tips, your truck drivers can reduce their risk of injuries, accidents and fatalities. Staying alert and using one’s best judgment is essential for any type of driving, but there are other tips that go beyond these commonsense ones. Some of the most important tips that can help keep your drivers safe and reduce accidents include:
- Doing a safety inspection — An important safety precaution should happen before the driver even gets behind the wheel: ensuring that the truck passes a safety inspection that’s completed by the truck driver or by you as the employer. An inspection should include looking at everything from the integrity of the undercarriage to a basic engine check. Your fleet of trucks should be in the best working condition possible for any trip.
- Checking the weather — Looking at the weather report should be one of the first things drivers do before heading out. They should look at their current area as well as any areas that they will be driving through during their trip. If they know about bad weather or driving conditions beforehand, they’ll be able to plan their trip schedule accordingly.
- Inspecting delivery areas on foot — Knowing about the layout at a delivery site in advance is a great way to determine the safest way to maneuver in and out of the area. For instance, learning things like the location of ditches and posts can make a big difference. This can be accomplished by parking a walking distance away from the delivery spot and examining the area before bringing the truck to it.
- Minimizing lane changes — Even though they can’t always be avoided, truck drivers should try to keep the number of lane changes as low as possible. Cars can move in and out of lanes quickly without realizing when a large semitruck is slowly making its way over. It also makes it easier to leave extra room in front of the driver’s rig, which is another important safety precaution.
Work-Fit can help you keep your truck drivers safe
Safety for truck drivers should be the number one priority at every level of a company. Our team at Work-Fit can bring safety and accident prevention programs to your workplace. Contact our team today for more information about our services or to learn how we can help keep your drivers safer and working fit.
