If you’re a trucker then you know that safety is on the top of your list of priorities. With so much depending on your expertise, we at Roeder want you to stay safe on the roads. Here are some trucker safety basics that should be considered when on the road.
- Sleep the night before.
Sleep is one of the most important aspects of the trucking career. Your body needs to rest, and pushing the limits on your tiredness can- and often does- result in poor driving or accidents. If your body is lacking sleep you will become drowsy on the road and could potentially harm others more than you may realize. Pull over, take a nap, or turn on some tunes to keep you alert and ready to drive.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
You may be doing everything right and taking all the measures needed in order to remain safe. However, the other people around you may or may not be doing the same thing. Remain alert of other vehicles on the road that surround you. Not only should you review the cars around you, but you should take notice of the locations and actions of pedestrians, animals, and freight being transported on other vehicles. Often times, these things can become chaos in a matter of seconds. The driver next to you could spill hot coffee in their lap, a granny could walk straight into traffic, a dog dart out in front of you, or that barrel of hay fall straight from the truck bed. The possibilities are endless! Being aware of your surroundings can only benefit you, your safety and the safety of those around you.
- Wear your seatbelt.
Just do it, already. Wearing your seat belt can mean the difference between life or death, literally. More than 1 in 3 truck drivers who died in crashes in 2012 were not wearing seat belts. Buckling up could have prevented up to 40% of these deaths.
- Focus on the task at hand.
We all know how badly you want to crank up the tunes, and we appreciate the thoughtfulness of drowning out your voice, but driving distracted is not safe. Focus on your deliveries and the tasks at hand. Enjoy the music, but don’t let it consume your attention. Take a sip of your drink and replace it to the cup holder. If your sunglasses drop, pick them up at the next stop. Focus on the driving you have left to do in order to stay safe on the roads. We want you to make it to your destination alive, and then karaoke as crazy as you desire.
You can never be too safe when it comes to trucking. Always take the precautionary measures to ensure your safety as well as someone else’s! It may seem redundant, but making sure every safety measure is taken can mean the difference between another night at home or never going home again. Make some changes to your current routine and arrive safe and sound to your final locations.
Roeder Cartage is looking for talented, dedicated, and safe employees. Learn why you should come work for Roeder today!
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/truck-safety/index.html