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| Prevent Truck Accidents |
There’s nothing worse than a close call on the highway. Well, except for an actual incident!
So what’s the cause of the many trucking accidents? It’s hard to pick one thing, but we know there are a few key factors that always come up.
How can you prevent accidents on the road? By starting with yourself!
We’ve listened to truckers and health experts to put together these 7 tips for accident prevention.
Get More Sleep
Nothing is more dangerous than falling asleep behind the wheel of a 70,000 lb truck speeding down the highway. Which is why you hear so many people in the industry discussing the sleeping patterns, health, and practices of drivers. Federal regulations do not allow more than 12 consecutive hours of road time, but there are many drivers who do more than this.
How can you avoid sleep deprivation? Rest for short intervals and take breaks when you’re tired. With small amounts of recharge time, you can prevent sleep related accidents.
Sit with Proper Posture
Over at TruckLogics blog, we told you about how you need to watch your back while you drive. And it’s true! When you sit comfortably and don’t damage your back, you reduce the likelihood of personal injury and even roadside incidents.
Related Blog: Is Your Truck Destroying Your Back?
Keep Your Distance
Always be aware of your lane distance as you cross the highways. Knowing your stopping and starting distance, break distance, and proper speeds will be essential for proper safety on the roads.
Stay Healthy
You know what sounds dangerous? Having a heart attack as you zoom down I-95, or any local highway.
That’s why we constantly tell drivers to eat healthy and exercise. Sure, exhaustion is dangerous enough, but your heart will be all the better with proper nutrition and regular exercise. With that one-two punch, you can reduce your excess weight
Bet you’d improve your sleep, too!
Watch for Blind Spots
Depending on what truck you’re driving, your blind spot is gonna be different. Make sure you know what your blind spot distance is, so you will know how far away a car or a person really is from your truck.
This will prevent major accidents on the road, when backing up, and even when removing items from your truck during a delivery.
Maintain Your Truck
Sure, maybe your employer is “responsible” for truck maintenance as a whole, but you should always implement pre-trip inspections and keep an eye on your truck out there on the road. These checks not only reduce the possibilities for something to go wrong, they also keep you secure in your work and your driving.
Manage Your Time & Profession
Time is money. Trucking is money. Instead of reacting to what happens on the road, plan ahead and document frequently. What we’re saying is, use a trucking software like TruckLogics to stay ahead of the game.
Sure, it might not prevent an accident as well as keeping the proper distance, but having access to all of your receipts, bills of lading, and invoices in one handy phone app will reduce a lot of the stress of your life.
Don’t forget, we’re only a few months away from your 2290 deadline – be sure to keep up with us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest HVUT e-filing updates!