4 Truck Driving Tips for Staying Safe on the Road

1. Encourage your Truckers to Practice Defensive Driving 

Truck drivers are encouraged to practice defensive driving, which involves being frequently alert for potential hazards & changes in road or driving conditions. Truck drivers are striving to mitigate their risk of collisions and injuries by anticipating hazardous situations. Drivers who practice defensive driving are less likely to get into an accident - Which means you do not have to worry as much about exorbitant repair costs, claim settlements, and rising insurance rates. 

Here are some defensive driving strategies & practices to encourage your truck drivers to use: 

Watch out for blind spots:

Blind spots can be dangerous for drivers of large vehicles, as it can be difficult to see other cars and motor vehicles on the ground. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 840,000 accidents annually are caused by blind spots. Most collisions happen when truck or trailer drivers are changing lanes. To prevent such collisions, encourage truck drivers to check their blind spots before changing lanes. 

Slow down and maintain control:

Train your commercial truck drivers to slow down in response to changes on the road, including poor visibility or bad weather conditions. Slowing down the vehicle speed offers the driver extra time to respond to sudden changes, like slippery roads on the highway when it rains. Thus, slowing down the vehicle speed can prevent accidents and decrease the severity if any accidents do occur.  

2. Develop Preventative Maintenance Schedules 

The safety of your truck drivers starts with the safety of the trucks. When your trucks and trailers are not up-to-date with proper regular maintenance, such as brake pads and oil changes, are more prone to breakdowns on the road. In such cases, a telematics solution can provide real-time visibility of the odometer and other engine data. 

When you create comprehensive preventative maintenance regimens based on miles, days, and previous breakdown history, you can receive real-time notifications for maintenance due and fault codes. Through proactive repair and maintenance, you can ensure your trucks are in excellent condition so that your drivers may prevent breakdowns on their routes.

3. Perform a Pre-trip & Post-trip Inspection

Increase your driver safety through vehicle maintenance that goes hand in hand with vehicle inspections to ensure all your trucks are secure enough before drivers take to the road. Check your truck's engine, tires, & other essential parts before hitting the road. You can use Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIRs) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that ensure vehicle inspections are complete & accurately documented to safeguard the safety of your truck drivers. Prepare a documentation inspection and repairs to ensure proper follow-up of your commercial vehicles and increase their safety. 

4. Fleet with real-time GPS Tracking

With a fleet management platform that provides real-time GPS tracking technology, you can find the exact location of your fleet drivers. It is essential to ensure the safety of your fleet drivers, especially during vehicle breakdowns or other emergencies. 

If your vehicle breaks down, you must know its exact location so you can assist your driver as soon as possible. When you find your drivers' precise location, you can reroute them to the closest shop for repair or send a maintenance person directly to the spot. Therefore, by using real-time software like GPS or telematics, you can reduce your downtime & get your vehicle back to work.  

Fraikindayim offers a large number of commercial trucks and trailers for several industries, such as Construction, Healthcare, Food & Beverages, Oil & Gas, and more, from the best manufacturers around the world. Contact us at Fraikindayim or visit the fraikindayim.com website to learn more about us.