Did you know that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 4,119 people died in 2019 in large truck crashes? Driving a semi-truck for long-haul contracts might seem like an easy job; the reality is quite different. Truck safety is a pressing concern and job #1 for most truck drivers.
If learning how to keep your drivers safe from harm while on the road is a priority for you, continue reading below for our list of trucking safety tips.
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Trucking Safety Tips
Truck driving is seventh for the Most Dangerous Jobs according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries’ ranking by the BLS. Besides, per 100,000 workers, they calculated 24.7 deaths in 2016.
Truck drivers answer to several different regulators. For example, the (OSHA) Occupational Safety and Health Administration ordinances apply to drivers, other staff, and their employers while loading and unloading trucks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a DOT agency. It seeks to reduce injuries, crashes, and fatalities for large trucks such as semi-trucks. Due to this, it has set forth fitness and safety standards that are used to review the safety controls in place for motor carriers. These are the essential rules to stay safe for large trucks.
Routine Maintenance for Trucking Safety
Motor carriers must carry out adequate inspection, maintenance, and repair of vehicles before trucks head out on each trip. Vital checks are needed on mirrors, horns, engine health, fluid levels, and brakes. These ensure the vehicle is road-ready to operate in the public domain.
Proper Handling of Hazardous Materials and Cargo
Of the primary causes of fatalities for truck drivers, the leading one is improperly balanced loads. Besides, serious problems can occur if the cargo shifts during transport due to it being wrongly loaded, secured, or balanced.
Service Regulations Should be Followed
Truck drivers often look to complete their jobs quickly since many assignments are based on miles driven and not hours worked. Still, too many driving hours are dangerous for truck drivers, other drivers, and pedestrians on the road.
To decrease accidents and road fatalities, safety should remain the top priority. Agents must remind clients to follow the safety regulations and offer comprehensive insurance programs from the best trucking insurance company. These can also help reduce their clients’ liability and can also help improve their safety record as a whole.
Never Drive Distracted
It’s now a widely known fact that driving while reading or typing a text are the worst driving distractions. Crashing risks go up by as much as 23.2 times when truck drivers are distracted. Besides, it is against the law for commercial drivers to text while driving, and there are specific regulations for mobile phones.
Trucking Safety Now
Now that you know a bit more about trucking safety take a minute before getting on the road yourself. Whether driving a semi-truck, bus, or any other vehicle, make sure your vehicle is sound before you go.
We hope that this article provided some helpful information. Come back to read the other excellent articles on this site.