Truckin’ ain’t easy! It takes hard work, dedication, and focus to ship the world’s economy from point A to point B. Well, we want to help! We’ve put together a list of truck driving tips (a refresher of sorts) for better surveillance and risk reduction on the road.
Stopping Distance
Everyone on the road is contributing to overall safety and truck drivers have an even greater responsibility.
As cars increase in speed, the time it takes to react, apply the brakes, and actually stop, rises with it. When it comes to trucks and their heavier loads, stopping distance can be increased by as much as 50%. That’s without even taking into consideration things like rain or snow.
Truck Driving Tips
So, how do you contribute to road and truck safety?
Look 15 Seconds Ahead
Because it takes a truck so much longer to stop, you need to make up for this by reacting sooner. Scanning ahead by at least 12 to 15 seconds will often give you the time to see and react to a potentially hazardous situation.
The Three-Second Rule
No, we’re not talking about eating that all-dressed chip that was only on the floor for two seconds.
The three-second rule is allowing a minimum of three seconds between a car and your truck passing the same point in the road. If it’s raining you should allow for at least five seconds, and if it’s snowing, ten. Your buffer should also increase the faster you’re travelling.
Be Prepared To Stop
Speaking of rain and snow, when the weather takes a turn for the worse, you always want to be prepared and stocked with essentials. If weather conditions (or a breakdown) prevent you from driving, always have extra food, snacks, water, change of clothes, blankets, and a first aid kit in your cab!
Room To Manoeuvre
While enough space behind the car in front of you is important, it’s also important to make sure you have an out. This means giving yourself room on the left or right of your truck to get out of harm’s way.
Check Out Another Blog: Green Trucks: The Coolest Eco-Friendly Trailer Tech
Breaks Matter
Breaks, not brakes (though, they matter too).
Fatigue and burnout are the cause of so many accidents. Driving requires focus, and you just won’t be able to dedicate your full attention if you aren’t taking adequate rests and breaks. Some of this falls on the driver, but at Darunco, we also make sure every shipment is scheduled in a way that they will always arrive on time, without putting undue strain on our Drivers.
Slowing Down Is Always Okay
When in doubt, slowing down is a safe and appropriate response to changing situations.
As we have stated multiple times now, the distance it takes for a truck stop is much higher than a car due to the increase in weight. If weather conditions change, you see excessive brake lights down the road, or whatever else, slowing down is always a good idea.
