Safe Driving Tips for Truck Drivers

Truck driving may not be on the top of your list of dangerous jobs, but with the high number of fatal car crashes, it certainly should be.  Follow these driving tips to make sure you and your cargo get to your destination as safely as possible.

1.  Get enough sleep.  Eat well during the day and don't rely on quick fixes like caffeine or sugar to get you through the drive.  These can easily wear off and contribute to loss of attention and reaction time while driving.  

2. Take care of your vehicle.  Schedule regular maintenance check ups with your mechanic.  Double check your vehicle before you embark on any trip.  Breaks are frequently sited during inspections and should be checked on a regular basis. 3.  Watch out for work zones.  Large trucks were directly related to nearly 1/4 of all work zone fatalities in 2006.  Not only do speeding fines double, but slowing down and paying attention during work zones is a small preventative measure to take to save lives.  Move over to the right lane when entering the work zone.   4. STOP SPEEDING!  According to the U.S. Department of Transportation 23% of commercial truck collisions were caused by drivers exceeding the speed limit.  Slow down or take a break during severe weather conditions.  Always keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you  and reduce your speed by 2/3 while driving on damp roads and 1/2 while driving on snow-filled roads.   5.  Don't forget to fasten your seat belt!