If you’re unfamiliar with life on the road, it might be easy to assume that being a truck driver is an easy and leisurely occupation. However, those of us in the industry know better. Truck drivers not only face demanding conditions and an ever-growing need for their skills – they also face danger. The government seems to agree, which is why they have repeatedly ranked the profession as the most dangerous in America. While all truck drivers face dangers, how prepared you are is up to you. With that in mind, here are our top truck driver safety tips.

Planning is Everything

The first tenet of truck driver safety is to plan ahead. This means planning your route for a start. Make sure to do what you can to drive the safest way, avoiding high-crime areas or poor-quality roads. Your GPS device can help you with this. It also means inspecting your truck thoroughly, well ahead of your journey, to make sure everything is in tip-top condition and working as it should. Meanwhile, don’t forget to check your packing list to ensure that you have everything you need for a safe and pleasant journey right there in your cab.

Avoid Distractions

Distracted driving is one of the single biggest killers in America. When your fully-loaded 18-wheeler is on the road, you’re in control of 80,000 pounds of fast-moving metal. Even a moment’s distraction is enough to have catastrophic consequences for yourself and for others. You should make sure to avoid all distractions when driving. Don’t use your cellphone without enabling hands-free. Stay alert at all times. Keep your eyes on the road. Your fleet management company can even install driver distraction cameras in your truck to flag up when you are distracted and show you how to best prevent this from happening again.

Drive Defensively

You probably covered defensive driving when you first studied for your trucking license. However, this is a skill that will always serve you on the road, no matter how experienced you are. This is a principle that assumes that you have no control over other drivers on the road, and that you need to always be prepared for their worst behaviour. This means keeping a large safety distance between all cars on the road (your dash cam can help you here). It also means being aware of blind spots at all times. Crucially, it means staying calm. If other drivers are making you feel angry or anxious, pull over as soon as possible to rest and recalibrate.

Did You Find These Truck Driver Safety Tips Useful?

Most truck driver safety tips are not rocket science. As you can see, they comprise the basic foundations of road safety that you already covered when learning to drive a truck. However, that doesn’t mean that they are always obvious. Sometimes, we all need a reminder to stay safe. If you manage a fleet of trucks and want to get the safety of your drivers up to scratch, we can help. Our Fleet Safety Program includes hardware and software that can empower your drivers to be the safest they can be, no matter how long they have been on the road.