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Top 10 Safety Tips for Long-Haul Truck Drivers

Long-haul truck drivers are a pillar of our economy, carrying goods and materials throughout the US. It can also be a dangerous occupation – research indicates that there are more than 168,000 accidents involving trucks every year, with 32% of those resulting in injury and 3% in fatality. (1)

Long-haul truck driving safety is essential, not only for the drivers themselves but for the other motorists on the road as well as the financial security of the company they work for and the company whose goods they are hauling.

Here are some important safety tips to follow:

  1. Plan your trip. One of the best ways to ensure your safety, as well as the safety of your cargo, is to map out your trip in advance. Even experienced drivers should prepare before every trip. This will help you make sure every road on your route is able to handle a vehicle the size of yours as well as help you avoid high traffic areas and times, know the speed limits along your route, and anticipate dangerous road conditions like inclement weather and construction zones. A GPS designed especially for trucks is helpful to keep you on your route, but it is best to use it in conjunction with the knowledge you instill while you prepare for your trip.
  2. Know your limits. Not every road can handle the size and weight of your vehicle. If you even question whether you can safely navigate a certain route, it is best to seek an alternative. You also must consider your size when maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles on the road. According to a study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), approximately 22% of large truck accidents are rear-end collisions. (2) The FMCSA recommends keeping one second of distance for every 10 feet of vehicle when traveling at 40 miles per hour, and an additional second if traveling over 40 mph. That means if your cab and trailer measure 72 feet, it should take you seven seconds to reach the car in front of you when driving 40 mph, or eight seconds if traveling over 40 mph. An easy way to measure this is to select a point and count how long it takes you to get to it after the vehicle in front of you passes it. If road conditions are poor, it is best to allow even more space. Give yourself plenty of space before making turns as well.
  3. Know and check your blind spots. No matter what vehicle you are driving, it is critical to know where your blind spots are. For most long-haul trucks, this includes the areas 10 to 15 feet in front of you, behind your trailer, the passenger’s side of your cab from the door to the back of your sleeping unit, and the driver’s side of your cab from the front bumper to the nose of the trailer. The FMCSA recommends checking your mirrors every three to five seconds as well as scanning the road ahead of you (about a quarter of a mile on highways or one to two blocks in cities) to maintain a safe awareness of your surroundings. (3)
  4. Stay alert and calm. One of the most difficult parts about operating a long-haul truck is having to share the road with other vehicles. According to a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Institute, 81-91% of crashes involving a commercial vehicle are caused by cars. Not everyone on the road is as skilled a driver as you are, and an emergency can develop in an instant, so it is critical to remain alert, vigilant, and calm. If you get rattled, stop and take some time to regain your composure before getting back behind the wheel.
  5. Secure your cargo. An improperly secured load can cause a tractor-trailer to jackknife, roll over, and lose control, leading to serious, and deadly, hazards on the road. Use load securement devices, load locks, airbags, cinch straps, or chains as needed depending on your cargo.
  6. Adhere to your maintenance schedule. According to the FMCSA, roughly 30% of all trucking accidents occur because of equipment failure. Your routine inspections and maintenance should evaluate your braking system, tires, lighting, steering system, and suspension. Federal regulations require you to conduct at least one inspection of your vehicle every day and record it.
  7. Get your rest. Driver fatigue causes an immense risk to safety. Without enough sleep, your reaction times are slower than normal, and your focus suffers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving causes approximately 100,000 police-reported accidents each year, resulting in 50,000 injuries and 800 fatalities. A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that there are an estimated 328,000 crashes each year caused by driver fatigue. (2)  
  8. Take breaks. One way to reduce or eliminate driver fatigue is by taking breaks during your route. It’s not only for safety – it’s an industry requirement. Drivers can drive no longer than 11 consecutive hours within any 14-hour window then they must spend 10 consecutive hours off duty.
  9. Be predictable. The size of your vehicle requires that you go above and beyond to communicate with drivers around you, and to help them anticipate your behaviors. Use your turn signal and give drivers around you ample time to see it. Take turns slowly, maintain a consistent speed, avoid frequent lane changing, and pass other commercial vehicles quickly if you must pass at all.
  10. Maintain commercial trucking insurance. All the safety precautions in the world cannot prevent every accident. Having insurance coverage protects drivers, the companies they work for, the companies whose goods they are hauling, and other motorists.

Arriving at your destination safely with your cargo intact is the most important element of a successful journey. The FMCSA takes trucking safety very seriously, evaluating drivers and trucking companies based on their safety records and assigns a safety score. It is important for companies and their vehicle operators to be aware of these ratings.

At SWZ, we offer a free SCORE Report to help you understand your safety score, identify safety issues, and learn how to resolve them. To learn more about how our team of transportation insurance experts can help you manage your risks and understand where you stand with the FMCSA, please contact us today.

(1) https://www.truckinfo.net/research/truck-accident-statistics
(2) https://www.primeis.com/education-center/articles/top-10-safety-tips-for-truck-drivers-ensuring-a-safe-journey-on-the-road/
(3) https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/tips-truck-and-bus-drivers

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