The idea of flying truck wheels impacting a driver’s car is very unsettling. Responsible truck drivers are diligent with truck care, including ensuring their tires are secure. A tire or any part of the tire system that comes loose can cause serious injury or even death.
The topic of truckers and guns has long posed debates – should you or shouldn’t you be packing? There are no federal laws that prevent you from carrying a gun in your truck, but is it something you can do in all states? This is an important question truck drivers should…
Driving a big rig comes with a lot of responsibility. In fact, it can also leave you vulnerable to crimes including cargo theft. The cargo you are carrying can be a target for thieves who are looking for an opportunity to take your cargo and run. Here we offer tips on how to spot trucking thieves along the way and keep your cargo safe.
The Covid-19 pandemic has introduced new risks to truck drivers that can make your job more stressful. Due to Covid-19 spreading so easily, it’s important to understand how to minimize your risk. Here we review the steps you can take to keep you safe while trucking.
If you drive a commercial truck for a living, you’ll likely undergo several tests to confirm your knowledge of the latest rules of the road. It’s incredibly important that you have a comprehensive understanding of the most recent driving rules regarding your truck. In this new post, our team delves into the subject as we look at traffic violations…
Truck jackknifing is a common type of trucking problem that can occur when the vehicle skids, causing the trailer to turn and collide with the cab. In many cases, jackknifing can lead to severe injuries as well as long-standing vehicle maintenance problems. Fortunately, …
You will then be guided to the scales to have your truck weighed. Some stations have rolling scales that allow the truck to drive over them and be weighed. Once your truck is verified to weigh under 80,000lbs, it will…
Truck drivers can display bad driving habits, and it might be worthwhile trying to recognize if you do as well. It can only make life on the road safer for everybody.
The most desirable drivers are the safest and hardest to come by—and this includes hazmat drivers. Hazmat certification is a must for drivers who want to increase their earnings.
One more factor that’s made it easy for thieves to steal food and drink is they have begun targeting large freight hubs. Any geographic location that has become a big distribution center where cargo is delivered or held and many short-haul routes begin, or end can be a juicy mark. It’s why some areas have become hot spots for cargo theft.
Night driving can be a relaxing experience. Traffic is light and the night sky can be beautiful. But it can also be dangerous. More crashes happen at night, and studies have shown driving while fatigued can be worse than driving while impaired. Let’s not forget about reduced vision, among many other factors. It’s important to practice safe driving at night. Here’s what truck drivers need to watch out for in the dark.
Except for those in the trucking business, most people have not heard of ice road trucking. The name is pretty self-explanatory. Drivers face treacherous conditions, high levels of danger and brutal temperatures for one hefty paycheck. The question most drivers must consider is whether the risk is worth the reward. It’s helpful for drivers to take a realistic look at what ice road truckers face to determine if the pay validates the danger.
In trucking, managing various expenses comes down to the efficiency of your freight transportation. The more you can save on your own operational expenses; the more money is left for you at the end of a haul. And there’s one never-ending expense that all truckers struggle to manage, and that is trying to save fuel. But we’ve got a few steps you can take to help shave some of that fuel consumption down and let those little savings add up to some bigger profits.
Trying to avoid traffic jams is good for truck drivers as well as trucking industry managers, dispatchers, executives, and shareholders. Contending with traffic jams on the nation’s highways while trying to ship freight can be incredibly costly in time and money.
Traveling and seeing the country may be an added benefit for truck drivers, but that doesn’t discount the fact that truck driving a big rig is one of the most deadly occupations in America.
LTL carriers (that is, “less than truckload” shipment carriers who move relatively small freight) are facing an array of pressures in the current industry landscape with regard to freight weight. Naturally, customers always want lower rates and the price competition is an ever more powerful force in contract business negotiations in today’s marketplace.
It’s long been argued that truck drivers aren’t paid nearly enough for the number of hours they’re behind the wheel, the time spent away from family, and the dangers that come with the job. While there are different ways for truckers to increase their salary, it’s always debatable whether the risk is worth the reward, especially when it comes to earning special certifications, like hauling hazardous materials.
Have you heard about Highway Hypnosis, also known as White Line Fever? Ever pulled into your driveway and had the sudden startling realization that you have no recollection whatsoever of the drive home, just a missing gap in your memory for the route you took, the turns you made, the stops at stop signs, yielding to other cars when appropriate, and attending to all your other responsibilities while operating a motor vehicle?
The idea of tracking and being constantly monitored on the job may not seem to cross any lines in terms of an employees’ privacy if the worker is in an office or warehouse, but there are different aspects of the job to consider when it comes to truck drivers.
Truckers are one of the driving forces behind making American’s economy run. Delivering in-demand and often expensive loads of supplies to a number of retail stores, restaurants, and others can be a dangerous job. But, traveling across the country as a commercial driver can pose…
The battle between a truck driver and bicyclist rarely turns out well for the biker. The battle of the right-hand biker lane and the rights of right turning trucks has been a hot topic in many states. While there may be debate on who has the right-of-way, there is no arguing that bicyclists aren’t going anywhere, so sharing the road and learning the law is an effort all drivers…
Quite simply, trucker safety depends on the work of skilled technicians. Without an adequate roster of skilled technicians, the fleet is going to degrade and eventually become unsafe. In short, the current technician shortage is threatening to have dangerous effects.
Separating truck drivers from other motorists makes sense for improved safety and risk management, as well as the ability to deliver important truck loads cross-country faster. It also provides increased safety for motorists. Trucks and passenger vehicles sharing lanes is simply dangerous.
Due to either a full rest stop or a closed one, many truckers are forced to seek alternative places to take their mandated breaks. This often means parking on the shoulder of a highway. Every year this causes accidents when motorists collide with parked trucks.
Many industry observers viewed the inconsistent training as dangerous to both truckers and other motorists. The proposed driver training rules are meant to enforce a consistent standard and reduce potential endangerments.
The states of Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin are teaming up and using federal funds to install a sensor system that will automatically detect where and when parking spots are open for truckers.
Advocates of increasing restrictions on truckers cite safety concerns, stating that truckers regularly using the left lane can lead to dangerous situations that put both them and other motorists at risk. However, some representatives of the trucking industry disagree.
Overloading a truck makes it harder for the driver to control the vehicle in an emergency situation. It becomes harder to stop and longer braking distances are needed. Overloaded cargo shifts more easily which creates an imbalanced load.
Truck drivers who can’t find parking resort to resting on highway shoulders, in the parking lots of closed strip malls, industrial parks, and on the grassy circles within highway ramps. These can cause serious trucking safety issues.
For the trucking industry, self-driving trucks may require adjustments in economics, risk management, and highway regulations. For instance, the 11/14 rule that dictates when drivers can work, drive, and take a break may need to be revised.
When you’re managing a fleet of drivers, you have a lot to juggle and some unethical folks try to take advantage of that fact. The good news is that there are ways you can protect yourself from these fraudsters by following some of these fraud prevention guidelines.
Every driver who has been trucking for any length of time knows the basic rules of the road for safety, but, every now and then, either a reminder or a new trucking tip can help. Here are 9 safety tips to make sure you get home home safely.
