Tips for Truckers | West Coast Enterprises
Every driver starts out with a lot to learn. You pick things up from your trainer, other drivers and the school of hard knocks. Learning on the job is definitely the chief way most drivers figure it all out, from how to stay comfortable on long hauls to how to spot a tire that’s about to cause you problems.
In the interest of giving you a head-start if you’re a rookie, here are some tips that may come in handy as you hit the road:
Keep a couple flashlights in the cab. A flashlight comes in handy a million ways on a truck, from lighting up the engine compartment for maintenance to signaling cars if you break down at night. A good light can also make it easier to line up with a dock if you have to deliver to a poorly lit facility.
Get enough sleep. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates drowsy driving is a factor in tens of thousands of crashes per year. With limited down time for rest and hours on the road each day, commercial drivers are more likely than others to drive drowsy. It can be tough, but it’s important to prioritize rest.
Keep a bag of road salt in your truck. If you’ll be driving long-haul or in areas where snow is common, this one is a given, but even if you’re headed out in summer and think you’ll be fine, you should remember it snows in the summer months in some parts of the country. Having a bag of salt on hand to scatter around stuck tires can help you gain traction.
Pay attention on pre-trips. For one thing, you want to make sure you’re in good shape for the road for your own safety and the safety of those you share the road with. Ensuring you pay attention during your inspections puts you in position to know your truck was in good shape when you started out if a DOT officer asks if you did a check before you started.
Check your truck at every stop. When you get gas, when you stop at a rest area, when you have a meal break, ABC: always be checking. Make sure you didn’t leave the lights on or a door open. Make sure everything looks good and there aren’t any obvious issues, such as tires that look a little low or misshapen.
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