According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, there are believed to be fatalities in 5,000 of the 500,000 trucking accidents that happen in the US each year.
Truck drivers are listed as one of the ten most hazardous occupations on the “Time Magazine” list yearly. Truck drivers rarely experience the pressure of the job’s criticality, even though their line of work is hazardous.
The technological tools available to connect truck owners, owners of loads, and truck drivers are changing the situation. This triangle connection, made possible by online mobile application platforms, prioritizes the security of the delivered goods, the truck driver’s safety, and the truck’s condition. FR8 is one such platform that was developed with these essential components in place.
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What safety recommendations does FR8 provide to its drivers?
The good news is that you can improve truck driver safety by creating an environment at work that actively coaches, trains, and rewards the most cautious drivers. For our top truck driving tips and advice on raising the general safety of your fleet, keep reading.
Promote intermittent breaks and sufficient rest:
The hours of duty for container truck drivers are not regulated. Therefore, the driver must cultivate the habit of taking regular breaks to rest and stretch. To ensure that they get enough rest, it is advised that drivers take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving and a 10- to 11-hour break after returning from duty.
For the safety of both the drivers and the other drivers on the road, it is advised to take additional breaks enroute if the driver feels stressed while driving in extreme weather conditions like fog, rain, or even heat. Even though there may be a slight delivery delay, it lessens accidents caused by fatigue. It lowers accident-related expenses while also keeping the driver safe.
Pay attention to the signs on the road:
Truck drivers have a low literacy rate compared to other unorganized industries. They have good technical knowledge but lack the soft skills to comprehend road discipline. Road rage and disregard for road signs like “speed breakers ahead“, “reduce speed schools in 100 meters“, and “road diversion” cause many accidents. Accidents can be decreased if they are taught how to read illustrated signs.
Avoid changing lanes:
It’s best to stay in one lane and avoid lane changes when driving big vehicles with blind spots. If you must, slow down, signal far in advance, be mindful of your blind spots, and always keep an eye on your rearview mirror.
According to expert truck drivers, the first lane from the right should always be avoided on highways to prevent merging vehicles.
Use the help of technology to respond to road conditions:
For long-haul drivers who put in long hours travelling across several states or regions, the state of the roads can be unpredictable. Traffic and bad weather are the two factors most likely to affect the safety of drivers on the road.
Traffic – truck accidents are more likely due to heavy traffic because vehicles stop and start more frequently.
Inclement weather, such as snow, ice, hail, or rain, can reduce a driver’s visibility or make the roads slick, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
Solutions are offered by FR8, where drivers’ apps alert users to changes in the road’s condition. Updated routes are sent to their app to prevent road hazards and ensure the driver’s safety. They can quickly reroute drivers to avoid poor conditions.
Introduce the culture of defensive driving:
Driving safely involves constantly scanning the road for potential dangers and poor road conditions. This is known as defensive driving. The likelihood of being involved in preventable accidents increases when they are cautious and use defensive driving techniques. Ultimately, less money is spent on repairs, insurance premiums, and claim settlements.
Truck drivers are encouraged to employ the following methods:
Watch out for blind spots; this is a notorious accident hotspot. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that blind spots are responsible for over 840,000 accidents annually. This occurs when changing lanes and blind spots cannot be seen in the rearview or side mirrors. Ensure you advise drivers to look out the windows and over their shoulders when changing lanes.
Encourage time gaps between vehicles to keep them at a safe distance from one another and to avoid front and rear collisions. Increase the time further when it’s raining or windy.
Be ready for emergencies, especially on long trips through changing terrain. Let them have a safety kit with supplies, a toolkit with simple tools for quick fixes, food, and warm clothing appropriate for the season.
Avoid all forms of road rage and clarify that you will not put up with it. Avoid abusive drivers and keep a safe distance.
Develop the balancing art of securing your cargo:
There is always a chance that the workers loading your truck neglect to verify the load is secure. To maneuver in difficult terrain, load heavier items at the bottom and lighter ones at the top. In light of this, it is always advisable for the truck driver to verify that the items being loaded are securely strapped and properly packed to avoid any imbalance. Only the light cargo will fall to the ground without seriously hurting anyone should an unfortunate incident occur.
Proactive maintenance schedules:
Your truck’s safety on the road depends on both its mechanical condition and the professionalism of the drivers. For changing brake pads and oil, a regular maintenance schedule is required. You must maintain a schedule based on mileage and previous breakdown data to identify any vehicle issues. The involvement of the truck drivers is also necessary, in addition to the truck owners’ role.
Finally
Last but not least, work with a business that values your safety. Since its inception, FR8 has never compromised the security and safety of its truck drivers. No truck driver registers in the mobile app unless they have the necessary credentials. They receive instructions and are urged to abide by the safety regulations strictly.
Please call +919342968140 if you have any questions about what we do.
Jay
Jay is the Co-founder and CTO of FR8. With 18 years of experience, Jay loves working on complex problem and providing simple technical solution. He likes training and empowering team by teaching them skills they need, questions they need to ask and answers they need to figure out instead of spoon feeding the answers.
