Otr driver safety tips

Here are 9 safety tips for commercial truck drivers. If you must pull off the road, use flashers, reflective triangles, and road flares to alert approaching drivers. Understand traffic waves when you understand what traffic waves are, you can easily dissolve them. Safety tips for otr team drivers lily transportation. Day in the life of an otr truck driver drive my way. Tips for truck and bus drivers federal motor carrier. Another tip veteran otr drivers give newbies is that they should avoid caffeine during the second half of the shift, to ensure a restful night of sleep. It will depend on the type and size of your load, too.

Pull over and take breaks every couple of hours, even if you dont feel sleepy. Heres our list of truck driver safety pointers perfect for both drivers new to their vehicles and savvy pros looking for a quick refresher. Tips to reduce fleet driver exposure to covid19 safety. Otr truck driver safety and selfprotection class a drivers. So i have a huge arsenal of safety tips, especially when it comes to city driving. Safety tips for truck drivers tips for truck drivers cdl.

As with most years, summer has passed quickly, and most children are back to school. A good item to have while on the road is a pack of nitrile gloves. It is relative to where you are at and to what conditions you are used to. Even if you are an experienced driver you could learn a thing or two from this list too. Always, always use your best common sense judgement and refer to specific rules and instructions from your carrier. If the company saves money it more profitable which means its a more solid company. Highways are natural havens for criminals, so otr truck drivers must use caution. Tips and advice for truck drivers looking for a new trucking company. Salary estimates are based on 300 salaries submitted anonymously to glassdoor by otr driver employees. Aging can affect a persons ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

To help you, we shared these semi truck driving safety tips. However, otr truck drivers must protect themselves by planning their trips, scheduling safe stops, using common sense, being aware of their surroundings, and watching out for hijackers. This is the most important driving safety tips for truckers. The good news is that there are hundreds of trucking companies that are looking for drivers to join their fleet. Keep pens and notepads and stuff in one of those vinyl litter bags. Posted by ehs insight resources on december 4, 2017 at 12. After all, winter driving in upstate new york is not the same as. When you think of the phrase truck driver, youre probably envisioning an overtheroad otr truck driver. No matter how skilled of a driver you are, its a good idea to reflect on the basics of traffic safety from time to time just to make sure that you are being careful enough to keep yourself and other drivers and pedestrians as safe as possible.

Learning to drive an 18wheeler does not stop at making a correct left turn. 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 few trucking safety tips can help. In fact, my articles have appeared in hundreds of trucking company newsletters and have been stolen by dozens of websites. December 711, 2020 it is a fact of life that people grow older every day.

Wear gloves for every job you start through the day, to reduce the chance that you contract something from any given location you visit throughout the day. Look for soft tires, air leaks, check under the truck for any dripping coolant or oil. Overtheroad otr truckers, also known as longhaul drivers, travel long distances and can be away from home for weeks at a time. Storm safety tips for truck drivers nonforced dispatch. Alex jennings on why become a truck driver with bay and bay transportation. Truck driver safety tips archives cardinal logistics.

No matter how vigilant a driver is, the fact is that. Tips that save the company or driver time or money without compromising safety is good for the company and driver. These truck driving safety tips are intended as general guidelines and reminders for truckers. Filter by location to see otr driver salaries in your area. By law you cannot exceed 11 continuous hours of driving. Professional drivers should not ever skip any safety steps when driving. There are many other commonsense safety steps a smart defensive driver should take, including keeping your windshield and headlights clean, watching for hazardous weather, and limiting digital distractions from phones and gps units. One of the first steps in addressing older driver safety is having a nonthreatening conversation with our loved ones. School buses are picking up their passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work.

Safety tips for truck drivers on the road 123loadboard. According to the national highway and traffic safety administration, an estimated 116,000 people were injured in 2015 due to accidents involving large trucks. Now lets look at some truck driver safety tips specific to semitrucks, as there are some key differences when driving one of these large, heavy trucks versus other smaller motor vehicles. The consequences of falling asleep at the wheel, far outweigh those associated with arriving late. Tips from my experience keep a small notepad and pen handy for quick notes while driving. All the same safety tips apply to otr drivers as they do to solo drivers, like giving the truck ample time to slow down and signaling early when turning or changing lanes. As a truck driver, there are some simple things that you can do every day to ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of other drivers who share the road. Back to school means sharing the road school days bring congestion.

Lets share little things we have learned over the years that can help noobs after they get otr. Following an evaluation, therapeutic intervention to improve driving skills may be recommended and provided. Grab a snack, get some fresh air and stretch your legs by. Storm safety tips for over the road truck drivers we operate everyday with many safety concerns. Tips on car buying, how to negotiate, and how to buy a car. Greatwide logistics, greatwide tips, safety, trucker interests tagged with. Truck driving tips 7 safety rules for truckers esurance. Five truck driver health tips with a constantly changing schedule and route, it can be difficult for otr drivers to find a diet and exercise plan that works and is easy to stick with. Remember youll need some predrive time to run a safety inspection on your truck before leaving. Theres a simple formula for determining the proper braking distance of a semi. Dec 16, 2019 situations like this can even be fatal. So you are a cdl driver and you are looking for a new job.

The bad news is that the process of selecting your new job can be overwhelming. School buses are picking up their passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, harried parents are trying to. Road trip planning tips for truck drivers smart trucking. Find information for mature and elderly drivers, including tips on driving safely, when to think about turning in the keys, and taking a mature driver safety course. As with any trucking assignment, safety is the number one priority in an otr team driving career. For many, its a tough job that leads to an unhealthy lifestyle. Jan 20, 2016 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 few trucking safety tips can help. Your health and safety as one of our drivers of the communities we serve are of utmost importance. Staying safe on the road, particularly during winter weather can be hard, and while roadside assistance is just a phone call away if something goes. Strictly adhere to commercial driver hour restrictions. You could jeopardize your truck driver career if caught violating this law.

An entrylevel otr truck driver with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay of. It all starts before you even get in the drivers seat. But overtheroad otr driving can be a dangerous job. Focus on the road dont let your mind wander to billboards, scenery, or other external distractions. Weather conditions or road conditions change and suddenly driving too fast for conditions becomes a risk factor. Heres why saving the company money is also good for the driver too. If youre an over the road trucker, safety should be your no. Driving too fast for weather or road conditions or failing to slow down for curves or ramps create risks for spills and rollovers, as well as crashes. To help make the roads safer, america truck driving school is happy to share a few of those safety tips below. Driver safety is an important topic in the truck driving industry. Go through this list of 29 things otr truck drivers need and start putting together your must have items.

Wellorchestrated road trip planning results in ontime deliveries for truck drivers. Not only must commercial drivers contend with other motorists, dangerous weather conditions, and wandering wildlife, but they must do so while operating large rigs, often carrying heavy and sometimes dangerous cargo. Please adhere to following covid19 safety tips for knight drivers, resources, links to help you stay safe while keeping the country running. Article category safe driving tips truckingtruth blog.

Essential safety tips for truck drivers on your next load. Remember to employ three points of contact at all times when entering or exiting the tractor, trailer, or climbing onto or down from the catwalk. Overtheroad otr truck drivers will usually stick around if they know theyre part of a. If you are looking for tools that every truck driver should have you recommend you read this list here. Tips for truck and bus drivers federal motor carrier safety. Im putting forward a few essential messages or safety tips for truck drivers below that can be helpful to prevent. My first lessons included good practices to make your day go more smoothly. Staying safe on the road, particularly during winter weather can be hard, and while roadside assistance is just a phone call away if something goes wrong, no. Safety tips for truck drivers tips for truck drivers.

You have to make splitsecond decisions that prevent disaster and protect yourself and other drivers. With increasing age come changes in physical, mental and sensory abilities that can challenge a persons continued ability to drive safely. Jul 24, 2018 as with any trucking assignment, safety is the number one priority in an otr team driving career. Maintaining good hygiene while driving over the road can be tricky. Otr or off the road tires safety tips from alliance tire. Heavy rain, high winds, straightline winds, winter storms, dust storms, blizzards and severe weather are also safety concerns. I didnt get that information from a book, but from qualified trainers who took the time to cause me to think about the. This means always having both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand in contact with your equipment. Family conversations aotas older driver safety awareness week is intentionally held each year in december because this is the time of year when families often come together for the holidays. To help stay out of harms way, consider the following safety tips when driving.

Vital information to help keep you and yours safe when you have an airbagequipped car. Its back to a busy routine and busier roads in a lot of places. As opposed to delivery drivers, who typically have set local routes, otr truckers can transport goods across the county, state, or even country. Dozens of different pieces have to fall into place for you to be successful, and you have to deal with weather, traffic, dispatch, the dot, safety, life on the road, etc. Tips and tricks to make life easier otr truckersreport. Back to school safety tips for otr drivers dynamic transit co. Otr tires or off the road tires are one of the hardest working categories of tires we sell. Truck driving in winter is actually a very open ended statement. Even the most welltrained, safetyconscious commercial motor vehicle cmv driver is at risk of engaging in driving behaviors that could lead to a crash on todays crowded highways. Though otr drivers dont pass through residential areas for much of their route, its an occasion that requires extra safety awareness.

Proper maintenance, selection and use of these tires improves performance, safety, and most importantly reduces costly downtime. Fatigue inevitably sets in and your body will force you to sleep. I have been harping on it for twelve years now, through my big city driver articles, and as a columnist for tenfour magazine. Follow this list of tips for newbie truck drivers and i can guarantee you that your first truck driving job will be much more pleasant. Driver drowsiness is a hot topic for this industry. Other motorists may not be aware of a trucks no zones those where crashes are most likely to occur. There are a number of centers around the state that provide comprehensive driver assessments to evaluate an individuals driving ability and safety. It is a lifetime skill many talented drivers have refined to an art form. To make it easier, drivers can focus on simple strategies and techniques that help them maintain the healthiest lifestyle possible. Aug 22, 2019 as with most years, summer has passed quickly, and most children are back to school. A1 freight system on snacking healthy while on the road. Hiring truck drivers is a pressing concern, especially as baby boomers retire and employers are challenged with recruiting younger candidates to move into the drivers seat.