Some accidents are accidents—no matter what you might have done, they were prone to happen. However, there are other accidents that can be prevented. As a trucker, you will want to be more responsible and careful, as more than 50% of fatal accidents are caused by trucks.
It doesn’t matter whether you are new to the trucking business or have been trucking for a while; you can immensely benefit from the tips below to drive more carefully, use more common sense, and use better driving techniques to avoid lethal situations.
Read on to learn more.
Know Your Truck
As a trucker, you are responsible for the truck, the cargo, and your safety, which is why you will want to know your truck inside out. It all starts with having a valid CDL, as without a valid CDL, you cannot drive a truck legally.
Also, it is essential that you know the type of truck you are driving, all of its functions, and how it operates so that you can maneuver your truck in all kinds of situations. One of the most common reasons for car accidents is a lack of maintenance, which is why you will want to ensure that your truck is always in the best condition.
Broken cargo restraints, maneuvering problems, and brake failure can result in serious accidents, in which case, you will want to inform your company and get in touch with an injury lawyer as soon as possible.
For instance, if you are driving your truck through Texas, and you experience brake failure, resulting in an accident, you will want to get in touch with the Harlingen Texas personal injury law firms and get a lawyer and their team involved soonest. This way, the accident will get documented properly, and you can receive due compensation for your sustained injuries, medical bills, lost wages, etc.
Know Your Cargo
As a trucker, your job is to get the cargo safely to the designated destination. However, to avoid accidents, you will want to know the type of cargo that you are hauling from one place to another. If you own the trucking company, then you already know what is in the truck; however, if you are an independent trucker who works for different companies, it might be in your best interest to know what you are hauling so that in an emergency you know what to do, especially, when you are dealing with the hazardous material.
If your cargo includes toxic substances, the slightest accident can turn into a big problem. So, the best thing to do is to be aware of your cargo so that you know what to do in an urgent situation.
Some Other Tips
As a trucker, you will never want to make the mistake of drinking and driving. It might be tempting to use stimulants while driving to ward off fatigue; however, drugs increase your chance of getting into accidents. You might actually fall asleep while driving, so the best thing to do is to get plenty of sleep before getting behind the wheel.