4 Long-Haul Truck Driving Safety Tips for Newbies

The current age gap in long-haul truck driving means there will soon be a shortage of young truckers in the country. The reality does not board well with trucking companies. As a result, trucking firms offer salary increments and other perks to attract young truck drivers. In fact, these perks probably have you considering taking up a long-haul truck driving career.

However, you must first attend a licensed trucking school to qualify as a long-haul truck driver. Notably, you should understand that long-haul is physically and mentally taxing. Therefore, truck driving instructors must train students in practical and effective safety tips. Here are pragmatic tips that newbie long-haul drivers should take extra care to adhere to.

1. Observe Emerging Hours of Rules

When undertaking a truck driving course, students learn about the hours of service (HOS) rules developed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). HOS rules are crucial for the safety of truck drivers and other motorists. Notably, HOS rules guide truck drivers on how long they should drive and rest. Reputable truck driving schools keep up to date with emerging HOS rules. Therefore, you can rest assured you will be equipped with the latest HOS rules once you graduate.

For instance, a recent update to the HOS by the DOT is that long-haul truck drivers must rest for 10 hours for every 11 hours of driving. Similarly, truckers should take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 hours. Therefore, it is essential to select a driving school that teaches new drivers about updated HOS rules and how you can stay up to date with them for easy and fast adoption.

2. Keep Your Communication Lines Open

Long-haul truck driving is a demanding career considering the long hours away from home and friends. Such experiences can feel lonely and physically taxing, especially for new truckers. Thus, experienced driving instructors encourage new drivers to keep their communication lines open.

Despite the proliferation of mobile phones, which have eased communication, most trucks still feature a Citizen Band (CB) radio. The radio allows truckers to use the same airwaves to communicate and cheer each other up. Besides, you will get lost during your trucking career, sp, keeping communication lines open is vital for your safety and sanity.

3. Maintain Your Truck

Most trucking companies have a maintenance department that inspects the fleet before and after every trip. However, one crucial aspect you learn in driving school is that every driver is responsible for their truck. You spend the most time with a specific rig and understand how it operates better than any other driver.

A thorough check on critical parts, including brakes, lights, fluid levels, and mirrors, is vital for safe long-distance trucking. Inspecting your truck between stops and not just before and after every trip is also advisable. Mid-trip maintenance checks help identify possible mechanical issues sustained during a journey, which will help you prevent serious breakdowns and accidents.

4. Refresh Defensive Driving Skills

In 2020, about 4,014 people died in road accidents involving large trucks. The fact that 68% of all fatalities were occupants of other vehicles outlines the importance of defensive driving techniques for truckers. A defensive driving course teaches newbies techniques to proactively anticipate and effectively react to different road hazards that might lead to accidents.

Most truck driving schools offer a defensive driving course, but drivers should undertake a refresher course every few years. A refresher defensive driving course equips truck drivers with practical tips to improve attention and anticipate situations. Most importantly, truck drivers with good defensive driving skills are good at avoiding accidents.

Commercial Trucking School aims to produce qualified, professional truck drivers who understand that road safety is paramount. Contact us if you want to learn more about a commercial trucking career.