The Safe Driver

The common causes of truck incidents and how you can avoid them

**A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver by Dianna Charles.

Some truck drivers prefer evening runs since there’s less traffic to deal with at night, which allows them to maneuver a vehicle that’s bigger than them more easily. But other truck drivers prefer to do morning runs as they want to maintain optimal driving skills whenever they’re out on the road. But regardless of a truck driver’s preferred time to go to work, any mistake they make behind the wheel can get them caught in a collision that can cost them both their livelihood and the lives of others. To prevent truck collisions from happening, listed below are some of their common causes and how you can avoid them:

1. The truck driver wasn’t properly trained to drive their truck.

With the average truck’s sheer size, one would think that any of its drivers undergo intense training before they can be allowed to go out on the road.

• However, some trucking companies hire truck drivers by simply asking them if they can drive any vehicle. After all, they haven’t got all day to train every person applying as a truck driver for them since there are goods to deliver and money to make.
• What those trucking companies don’t know though is that driving a truck isn’t the same as driving a car or some other light vehicle.
• Thus, when you’re applying as a truck driver for a trucking company, you should check if they’re willing to train you on how to drive a truck properly.

1. The truck driver has succumbed to fatigue while in the middle of their run.

Some truck drivers commit themselves to long runs wherein they have to travel hundreds of miles to deliver goods to some warehouse on the outskirts of some remote town.

• If you’re a truck driver in the middle of a long run, you might not have turned the stereo on so that you can stay focused on the road.
• However, boredom and fatigue from sitting behind the wheel for hours without end had struck you, and before you know it, you become exhausted until you crashed into something.
• To avoid getting caught in a truck accident due to fatigue, you should pull over to the side of the road and take a quick nap before resuming your run.

1. The truck driver operated their vehicle while under the influence of either alcohol or drugs.

Speaking of boredom and fatigue, some truck drivers are under the impression that drinking alcohol or taking illegal stimulants can keep them awake and focused behind the wheel.

• But the initial surge of energy that you might feel when you’re a truck driver who drank alcohol or took drugs in the hopes of surviving a long run can suddenly drop, which might cause you to feel even more tired than what you’d experience when sober.
• Aside from putting your health and safety at risk, driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs is against the law. Thus, when driving a truck, you should swear off alcohol and drugs altogether. Or if you can’t resist the temptation of alcohol, you should do so only when you’re not driving a truck or any other vehicle.

1. The truck itself isn’t well-maintained.

Not all truck drivers are conscientious enough in keeping their trucks well-maintained, After all, why even bother if the truck that they’re driving isn’t even theirs but rather belongs to the trucking company where they’re currently employed?

• However, even a small mistake like forgetting to have the worn out brake pads of your truck replaced with new ones can get you caught in an accident, and you can’t blame anyone else but yourself for causing it to happen.
• So before doing your daily or nightly run, you should check your truck for any broken parts. If you find a broken part of your truck, you can either repair it yourself if it’s only a minor one or send it to a repair shop if it requires a major fix.

1. The trucking company where the truck driver is employed has set extremely tight deadlines for them to meet.

Some trucking companies concern themselves with making huge profits than ensuring the safety and well-being of their truck drivers. As a result, you might find yourself doing too many runs with rushed deadlines. You’ve got to pull them all off though as you badly need the money to live.

• You shouldn’t blindly submit to the demands of the trucking company that hired you to drive any of their trucks.
• You should negotiate the schedule of your assigned runs for the day or night with the trucking company until you can both agree upon one that wouldn’t get you in a collision.

According to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 400,000 trucks got involved in road collisions last 2015. While that number isn’t likely to drop all the way down to zero anytime soon, most – if not all – road collisions are easily preventable. By identifying some of the common causes of truck collisions and how you can avoid them, truck drivers can do preventive measures to ensure that their work vehicle is in the best shape before heading out on the road to do their daily or nightly run so that they can deliver their goods without any hassle.

If your truck collision is covered by workers’ compensation, you can click here to learn more on your legal options.

Dianna Charles

Dianna Charles is a promising young law enthusiast who hopes to bring her youthful spirit in her field. She tries to add a refreshing  modern take to topics on the legal world that people can learn from. Dianna enjoys her free time with friends and family, and loves to cook for them.