Monday, 22 September 2014

Tractor Trailer Safety – Avoiding Road Accidents

Tractor trailer accident is very common on the highways. There are about 500,000 accidents on the average every year in the United States involving large trucks that are about 80,000 pounds in weight. As a result, highway accidents involving tractor trailer trucks end up in fatalities. Truck driver safety has become a major concern among the authorities and even the owners of cargo trucking companies recognize the problem.

Tractor trailer trucks need skillful drivers

Trailer trucks can weigh almost 25 times heavier than a regular vehicle and it requires professional truck driving skills and responsible drivers to maneuver large trucks on the highways. Because of the size and weight of cargo trailer rental trucks, it is not easy to take control over the vehicle while it is on the road.

Truck drivers admit that a big truck requires a skillful driver. For instance, it may take about 300 feet before a large truck can completely stop when running at 55 mph. Taking control over a large vehicle requires a higher level of driving skills, that is why most southeast trucking companies are getting more peculiar about setting a high standard when hiring truck drivers for their companies. This is one way of reducing the risks of highway accidents involving big trucks like a tractor trailer or large cargo trucks.

Upgrade a trailer truck driver skill

While your drivers are already professionals, you can upgrade their skills and experience by sending them to attend driving trainings and seminars that are usually conducted by the transportation authorities within your state. It helps to keep them updated about the latest traffic rules and highway driving regulations to ensure that your fleet are safe in the hands of your trusted and skilled employees. Some of these seminars will teach commercial truck drivers on how to manage a driver’s fatigue syndrome and techniques on how to drive under certain climate conditions that can increase the hazards of driving on the highways. Your drivers will become more responsible and will likely become confident on how to respond to contingencies during road accidents or emergency situations.

Comply with maintenance requirements

Trucks with an actual weight of 4,500 kg or more are required to undergo through a daily inspection routine. By conducting a regular maintenance check-up of your fleet, you can detect any potential problems on the vehicles prior to dispatch on the road. Some road accidents are caused by faulty mechanical issues that are preventable by performing a regular maintenance checkup on vehicles. This is a safety regulation process that you can internally implement within your organization to avoid the common risks of accidents on the road. Bigger companies usually have their own teams of mechanics who conduct an inspection on each truck before they leave and upon arrival.  Trucks that need repairs are usually impounded for overhauling to ensure that they are in safe and good running condition. 

Road accidents involving trucks are usually preventable. It usually takes responsible driving and proper maintenance of the vehicles and the observance of road safety standards that can reduce the risks of highway accidents.

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