Safety & Life on the Road

Staying Safe on the Road

It's important to know how you can drive safely on the road, especially when it's your job. One way to stay safe on the road is to always wear your seat belt correctly. If you choose to not buckle up, your chances of being killed are almost 25 times higher than for those who do use their seat belts. Being a good driver should never be an excuse to not wear your seat belt. There can always be bad weather, bad drivers, mechanical failure, or a tire blowout. To learn more about why buckling up is important, visit FMCSA's CMV Driving Tips - Failure to Buckle Up webpage.

Whether you're new to the trucking industry or you're not, safety should always be your top priority. AllTruckJobs.com provides many tips on how to stay safe while driving.

• Pay attention to parking. Find a safe place to park to help ensure that your vehicle is not damaged or broken into.
• Plan your trip. Having a general idea of what exits and routes you will use means you can cut back on confusion and lost time on the road.
• Secure your vehicle. When parked, whether you're in your truck or not, always keep your windows rolled up and your doors locked. This will help to protect you and your belongings.
• Maintain a safe stopping distance. By maintaining a safe following distance, you will have more time to react and avoid a collision.
• Stay in your lane. Make sure to check your mirrors as much as possible and try to stay in your lane unless moving is the only option.

Highway hypnosis is a trance-like mental state in which a person can drive a vehicle normally for long distances without any recollection of doing it. Driving in this state can lead to slower reaction times and preventable crashes and near crashes. AllTruckJobs.com provides great ways to stay alert and avoid highway hypnosis.

• Stay Hydrated: Drinking water regularly can help increase brain function and boost your energy levels.
• Eat Healthy Snacks: Snacking on junk food, which contains large amounts of sugar, salt, and fat, can make you tire out quickly. Eat healthier snacks in order to have energy for hours at a time.
• Use Eye Drops: This prevents your eyes from drying out when driving for long periods of time.
• Open the Windows or Use AC: Colder air helps to keep you awake when driving. The warmer your cab is, the more likely it is to fall asleep or to experience highway hypnosis.
• Play Music: Try to stick to upbeat music to keep your mind awake and alert when driving.
• Take Breaks: Let your body and mind rest, get enough rest, and take advantage of rest stops when you see one.

Families on the Road

Many carriers allow family members to ride along on trips. Ask your carrier what rider policies they have and what you need to do to get one. Most of these are free and may require you to complete your initial training period or drive for the company for 6 months or more. These rules are usually based on the company's insurance policy so if you are an owner-operator, or simply own your own truck, so you may be able to travel or recruit employees more easily with a rider policy. Be sure to ask the fleet that you want to work for about this policy up front, especially if it is a deal-breaker for your employment there.

Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections

It's important to check your vehicle before and after you take a trip. By doing a pre-trip inspection, you can help prevent an incident or accident from occurring. By doing a post-trip inspection, delays can be prevented, you can be assured that problems are reported, and you can catch potential violations.

To learn more about the importance of pre- and post-trip inspections, read these tips from Fleet Owner.

Whip Around provides information on post-trip inspections and improving your inspection process.

Showering and Doing Laundry on the Road

Personal hygiene is important not only for your physical health, but also for your mental health. Make sure to stay clean by taking showers and doing laundry (if needed) on the road.

Showering on the road can get expensive, so earn free shower credits by purchasing a rewards card! Rewards cards often work by providing you with points or shower credits whenever you buy fuel. There may be times when you do not have access to a shower. Here are some of Prime Inc.'s recommended items to keep with you on the road that can help you stay clean:

• Bottled water
• Baby wipes
• Small mirror
• Hand sanitizer
• Dry shampoo
• Deodorant
• Micellar water
• Washcloths
• Extra clothes

There may be times when you need to do your laundry on the road. Check out Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips for doing laundry on the road, including what type of laundry bags and bins to bring, and where you can do your laundry! Often, your choices may be limited to where you can park your truck, but some options of where you can wash and dry laundry include:

• At a truck stop
• At a commercial laundry facility
• At the home of a friend in the area

First time on the road and not sure what to pack? Use this great checklist provided on the Real Women in Trucking website that you can print out or save on your phone! The list includes information on what to pack when traveling long- and short-haul and includes personal items, clothing, safety clothing, electronics, food, and additional items.