Safety Tips for Driving Commercial Motor Vehicles

Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

Commercial trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries out there, and for good reason. Because of the size and weight of commercial trucks, accidents between them and passenger vehicles can be catastrophic. These accidents can and do lead to devastating injuries, including fatalities, for truck drivers.

Following all commercial vehicle operation rules and regulations is vital both for truck driver safety and for the sake of everyone else on the road.

Here, we will cover some of the biggest dangers in commercial trucking and some of the most important truck driving safety tips you can use to avoid them.

Read on to learn how you can take care of yourself and prevent accidents using proper commercial driving safety practices.

Major Dangers of Commercial Trucking

While you’ll face a wide variety of challenges when driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), these are the three biggest dangers to be aware of:

Driver Fatigue

Often, the biggest challenge faced by truck drivers is the simple human need for rest. The job can require long hours and put you under significant pressure to meet deadlines. Although regulations and guidelines exist to help you avoid excessive fatigue, everyone gets tired after enough time on the road.

Fatigue decreases reaction time, impairs judgment and may even cause you to lose consciousness behind the wheel.

Vehicle Size

A fully-loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and be 70 feet long. Considerable weight and size pose significant challenges for the driver, far more than someone operating a sedan or passenger truck. All four sides of the truck include blind spots where the driver can’t see other vehicles. CMV operators also deal with longer stopping distances, greater risks of rollover and additional dangers above and beyond those faced by the average motorist.

Added to all of this, many other drivers on the road don’t understand or respect the dangers your vehicle poses to them, so you have to be extra vigilant to prevent accidents.

Cargo

Improperly loaded, secured or labeled cargo can pose dangers. Too much weight can put excessive strain on brakes and tires. Shifting cargo can destabilize the vehicle while driving. Hazardous materials (chemicals, flammables, etc.) can add another layer of danger.

Always inspect your load yourself. While you hope your clients will ensure proper protocols are followed, there are no guarantees.

Helpful Safety Tips to Keep You Safe on the Road

Here are some of the most helpful safe driving tips for truckers. Don’t worry if some of these seem obvious. Once you get behind the wheel, it can be a lot harder to put these things into practice.

It’s normal to want to meet a deadline, to respond to a text on autopilot, or to choose a cheeseburger over a healthy meal. But discipline is key if you want to be the safest trucker you can be. You’ll need to rewrite those natural urges. It’s all about knowing what’s right and consistently making the hard choice.

1. Get Adequate Rest

You know how important it is to avoid serious fatigue while driving. But under the pressure of making deliveries, you may be tempted (or, unfortunately, even encouraged) to drive fatigued.

Never do it. Strictly follow Hours of Service regulations and take regular breaks. If you feel drowsy, find a safe spot to pull over and rest, even if that would put you behind schedule.

2. Conduct Pre-Trip Inspections

Before every haul, inspect tires, brakes, lights, mirrors and fluid levels. Catching a mechanical issue before departure can prevent a breakdown or accident on the road.

Even if you don’t find any problems, just going through the inspection process will help you make a habit of looking for problems before a trip.

3. Maintain a Safe Following Distance

At highway speeds, it may take a loaded truck the length of two football fields to stop.

It can be tempting to inch closer to the vehicle in front of you, especially when a driver whips into the spot right ahead of you. But it’s important to always maintain extra space between you and the vehicle ahead. Long stopping distances are always part of driving a commercial rig.

4. Eliminate Distractions

Distractions pile up when driving hour after hour. Your smartphone is the most obvious one. Trying to text while driving can cause you to travel hundreds of feet without seeing the road, which is incredibly dangerous.

But there are plenty of other distractions as well, such as eating while driving or even having an emotional conversation on the phone.

Maintain focus on the road and avoid distracted driving.

5. Know Your Blind Spots

Regularly check all mirrors and be aware of the blind spots around your rig, including your no zones. Just because you can't see a driver in your mirror doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

Each vehicle-and-trailer combination will challenge you with unique no zones. Always, always check your blind spots.

6. Adjust for Weather Conditions

Slow down in rain, fog, ice or wind. High-profile trucks are especially vulnerable to crosswinds and slippery roads. Never try to rush through hazardous conditions.

Far too many truckers have lived to regret driving too fast in bad road conditions.

7. Secure Your Cargo Properly

Always verify that loads are evenly distributed, properly strapped and within legal weight limits before hitting the road. It’s a good habit to check cargo integrity and trailer connections during rest stops on long hauls.

8. Stay Hydrated and Eat Well

Poor nutrition and dehydration contribute to fatigue and poor concentration. Keep healthy snacks and water on hand instead of relying solely on fast food stops.

There’s no denying that, when you are tired and have been driving for 10 or more hours, a greasy spoon or fast-food restaurant is appealing. It’s comfort food. But eating too much of it, too regularly, will wear down your body and mind.

9. Plan Your Route in Advance

Know your route before you leave, including the locations of low bridges, weight-restricted roads, construction work zones and rest stops. Surprises prompt rushed, dangerous decisions, especially when you are tired.

10. Follow Hours of Service (HOS) Recommendations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates strict hours of service rules to prevent fatigue-related accidents.

For property-carrying drivers, that means driving a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. You can’t work beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, no matter how long you were off duty beforehand.

A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving.

You can’t drive after 60 hours on duty within seven consecutive days (or 70 hours within eight days). A driver can restart the measured period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

Get the Education You Need with SafeMotorist Driver Training

Taking an online safety course is one of the quickest ways to gain a comprehensive knowledge of safe driving practices. We offer multiple entry-level driver training (ELDT) options for obtaining your commercial driver’s license (CDL), including a Class A course, Class B course and more. SafeMotorist also offers specialized CDL endorsement courses, like our HAZMAT and Passenger Endorsement courses.

We are a favorite choice for entry-level CDL courses because we offer expert instruction in a convenient, online format. Get all your classroom instruction out of the way without ever attending an in-person class.