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Tips for truckers

Drivers, focus on the road!

Drivers, focus on the road!

The most important thing to think about when driving is avoiding distractions and focusing on the road. It’s against the law to use a hand-operated electronic device behind the wheel for any reason. Getting distracted, even for just a few seconds, can result in a fatal crash.

 

 

Anything diverting your attention from the road is distracted driving. Even the slightest deflection even if just for a second can be fatal. The biggest culprit here is your cell phone or any other hand held device and thus it is against the law to use them for calling or texting etc while driving or even if you are at halt at the lights.

 

 

Here are some surprising statistics about distracted driving and its consequences:

British Columbia has the highest number of crashes and fatalities caused by distracted driving in Canada, according to Hellosafe.ca. Distracted driving is particularly problematic in BC, as it is associated with 35.2% of crashes. Alberta has a significantly lower percentage of distracted driving-related crashes (25.2%).

 

A survey conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association revealed that 47% of Canadians have typed out or used the voice-memo feature to send a message while driving.

 

Distractions can happen inside and outside your vehicle. Texting while driving, for example, is extremely dangerous because it takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the job of driving.

Make Your Drivers More Alert and Focused On The Road With Distracted Driving Dashcams

How does driver behaviour change with a dashcam? Driver behaviour monitoring is vital to efficient fleet management. FleetHunt’s Dash Camera provides footage of the road and the interior of the vehicle and can help prevent accidents. Recent studies show that continuous feedback is fundamental to changing driving behaviour. The review of footage can help drivers be aware of their driving habits, and help them make better decisions. Additionally, FleetHunt’s Dash Cam is an excellent way to protect the integrity of your driver, your business reputation, helping you avoid unnecessary risks and costs.

Key Features

1. Education

Video footage can be used to determine the cause of an accident or impact. In addition, fleet monitoring dash cams allow you to monitor drivers, train them, and integrate with your telematics system to achieve efficiencies and improve road safety. 

 

2. Accidents

FleetHunt’s Dash Cam allows companies to locate their drivers immediately, view footage, and communicate with them.

In conclusion, while most Canadians do understand that one of the high-risk forms of distracted driving (i.e., texting while driving) is dangerous, there is a small percentage who are unaware of, or resistant to, this fact. 

Practical Applications: Enforcement activities and education initiatives to battle distracted driving ought to be tailored to the target audience .

 

by Glogin

Essential winter driving tips for truck drivers

Essential winter driving tips for truck drivers

Trucking and Winter are two things that seem like a dangerous combination, but with the right information and skill set you can safely park the truck at your destination.

Here are 9 winter driving tips for fleet truck drivers that can help you stay safe this winter.

1. Preparation is key

Right equipment makes all the difference, make sure you are well equipped before you start your journey. Make yourself ready for every possible situation. Check out the check list below your journey during these gray cold months :

  • De-icer and ice scraper – front and rear windscreens must be clear of snow and ice before you set off ;

  • A shovel and a bag of sand or salt – minor roads are generally not gritted and you could get stuck easy to get stuck ;

  • Jump cables  – just in case your truck (or someone else’s) won’t start ;

  • A flashlight

  • A high-visibility jacket

  • A warm blanket, and extra warm clothes – an extra pair will come very handy ;

  • Food and water – just in case you get stuck and are awaiting recovery or help up in heavy traffic ;

  • At least half a tank of gas always – journeys make take longer than planned or you may need to find alternative routes ;

2. Inspect your truck

To ensure your truck is performing as it should, book a service appointment before it hits the road. Are your fluids topped up? Does your engine make any strange noises? Are all of your lights working?

You should check your:

 

  • Tires 
  • Battery 
  • Wiper blades
  • Fluid levels
  • Lights
  • Exhaust pipe 
  • Defrosters

3. Keep an eye on the weather conditions

Stay up-to-date with weather information before you begin your journey and stay updated with the changing conditions. A trustee GPS system will be your best friend . This is where FleetHunt can be trusted in knowing where drivers are, the routes that they are taking and timely finding alternative, safer routes.

3. Keep an eye on the weather conditions

Stay up-to-date with weather information before you begin your journey and stay updated with the changing conditions. A trustee GPS system will be your best friend . This is where FleetHunt can be trusted in knowing where drivers are, the routes that they are taking and timely finding alternative, safer routes.

4. Drive Carefully

First, keep your speed steady. Second, break gently without making sudden movements. If you are driving on slippery icy roads, you should always maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Over 17% of all vehicle crashes occur during the winter season.

Keep these things in mind:

 

  • Don’t speed up
  • The extra space won’t hurt anybody

5. Drive smoothly

Driving too fast or any sharp movements can cause you to lose control. Also, avoid hard acceleration and brakes. Drive at a constant speed and go easy on the brakes.

6. Use your turn signals

Winter trucking, use four or five blinks and only then move over into the next lane. Don’t race or try to match up with the speed of other truckers. Even if you are going slow, use your hazard lights to signal the other truckers of your slow speed.

7. HAZARDS - be careful

Trucking in winter is a hazard in itself, but look out for these two hazards.

Black ice : Black ice is a dangerous road condition. What appears to be a wet road is actually a thin layer of transparent ice. Watch out for these warning signs:

» A build-up of ice on your trucks mirror or the top corners of the windshield
» If the spray from your tires is not responding the possibility of black ice is quite high.

Fog : When driving in thick fog, slow down, use your lights and use wipers and demisters to keep your view clear.

Heavy rain : Keep a safe distance and watch out for aquaplaning when the tires lose traction on the road due to water. In case you do start aquaplaning, hold the steering wheel straight, gently ease off the gas and avoid hitting the brakes until you regain control.

Bridges : Elevated structures, such as bridges, usually freeze first and are not always treated with salt/sand to melt the snow or ice. During the winter months, be sure to approach these areas carefully, to avoid spinning out or losing control.

8. Be careful when entering and leaving your truck

Truck drivers often fall and hurt themselves by not being cautious.

 

Wear boots with a good grip to reduce your chances of slipping and remember to wear your visibility vest! 

9. Knowing when to stop is important

The winter driving season can be extremely challenging, so don’t hesitate to stop driving if you need to. A gas station or a 24-hour establishment could be a good stop if you want to take a break from driving.

10. Driver Training & Awareness

By using your driver management software, you can run reports on behaviour and identify drivers who will benefit from enhanced training.

 

 In addition, driver management software can send reminders and alerts for inexperienced drivers, who exhibit risky behaviour, or those who need to be retrained.

by Glogin

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