Accidents to Avoid in Your Landscaping Truck

Landscaping trucks come in many different sizes to accommodate the needs of landscape crews as they work to beautify and maintain the greenery on their clients’ properties. However, when driving a landscaping truck, you need to be cautious because there are several ways that you, your workers, or innocent bystanders could be harmed by a recklessly operated truck, in addition to the potential for property damage. Here are some accidents you should endeavor to avoid.

Accident Causes

First, it can be helpful to understand the causes of landscaping truck accidents. If you can avoid operating the vehicle under these conditions, you can avoid accidents:

Inexperience: New employees who aren’t yet trained in the proper and safe operation of a landscaping truck are more likely to get into an accident. Training your employees properly and having them work with a more experienced driver for several sessions can help with this.

Fatigue: Overworked employees who have been on the job in the hot sun for hours and hours will be too tired to follow safety protocols and may become careless in their haste to get their work done. Make sure your team is getting enough water and taking enough breaks and that they aren’t working long hours for days in a row.

Inclement Weather: Operating your landscaping truck in poor weather conditions is likely to increase the chance of an accident happening. Evaluate weather conditions in the area before sending out your crew and don’t be afraid to postpone or cancel work if rains are too heavy or visibility is too poor.

Collisions & Road Blocks

Because landscaping trucks are rather large and bulky, it’s very easy for other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists to collide with them. This is especially true when landscaping trucks need to take up additional lanes of traffic in order to turn. Blind spots for landscaping truck drivers are plentiful, so drivers must exercise extra care when changing lanes and turning.

Falling Objects

Landscaping trucks are often loaded up with heavy items, including gravel, branches, dirt, and other materials. If the cargo isn’t properly secured, it can shift in transit and can even fall into the road behind the truck, causing others to swerve or collide with the materials. Always secure cargo and use a tarp over loose material to hold it in place.

Failing Equipment

If you fail to maintain all aspects of your landscaping truck, a piece of its equipment may fail, especially the hydraulics. Other concerns are faulty brake lights and turn signals or broken lifts. Keep your landscaping truck well-maintained by scheduling an appointment with the DeBary Truck Sales service department.

Ready to check out our selection of new and used landscaping trucks for sale? Visit our dealership in Sanford, FL. DeBary Truck Sales serves our Florida customers in Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville as well as our Georgia customers in greater Atlanta.