Understanding the Dangers of Commercial Truck Driving

Driving a commercial truck can be a very rewarding career, especially once you’ve completed your training and you’re just starting out, full of confidence. Sometimes, people can become a little too comfortable in their knowledge and experience over time, though, which allows them to lose awareness of the dangers of the job. It’s very important as a new commercial truck driver that you are cautious and responsible in order to keep yourself and others safe. Here’s what to know about the dangers presented by the open road.

Ignoring Weather Conditions

The weather is always changing, no matter where you go, and not knowing what types of conditions you can expect can lead you into danger very quickly. Make sure that you always look up the forecast before you start driving and check the forecast during your stops on your phone or by tuning into a local radio station while on the road. Have some contingency plans in place in case you end up delayed by bad weather; don’t try to force your way through a serious storm.

Overestimating Your Skills

Some drivers can be so confident in their skills that they decide to tackle routes or maneuvers that they have never attempted before, such as backing into a narrow driveway or small lot, or going up and down steep hills. These drivers make quick decisions and fail to consider every eventuality, which can lead to them having to brake a runaway truck or struggle to get their truck unstuck from a tight area.

Becoming Complacent

You may feel that you know everything there is to know about a given route once you’ve driven it several times. This can lead you to take shortcuts or make more risky maneuvers, or even ignore the dangers that you know are present on the route because they’ve never endangered you before. But it’s crucial to remain vigilant and understand that circumstances can change at any time.

Come see us at our location in Sanford, FL, today to view our current selection of new and used commercial trucks for sale. DeBary Truck Sales serves our customers in Tampa and Jacksonville, FL, and Atlanta, GA.