Commercial Vehicle Driving Safety Tips

Since commercial drivers earn their livelihood on the road, they have a greater risk of suffering traffic accidents. Still, many truck and bus drivers go their whole careers without incident. During your CDL training at Elite Truck School, you’ll learn a lot about how to stay safe on the road. Here are a few basic safety tips to get you started.

Be Mindful of Blind Spots

Since tractor trailers are much larger than normal passenger vehicles, they have much larger blind spots. Though your mirrors can provide a wide view, there are still some areas that are out of view. A big part of staying safe on the road is being mindful of your blind spots—especially when you’re changing lanes or slowing down.

Stay on Top of Maintenance

As with any vehicle on the road, proper maintenance is essential for commercial vehicles. Neglecting maintenance could cause your vehicle to break down on the side of the road, or worse, cause you to lose control while you’re driving. If you’re responsible for your vehicle’s maintenance, make sure it receives regular oil changes and that its engine is in good working condition. Keeping the tires properly inflated and replacing them once they become worn are perhaps the most important maintenance concerns.

Don’t Overwork Yourself

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has instituted Hours of Service rules that prohibit drivers from working more than 70 hours in a week. It’s important that you abide by these rules—not just for the sake of complying with the law, but for your own safety. If you’re feeling exhausted, you may fall asleep at the wheel, endangering yourself and others.

Drive Defensively

Other drivers can be very unpredictable. The best you can do is drive patiently and cautiously. Don’t make any sudden movements, and be sure to keep your distance from other drivers. If you enroll in CDL training at Elite Truck School, you’ll learn everything you need to know about highway safety. Our Portland-area truck driving school has been training responsible drivers for over 10 years.