- Know everything going on around you.
- Always look well ahead down the road and around
your rig. - When rolling down the highway, especially in
heavy traffic, always plan an ‘escape route’. - Be aware of who’s in front of you, beside you, and
behind you at all times. Be aware of everything, so
you can act accordingly, if and when necessary. - Being well-rested keeps you at your best.
Be alert, be aware, move slowly and cautiously, especially at
night.
Always exercise ‘extra’ caution at night, especially in tight
maneuvering situations. I’ve seen too many truckers leaving a
truck stop at night, thinking they’re headed for the road and drive
straight into a ditch, slam into the back end of a trailer and hit
light posts head-on.
Leave Room in Front of Your Rig.
- Always, always leave plenty of room in front of your
vehicle. - It can be very frustrating if you are only traveling 50
mph, and everyone else is doing 65 mph, BUT it can
keep you out of trouble. - This ‘buffer zone’ or ‘cushion’ in front of your rig will
protect you and your truck. - Usually, if anything goes wrong, there’s a good chance it will be ahead of you.
- The more empty space you have in front of you and your unit, the more time you’ll have
to ‘correct’ and slow down, if necessary.
