MENU
SEARCHSharing the road with trucks and semi-trailer trucks can be very dangerous — especially as some semis weigh as much as 80,000 pounds.
Fleet drivers can follow these six tips to increase safety when driving around big rigs.
Screenshot via Driver Solutions/YouTube.
Sharing the road with trucks and semi-trailer trucks can be very dangerous — especially as some semis weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. In fact, fatalities in crashes involving large trucks continue to rise, with 4,317 lost lives in 2016 as compared with 3,098 in 2014.
Now is the time to encourage safe practices on the part of your drivers when it comes to sharing the road with large trucks. Experts offer the following advice:
Truckers have to contend with large blind spots to the right and rear as well as smaller ones on the right front corner and mid left side of the truck. Because of this, drivers should avoid cruising along side of a truck at the same rate of speed, as their vehicle won't be visible. One important tip: Look for the truck driver's face in his mirror; if you can't see him, he can't see you.
The biggest blind spot on a truck is on the right, so never pass on the right. Experts also recommend that drivers stay 10 car lengths ahead of a truck before changing into the lane in front of it. Finally, bear in mind that with right turns, a truck's back wheels take a shorter path then their front wheels. Never try to dart into the opening to pass as the driver begins a right turn — it's very dangerous and your vehicle will likely get hit.
When driving behind a truck you can't see the traffic ahead or objects in the road, so leaving a good deal of distance is imperative in case you need to stop quickly.
Most drivers don't realize that it can take as much as two football fields for a semi to come to a complete halt. Cutting off a truck and forcing it to stop can cause the truck to jackknife.
Mergers and lane changes are challenging enough in a car, so just imagine what truckers go through. Keep in mind that they are dealing with far heavier, larger vehicles and be flexible about leaving truckers an opening to merge. It's not only good etiquette; it's safer for everyone on the road.
Finally, be patient if it takes a trucker a few attempts to safely back up, maneuver into a spot, or get their truck up to speed — these are all inherent challenges of driving a big rig.
Fleet drivers face constant visual, cognitive, and environmental interruptions the moment they hit the road. From roadside chaos to mental fatigue and digital overload, today’s biggest driving risks often come from outside the vehicle itself.
Read More →
FLASH Weather AI has launched a first-of-its-kind hail prediction model capable of forecasting hail size and arrival time at 1-kilometer resolution up to 55 minutes ahead, giving fleets and insurers critical time to prepare for severe storms.
Read More →
As litigation risk rises, vehicles are increasingly targeted. This Coca-Cola bottler shares how it’s reducing exposure through driver training, technology, and a proactive risk management approach.
Read More →
Drivers, supervisors, and data often speak different safety “languages.” Getting on the same page will drive better results.
Read More →
From identity management to third-party certifications, the right technology partner should make security easier to manage. Here are the three building blocks that fleet managers need to stay in control as connected systems scale.
Read More →
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
