Truck drivers provide a vital service to this country. They ensure stores stock goods and that deliveries arrive on time. Furthermore, they push themselves hard to make that happen. However, the truth is that truck driving can be a dangerous profession. Simply knowing some of the biggest dangers truck drivers face on the road is crucial for doing our part to alleviate that danger.
Other Drivers
Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest dangers on the road is other vehicles. Cars frequently swerve around trucks, speed up to pass them, and fail to consider their blind spots. An action that we can all do to lower this danger is to drive safely without distraction, especially around semi-trucks on the highway.
Weather Conditions
Unfortunately, there’s nothing that truck drivers or other drivers can do to stop rough rain. However, unsafe weather conditions are one of the biggest dangers truck drivers face on the road. Most truckers are familiar with some steps when dealing with hazardous weather conditions. They may have a repair kit for emergencies or avoid overpasses when possible so that they don’t face strong winds. In fact, they need to know how to truck safely in storms. But it’s still vital to know how other drivers can assist.
Mental Health
Many truck drivers deal with incredibly tight deadlines pressuring them to drive faster and more recklessly to make good time. People often forget about the human beings behind the wheel of these rigs. The truth is that mental health concerns are a big issue that truckers face every day.
Loneliness is one of the biggest issues truckers can face. Being away from friends and loved ones for weeks—sometimes months—takes a significant toll on their mental health. Fortunately, more technological advances are available to keep drivers in touch with folks while they’re on the road.
Truck driving is already a dangerous job, but being aware of these issues and striving to help alleviate some of those risks can have a considerable impact.
