Essential Safety Tips for Independent Truck Drivers

At Status Transportation we would like our owner operator truck drivers to stay safe and sound while they're out driving so they can return home to their family. Usually, an owner operator truck driver drives 101,000 miles each year. Even with all that hauling, owner operator truckers represent less mishaps than any other sector of the transportation community.

No distractions while running

In accordance with the Status Transportation compliance department, owner operator truckers can prevent numerous offenses and mishaps by adhering to these four recommendations:

Independent truckers at Status need to remain in continuous interaction with dispatchers. This is not a reason for texting. Operating an electronic gadget can distract you from the road. The FMCSA forbids truckers from texting, e-mail, messaging or using the internet while driving. Mishaps can occur in a flash and owner operator jobs require the motorist's complete focus. Furthermore, a tidy record can assist you breeze through the procedure when requesting owner operator jobs in Ga or anywhere else.

Get appropriate sleep

The only treatment for sleepiness is appropriate rest. As an independent owner operator trucker you need to factor in downtime while planning a trip. Correct rest will assist you to remain alert and decrease the threat of making errors while behind the wheel. Often a 20-minute shuteye will assist you remain revitalized. So if it's time to take a break, eliminate any interruptions and try to relax.

Ramp speeds are tailored for automobiles, not semi-trucks. Decrease your speed when taking a ramp to lower the danger of a rollover mishap. Keep in mind to lower your speed prior to and not throughout a turn. So remain within the speed limitations, practice protective driving and anticipate the unforeseen.

So how are you expected to utilize a smartphone and also comply with the law you ask? You can utilize an earpiece, the speakerphone function, or utilize voice-activated directions to respond to or complete calls. Prevent obtaining a citation for approximately $2,750 and lower your danger of a safety-critical occasion. At that expense, texting or inspecting your Facebook updates can absolutely wait.

Adapt your driving to serious weather conditions

Watch out for black ice under freezing temperature levels. Keep an eye out for frosted viaducts and naturally, take care when ice is thawing. Ice ends up being a lot more unsafe when the roadway is damp.

Roadways end up being far more unsafe when snowing, and not just that but also, exposure is much lower. Take additional preventative measures when driving throughout the winter season and utilize your common sense. Keep a safer range, and keep your truck in very top shape, however the very best suggestions we can offer you is to decrease, do not hurry. Examine the weather condition status and consider unfavorable weather on your journey when getting a load. Do not be hazardous because of impractical presumptions.

Regardless of how skilled you are, be ready to adjust to bad weather. Restricted exposure or bad footing can raise the threat of having a mishap, so decrease. Reducing your speed will assist you to respond on time in case you need to stop. Keep a safe range at all times, particularly when it's drizzling or snowing.

Aquaplaning takes place when a layer of water develops in between the truck wheels and the roadway. A semi running at 35 MPH can lose grip and the capability to guide as a result of aquaplaning. Independent truckers can prevent aquaplaning by maintaining their tires appropriately pumped up and by decreasing when it begins to pour.

The status quo in transportation demands truckers to operate at an extremely fast rate. This must not be a reason to overlook security guidelines and policies. Watch for motorists sharing the roadway and do your part in remaining safe so you can return home safe.

Bear in mind blind spots

Think it or not, most of the population are not knowledgeable about truck blind spots. No surprise why there are numerous blind spot traffic mishaps out there.

Given that 1991 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has actually been promoting a project to inform highway users on business automobile "no zones". Signs on the side of trailers reveal motorists when they remain in a trucker's blind spot. As an expert in the transport market, it depends on you to look out for vehicle drivers who do not comprehend these kinds of "no areas."

One more method of lowering blind areas is to position folding side mirrors both on the guest and chauffeur side. Hood mirrors will enable you to spot other chauffeurs and prevent "squeeze play" mishaps. You can set up as numerous mirrors as you require, however they will refrain from doing any excellent unless you examine them. To puts it simply, turn your head when keeping track of vehicles, not simply your eyes.

Drive within the Speed Limit

It's referred to as a speed limitation, not really a goal. The interstate officials establish speed limitations to always keep you and other motorists safe. It is the duty of transport experts to comply with speed limitations, and regard other motorists.

A crammed tractor-trailer having a weight of 80,000 pounds taking a trip at 65 miles per hour needs over five hundred feet to stop; many drivers sharing the road with truckers don’t know that.

Like we said, here at Status Transportation we appreciate our owner operator truck drivers, we value them not just as motorists however likewise as our pals and part of the group. We desire you to be safe out there so please look after yourself and other vehicle drivers sharing the roadway.

The Beginning of Happier Days in the Trucking Business

For the last couple of years, the trucking industry in general has been stuck on a plateau. Fortunately, 2017 marked the beginning of a more positive future for the trucking business.  As one of the best owner operator companies, Status Transportation has a finger on the pulse in the owner operator trucking industry and can attest to this.

As discussed this year in the annual Trucking Owners Business Roundtable, many factors had been affecting the trucking industry.  Among these factors are diesel costs, new regulations, increased capacity and market fluctuations.  The Industrial Production Index (IPI) had hit a plateau during 2015 and 2016. IPI tracks the amount of output from manufacturing activities. Although GDP has a direct impact on the economy, owner operator trucking jobs have a direct correlation with IPI.  That’s why it’s so important to keep track of this indicator.

A Positive Shift in the Trucking Economy

After two years of gloomy reports on the state of the trucking industry, things are starting to shift.  According to Thom Albrecht, there has never been a 3-year decline in manufacturing and industrial production.  This is good very news for owner operator trucking companies, owner operator jobs, and the trucking industry in general.   

Better Rates, Better Owner Operator Pay

Economic activity during the past two years was moderate, especially during the first two quarters of each year.  Load rates were slowly picking up but still nothing compared to load rates back in 2014.  Fortunately, this year we can see a new perspective.  As of April 2017, there was an IP growth of 1.0% and commodity prices are starting to stabilize which will also increase production.  Owner Operator jobs will see an increment in available loads, and thus an increase in owner operator pay.  

Signs of a Stronger Economy

As you can see there are several indicators of a recovering economy. An often overlooked sign of a better economy is consumer sentiment.  Positive thinking does play a very important role in the economy and there is actually an indicator for it.  It's called the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI).  Depending on consumer sentiment people are more likely to spend or reduce their spending habits.  If people perceive the near future as somewhat positive, they are more likely to start or expand businesses.  People's short and mid-term decisions based on a positive perception do have an impact on economic growth.

All in all, owner operator trucking jobs and trucking companies are experiencing a positive upward trend. This improvement is not only the result of a good produce season, but the start of a better and stronger economy for the trucking industry.