Driving a truck safely requires a certain set of skills and a lot of attention to detail. Once you complete your time in truck-driving school, use the following tips to ensure that you can operate a commercial vehicle safely.
Drive with Safety in Mind
When you are operating a large vehicle like a truck, it is more important than ever to abide by the rules of the road. You should never tailgate vehicles in front of you because it significantly reduces your ability to stop in a hurry. Use your turn signals any time you turn or change lanes and turn it on well before you start to move to alert other drivers of your plans. Follow speed limits and stay in your lane at all times.
Do Not Drive Tired
Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of accidents involving trucks. You should never get behind the wheel if you are feeling drowsy or tired. Try to get plenty of sleep the night before you drive and pull over if you need a rest. Listening to your body can help you figure out when you need to take some time away from the road.
Use Caution in Bad Weather
Driving a truck in rain and snow is much more difficult than driving a car. Use caution when you are driving through bad weather conditions. Keep your speed low and pay attention to the road in front of you. If the weather gets so bad that you do not feel safe driving, you should pull over and turn on your flashers. Use reflective triangles and road flares to let other drivers know you are there.
When you attend truck-driving school at HDS Truck Driving Institute, you learn all of the skills you need to know to operate a commercial vehicle safely. To learn more about our programs or how to apply, visit us online or call (877) 205-2141.
