Whether you’re a new driver, or have hundreds of thousands of miles under your belt, we all want to be safe and healthy for years to come. Here are some tips of simple ways you can protect yourself on the road.

Posture Concerns

Spending hours in a truck every day can cause serious posture problems and bad habits over time. Habits such as slouching or letting our shoulders roll forward. 

You can talk with your doctor or a physical therapist about ways you can minimize these problems. Some truckers use back support seat cushions, and even posture correction braces to help maintain neck and spine health.

Getting out of the truck occasionally to stretch and maintain blood flow is important. There’s also special exercises that you can do to strengthen the muscles that are involved in correct posture. 

Road Hazards

Truckers face a wide range of potential dangers while on the road. One of the biggest concerns is other drivers. While we can be careful drivers and use caution, it’s important to remember that passenger vehicles may not be exercising the same vigilance. They may be unaware of how long it takes large trucks to stop. They may also camp out in our blind spots without thinking twice.

Always use defensive driving tactics and never assume that other drivers are aware of your presence. Take every measure possible to be sure that other drivers can see you, and try to anticipate their possible movements. Keep these points in mind for optimal safety:

• Minimize distractions like phone calls or text messages
• Try to avoid frequent lane changes
• Check weather and traffic conditions ahead of time

Roadside Repairs

Sooner or later, we will all have to pull over and perform a repair of some sort on our trucks. This is when we have to exercise serious caution. In 2018, there were 840 truckers that lost their lives on the job. If you find yourself needing to pull to the shoulder and fix your truck, make sure you have everything necessary for safely completing the job.

After you have pulled safely to the side of the road, there are a few items you should have on hand:

• Reflective vest so that people are aware of your presence as you assess the situation.
• Flares 
• Collapsible safety cones

We want everyone to get home safe after each trip, and visibility is a huge part of making sure this happens.

Your job is vital to our country’s economy. But let’s not forget to remember your own well being, safety and health.