Whether you drive trucks for a living, are a business owner, or the person charged with looking after your commercial truck fleet, you have a responsibility to ensure that your fleet is in a roadworthy condition. You also have an obligation to the truck drivers and yourself if you are the one out on the road.
Truck driving is a dangerous occupation because of the risk of road accidents. In addition, it can be a long and lonely road for drivers, who can sometimes take a vehicle out knowing that they are tired or don’t have their mind fully on the job. Furthermore, there are many other obstacles to overcome, especially when large or heavy loads are carried or you meet unforeseen situations on route.
With that said, many things can and should be done to ensure the safety of commercial trucks in operation, all of which goes to making the vehicle and its movement safer.
Choosing the right vehicle
Whether it’s driving tippers, skip loaders, large delivery lorries, keeping safe must be a priority. If you are hiring or purchasing a pre-owned commercial trucks, ensure that you are buying from a reputable source. Also, make sure that the specifications are suited to the work you wish to carry out or that you have the required adaptations made.
Business Obligations
Legal or moral, businesses have a duty to ensure that any vehicle is maintained and operating safely. They must also take steps to identify and reduce any risks and draw a driver’s attention to any issues. This is particularly important for load limits. Vehicles should never be pushed to the absolute maximum capacity, and equipment used to secure loads should be inspected and replaced regularly.
Checklists, procedures and reminders should be in place and readily available to ensure that vehicles are adequately maintained with parts replaced in accordance with vehicle use and manufacturer and recommendations. Ensuring nothing is missed can be done using a checklist, many of which can now be found online to automate the task.
If you have a large fleet or a single vehicle, vehicle safety is the same. Not least to reduce the risk of accident, but also the inconvenience to your business due to vehicle failure. In addition, it can be a costly business in terms of money and reputation if you regularly cancel or delay clients. ‘Driving at work’, HSE’s health and safety information is an excellent place to start.
Truck Safety
Ultimately it is the driver’s responsibility to be happy with the condition and roadworthiness of the vehicle they are about to take on the road before they drive it. However, this can take time, so employees that understand and allow time for safety checks as part of the pre-driving routine can help the driver enormously and reduce stress or the need to rush. Again, this is another area where it may be beneficial to use a checklist. Drivers should be happy that they have carried out routine maintenance checks on items such as tyres, water, load straps and load security before they drive. It is also the drivers’ responsibility to ensure that they are insured correctly and in a fit state to make the drive required, even when the business arranges such insurance.
A commercial truck owner must ensure that they have systems to check that all drivers meet the safety requirements and understand the legal aspects that should be followed for the vehicle’s safety and that of the driver and other employees.
Driver Safety
Take a look at this list of common reasons for a truck accident. It makes pretty scary reading, but it highlights the need for both business owners and truck drivers themselves to make sure they act responsibly, for their safety, and to protect other employees and road users every time they drive.
Drivers should ensure they comply with tachograph laws where fitted, and insist on being given the legally required rest breaks and sleep duration.
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