Truck Drivers Research Paper

Before driving out on the highway, the truck driver must do a thorough safety inspection. Over time, some drivers may cut corners on their pre-trip inspection. Some commonly overlooked items are dirty or missing reflectors, burnt out tail lights, and under inflated tires. Reflectors and tail lights prevent nighttime underride accidents, which may destroy the top half of a car. Under inflated tires cause blowouts that force the driver to

Justification: 170 feet is the maximum stopping distance of vehicle cruising at a speed of 40mph without colliding or the driver may change lane avoiding the path of vehicle

Without working lights or reflectors, the trailer of a semi truck at night is invisible. It's rare for a trucker to drive around with all of his trailer lights burnt out. On the other hand, lights and reflectors covered in dirt, mud, or salt are more common. Dirt covered lights and reflectors are just as hazardous as not having them at all.

A few months back i was driving on I 81 with my mom, and at the time i only had my learners. So i was driving in the right lane and right next to me was a tractor trailer, so we approach the sign that says the weight station is open. So knowing the tractor trailer is beside me needing to get over i speed up to try and past him. Well as i increase speed, so does the tractor trailer. So we are now about 15 feet away from the weigh station, and me and the tractor trailer are still side by side increasing speed. So basically it's just a game of chicken. We are now approaching the on ramp , and the tractor trailer turns on its blinkers to come over to the right lane ,but slight problem, were still side by side. So i start slamming on the brake

To have adequate time and space to avoid obstacles in your path you need to search the traffic environment far ahead of your vehicle. Position yourself with a clear line-of-sight so you can search the traffic environment about 30 seconds ahead. This gives you plenty of time to recognize obstacles ahead and maneuver around or away from potential traffic conflicts.

Most sedans are designed for stability. Their low center of gravity means they can take corners at high speeds without fear of rolling over (although they may skid out of control). Semi-trucks however, are designed to carry freight. This makes them top-heavy and more prone to rollovers. Another complication is that a truck's freight affects stability. A trailer loaded full of heavy freight is more top-heavy than a partially loaded one. Therefore, the driver must take his trailer load into account when rounding a corner.

Truck drivers are hard working and some of the friendliest people you can encounter while on the road. They are misunderstood and deserve to be understood by all who

“Rural roads are often narrower or may vary in width more than city streets. A narrow road give[s] you less room to maneuver and can be especially dangerous when passing horse-drawn vehicles. A loose gravel or grass berm area can also be hazardous. Open ditches along rural roads are often deep and close to the road. Seemingly open roadways may have sharp dips or unexpected turns. In cold weather, a road shaded by trees or buildings may be icy because then [sic] sun has not shone on that part of the roadway. Blind corners created by wooded areas, corn fields or other tall crops are also hazardous. Normal speeds for horse-drawn buggies range between five and eight miles per hour. Horse-drawn vehicles may be even slower when pulling large farm equipment or when crossing intersections because horses are not tractors or cars and will eventually become tired. Another hazard to consider is restricted vision from the driver of the horse-drawn vehicle. When pulling large loads of hay or other equipment, drivers may not be able to see cars behind them. Car drivers, therefore, need to be extra cautious when passing horse-drawn farm equipment. To avoid other possible collisions, car drivers should anticipate left hand turns made by horse-drawn vehicles into fields and

Second, when you turn or switch lanes, it is better to be safe than sorry, and check twice. While merging, sometimes there will be

Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operates trucks with a gross vehicle weight. Capacity- that is,the combined weight of the vehicle,passengers ,and cargo- exceeding 26,000 pounds. Heavy tractor truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and attend a professional truck driving school. The must have a commercial license. The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck was 41,340 in may 2016.truck drivers,along with drivers/sales worker, had a workplace fetal injury rate of 24.3 in 2012, more than 7 times higher than the overall workplace average. Their rate of nonfatal injuries and their rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work was 294.7 cases per 10,000 full-time workers ,almost 3 times the rate for all private industry occupations. During 2012,756 truck drivers lost their live in work-related incidents,while over 65,000 private truck driver suffered injuries and illnesses that resulted in time away from work according to the u.s. Bureau

In hopes to cut down on the speeding, speeding enforcement programs are put into place. With these programs they help cut down on the speeding a little in some of the areas, but not all areas can be monitored by police due to the limited space in most areas. Even with these programs there are the drivers who just don’t want to slow down when in the construction zones. When drivers are speeding through these zones, they also switch lanes quickly which is very dangerous in the tighter areas of the construction zones and can lead to accidents. The residents that drive cars aren’t the only ones speeding in these zones, but semi-trucks speed through them as well. When these big trucks are barreling through the already tight two lanes it can make for a nerve wrecking drive. One way to try to avoid these crazy drivers is to always pay attention. Make sure to checking all surroundings and keeping one’s eyes on the road. They lanes are very confined and the more attention that is paid it lessens the chance of getting into an accident with a speeding

Safety becomes a major concern when considering changes to truck weight and size. The majority of the general public included in focus groups pertaining to weight regulations expressed negative concerns with allowing heavier trucks on roadways (USDOT TS&W Vol-I2000). However, crash rates from LCV’s closely resemble those of five-axle semi-trailers with GVW under 80-kip but data is not always available since truck length and weight are not usually included in accident reports. For vehicles with additional axles above that of the standard five-axle semi-trailer, braking capacity will be enhanced due to advanced technology in the motor vehicle industry. Each additional axle can be equipped with braking mechanisms to help combat against the increased

A rogue 200 pound truck wheel bounding toward your windshield at a combined speed of over 100 mph is the stuff of nightmares. These highway missiles can freely roll long distances and bound 15 feet into the air. A particularly bad scenario is a truck wheel that bounces over a divider separating the opposing traffic lanes of an interstate highway. Another, is a wheel-off occurring in an urban area, which endangers pedestrians on sidewalks and people inside buildings next to windows and glass doors.

Truck drivers are essential to this country’s economy. Truck driving is one of the only ways that this country has found to transport most of the goods we produce. There are many flaws in the other ways we transport goods. As the demand for supply goes up the demand for truck drivers will go up as well. Driving a tractor- trailer or a semi- trailer is a great career because of the job outlook, the work environment, and the benefits and compensation.

Slow down. This will reduce the likelihood of your vehicle hydroplaning and will make it easier for you to safely stop.