Summer is one of the busiest seasons for Americans, everyone is out and about! However, for a truck driver, summer brings a whole new set of issues to be wary of. Here are five summer truck driving tips to stay safe on the road.
Keep Tires Inflated and Maintain Your Tire Pressure
If your tire’s air pressure is too low, more of the tire is touching the road leading to increased friction. Thus, leads to tread separation, premature wear, and blowouts. On the other hand, hot weather can also have a huge effect on tires as heat causes air pressure to increase (about 1 PSI per 10 degrees). Over inflation and increased friction go hand in hand and can cause tire blowout.
Drink PLENTY of Water
It is EXTREMELY important to stay hydrated – especially during some of the hottest months of the year! Keeping a water bottle handy will serve as constant reminder to drink water throughout the day.
Protect yourself from the Sun
Invest in a good pair of sunglasses, having the right type will make driving significantly easier on your eyes. Polarized sunglasses with high UV rating are recommended for daytime driving. Also keep in mind, that even with the windows rolled up and air conditioning on full blast, driving 10 – 12 hours in direct sunlight can cause sun burn! So, make sure you have high SPF sunblock or wear long sleeves in the cabin.
Be cautious of crowded roads
The summer months are some of the busiest times of the year, there are more people on the road than any other season. More drivers mean more chances of dangerous and erratic driving. Therefore, truck drivers need to be more cautious and aware of their surroundings (and watch out for runaway campers)!
Look Out for Road Construction!
Summer not only has a significant uptick in drivers but also construction, more roadwork is done during the summer than any other months. ALWAYS make sure to watch out for workers in a construction zone, fines for speeding and other driving violations are doubled or tripled in a work zone. Which can also put drivers at risk of disciplinary action and potentially losing their job.
In Conclusion
All in all, keeping these summer truck driving tips in mind to help you beat the heat and significantly reduce potentially dangerous incidents.
Check out MPG imitative tips here.