Merry Christmas: 5 Holiday Road Survival Tips
| December 25, 2015 | cars, Christmas, holidays, maintenance, traffic, traveling, Trucks, weather | No Comments
Hey there, Trucking Nation! Are you gearing up to hit the road this holiday season or are you going to be home? Well, whatever your plans might be, we hope you stay safe.
I know my holiday plans have me traveling from Rock Hill, SC to the mountain state of West Virginia, where I grew up. Are you familiar with interstate 81 near Roanoke, VA? Well if you not, let me just tell you—traffic nightmare. So as I prepare myself for the drive, I thought why not share some safety tips for you guys on how to handle those risky four-wheelers out there.
Here are my top 5 tips to help you survive holiday traffic! Also, a video the TruckLogics team did as a tribute to what truckers see from the rig—just for fun!
1. Check and Maintain Your Vehicle
It never fails, every year I see truckers broken down on the side of the road. It’s just eating away at their deadline. So, to avoid the headache of waiting for a tow truck or a mechanic, prepare your rig for the travel. That means replenishing all the fluids and checking over everything to ensure the life and quality is still good. A little bit of maintenance can go a long way.
2. Be Aware of Blindspots
Now, we know you know that you have pretty big blind spots. I mean you’re only driving a huge truck and trailer. But although you might know, other trucks and four-wheelers might not. So take extra caution to make sure you stay out of another truck’s blind spot and use your turn signals to let four-wheelers know to get out of your way, or that you’re coming over.
3. Watch Out for Others
I was always taught, it doesn’t matter how well you drive, it’s all about how well the neighboring car does. I think this applies to trucks, as well. You might leave plenty of space, always check your blind spots, reduce speed, and use your turn signals, but that doesn’t mean the other driver does. Four wheelers are notorious for cutting in front of big trucks and then slamming on their brakes without realizing you can’t stop immediately. So, just be cautious of your surroundings and leave plenty of space between you and the rest of the holiday drivers out there.
4. Keep up With the Weather
When traveling for a long distance, from one state to another, the weather can change drastically. For instance, going from the south to the north can mean going from rain to snow. To stay safe while out there doing the holidays, keep the weather station on in the background or periodically check the weather at pit stops. You’ll know what to expect in terms of weather, helping to keep you safe.
5. Minimize the Use of Technology
I know, I know, it’s against the law to use your phone while driving and I’m not assuming you do this, but this is just a helpful reminder. Phones can be the biggest distraction for drivers on the road nowadays. It doesn’t matter if you’re texting or just talking on a Bluetooth headset, you’re going to be distracted. Multi-tasking really doesn’t exist. And this doesn’t just go for you, truckers, four-wheelers are bad at following this rule (since it differs in every state). So be sure to keep an eye out for them, as well.
And while we’re at it, Merry Christmas! If you haven’t heard, the TruckLogics team will be out of the office for the holidays. But we will be offering email support if you need any emergency assistance with your account. You can reach us at [email protected]. And if you need something amusing while you’re at a pitstop for the evening, check out this video. It’s sure to give you a good laugh.
