Truck drivers understand the need for seat belt use. They know that it prevents them from getting thrown against the windshield, ejected from the cab, or otherwise getting tossed about in an accident. However, they may not appreciate that it’s only effective when used in a certain way. Years of extensive testing on seat belts with crash dummies have demonstrated the effectiveness of seat belts. […]
Commercial Truck Insurance Texas
Blind Spot Detection Tips for the Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Driver
If you’ve been a commercial or owner operator truck driver for any length of time, you’re likely aware of your rig’s blind spots and should know how to change lanes and make turns without endangering the traffic around you. While this is important, an awareness of the blind spots of others on the road is equally important. One rule that works most of the time […]
How Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Drivers Can Prevent Underride Accidents
Underride accidents involving a car going under the trailer of a semi truck are often fatal. The car’s windshield and pillar structures are too flimsy to resist the shearing forces that occur when they collide with the bottom edge of a semi’s trailer. Because of this, the survival prospects for the driver and passengers of the car are grim. Although underride guards are mandated for […]
Texas Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Insurance Provider Discusses U-Turns
If you miss your turn-off, is it OK to make a U-turn? If you’re on a road open to traffic, the answer is no. Even if it’s legal to make a U-turn, there will likely be insufficient room to pull it off with your commercial or owner operator truck. Going up on curbs or on to soft shoulders is a bad idea as well. You […]
Three Reasons Commercial or Owner Operator Truckers Have Night Vision Problems
The commercial or owner operator truck driver’s occupation can take its toll on night vision. Long hours on the road over the years expose the trucker to harsh lighting, a poor diet, and lack of exercise. On top of these are the inevitable effects of getting older. Over time, all of these factors diminish your ability to see at night. If you are starting to […]
Blood Clots: An Occupational Danger for the Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Driver
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), occurs when a blood clot forms within a vein that’s deep in your body. It typically forms in the thigh or lower leg and often strikes people who spend hours sitting in one place. This is why it happens to airline passengers on long trips. However, commercial or owner operator truck drivers who spend hours on the road sitting in front of a steering […]
How Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Drivers Can Avoid Repetitive Strain Injuries
Most people associate repetitive strain injuries with assembly line workers or perhaps people who spend too many hours using a keyboard. This certainly doesn’t describe the work of a commercial or owner operator truck driver, so how does this happen? Answer: the driving itself. Think about it, your hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders make the same motions steering your rig for hours on end. Poor […]
Texas Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Insurance Provider Asks: Do You Drive on Autopilot?
Most car accidents occur within 25 miles of home. An important reason for this statistic is that motorists often drive on autopilot when on familiar roads. With enough practice, you can anticipate and automatically drive on most routes with little conscious thought. This autopilot mode is advantageous most of the time, because it frees the mind to do other things. Without this ability for example, […]
Texas Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Insurance Provider Discusses Aggressive Driving
Today, the phrase “aggressive driver” is confusing because it seems to refer to a wide variety of driving behaviors. This phrase lumps the person who drives over the speed limit while failing to use a turn signal into the same category as someone who commits vehicular homicide. Most drivers don’t have homicide in mind when they drive aggressively. They’re either feeling angry over the actions […]
Road Hazards That Endanger the Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Driver
One of the worst situations commercial or owner operator truck drivers can find themselves in is making desperate last second maneuvers to avoid an accident. A good strategy for avoiding this nightmare is increasing your following distance. Another is recognizing various traffic and road hazards in advance and adjusting your driving accordingly. While this skill develops naturally with experience, it’s best to learn through the […]