Truck Safety
Safe Driving Tips
The first thing you need to do to ensure a safe trip is to familiarize yourself with driving a truck. Here are some guidelines for safe truck driving:
- Before you hit the road, get comfortable with the truck's switches and gauges. Driving a truck will feel a bit different from driving a car. It will take time to become accustomed to operating the vehicle. Adjust your mirrors before you hit the road. Remember, you won't have a direct rearview mirror, so make sure your mirrors are in the right place for you.
- Trucks are taller and wider than cars and need greater overhead and side clearance. If the height and width of the vehicle is not indicated on the truck, be sure to get this information from your rental agent. Be alert for low bridges and tree limbs, as well as canopies at service stations, fast food restaurants, banks, motels, etc.
- Remember to pay attention to road signs pertaining to trucks. This means stopping at weigh stations, obeying truck or lane restriction signs, and overhead clearance postings.
- Always use your turn signals and avoid making sudden stops or abrupt lane changes.
- Use the vehicle mirrors. Trucks are wider and longer than cars. The additional width and length of a truck requires more turning area and more room for lane changes. Adjust your mirrors before you hit the road, and check them before making any moves. This will help you stay clear of other vehicles and reduce the risk of a collision.
- Use caution at intersections. Before crossing an intersection, check left, then right, then left again. Obey all traffic signs and lights.
- Never tailgate. Trucks weigh three to ten times more than cars and must have more time and room to stop. Maintain more than one car length between the truck and the vehicle in front of you. The recommended maximum speed for a loaded truck is 45 mph.
- Do not attempt to pass a vehicle moving faster than 40 mph. Never pass on hills or curves. Never use the passing lane on an interstate highway.
- Set the hand brake every time you park. Turn the wheels away from the curb when parking with the truck faced uphill. When parking with the truck faced downhill, turn the wheels in toward the curb.
- Always look for an area that provides "drive thru" parking spaces. Avoid backing up as much as possible. If you must back up, ask someone to direct you from the side at the rear.
- Practicing these basic driving habits gives everyone else on the road sufficient warning of your intentions and helps prevent accidents.
Do-it-yourself movers can pick up a free moving guide at any Penske Truck Rental location, or contact us at 1-888-996-5415.
