Safety Tips for Trucking at Night

Truckers are divided into two types: those who prefer to drive at night and those who hate it. Regardless of what you prefer, truck driving at night has its pros and cons. Of course, there is less traffic and road work at night, not to mention, finding a parking space in the morning will be much easier. But even if you try to avoid this type of driving, sometimes it can be necessary for you. So here are some tips that will make your trucking at night safer and easier.

Avoid Distracted Driving

Every trucker knows that it can be dangerous to use a phone while driving. Still, there are hundreds of accidents involving a distracted driver every year. At night, the level of danger is even higher, because of visibility problems. Therefore, be careful and do not risk your and other people’s lives.

Avoid Drowsy Driving

Good sleep is critical to safety. So try to get some rest before your trip. If you feel drowsy, just find a safe parking spot and take a 20-minute nap.

Dim the lights and avoid looking into oncoming headlights

Avoid looking directly at the headlights of oncoming traffic. It can distract or even affect your night vision. Too bright light in the cab of the truck can also be disorienting. For example, bright dashboard LEDs can reflect on the windshield. So it would be better to dim them.

Listen to music while driving

Listening to music can help you to avoid falling asleep. It is better to choose a radio but don’t play it too loud. One more tip: mix up quiet with radio time. In this way, the monotonous sounds won’t start to make you sleepy.

Eat as healthy as you can

We know what is easier said than done. But try to choose a balanced diet. Eat, but not so much, otherwise you will want to sleep. You will feel better if you have several small, healthy snacks during the night and drink enough water.

Stay alert for wildlife

Watch out for wildlife and livestock while trucking at night especially when you are in rural areas. They can leap out at the most unexpected times. Hitting an animal can cause serious damage, and you can also lose control of the truck. By the way, this is another reason to drive the speed limit.