Safety Tips for Trucking at Night

Truck for a hero section
|
Written by Mike Skliar

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.

Author Avatar
Author Mike Skliar

As the truck driver recruiting agency's CEO, I deeply understand the unique challenges and demands truck drivers face.

Drawing from my extensive work experience, I bring knowledge in truck driver recruitment, logistics, and transportation management. I possess a comprehensive understanding of industry regulations, safety standards, and best practices, ensuring that the agency adheres to the highest standards of professionalism and compliance.

Now, looking back and remembering my path from the very beginning, it seems to me that this story is a lifetime. During all these years of development and growth of our agency, I took part in no less interesting projects in which my experience, knowledge and vision were needed. And I was also able to gain new skills, contacts and experience by participating in the development of these projects from various fields, such as cargo transportation, trucking companies, e-commerce, parcel delivery and much more! But the best is yet to come!

Author Articles