Two Safety Tips for Those Who Drive Heavy Haulage Vehicles
Posted on: 15 April 2019
If your job requires you to drive heavy haulage vehicles, here are some tips that could help to keep you and those who come into contact with your vehicle safe.
Periodically check that the handbrake alarm is working
When using this mode of transportation on a regular basis, it is vital to periodically check that the handbrake alarm (i.e. the alarm that sounds when the handbrake has not been properly engaged after the vehicle has been parked or when the door of the vehicle's cab has been opened) is in good working order.
One of the most hazardous aspects of using this type of transportation is loading or unloading the items from the back of the vehicle. Standing behind such a large vehicle can put you at risk of being run over by it or crushed against a nearby wall if it slides backwards unexpectedly. Due to the fact that most heavy haulage vehicles weigh a great deal, this type of incident could have fatal consequences. The best way to prevent this from happening is to ensure that you fully engage the handbrake before you exit the cab and walk around to the back to begin the loading or unloading process.
However, if you are in a hurry or are distracted by the noisiness of your surroundings when you park, you could easily forget to apply the handbrake before you climb out, and then end up being injured. As such, it is essential to ensure that your vehicle's handbrake alarm is always functional, as this will serve as an audible reminder to perform this important safety precaution.
Seek help from those on the ground when reversing into delivery or loading bays
Even if you have undergone the training needed to drive heavy haulage and consider yourself to be a competent and experienced driver, it is still best to seek help from people on the ground when you need to reverse the vehicle into any delivery or loading bays.
Most heavy haulage vehicles are extremely long and wide. Even with the help of the vehicle's side mirrors, attempting to reverse this type of transportation can be highly dangerous, and there is a very good chance that, without some assistance on the ground, you could end up reversing into a person standing behind your vehicle or crashing into a building.
However, asking someone to stand beside the vehicle (at a safe distance) and guide you through the reversal process, as well as alert you to the presence of obstructions or people, should help to ensure that no-one gets hurt when you need to perform this particular manoeuvre.
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