Drivers Talk Dock Safety

Did you know that over half of all injuries related to trucking occur at the dock and most of those are preventable?  There are 3 “tricks” to helping you prevent dock injuries: awareness, caution, and care, and all 3 are very critical to prevention.

Awareness is a very easy thing to do, and takes just a few moments of your time.  Knowing where you are going, i.e. tight turning spaces, is very important as it allows you to avoid possible injuries to persons or vehicles.  Be aware of your vehicles handling so that if a distracted driver or obstacle in the road causes a hazard you can “get out of the way” and possibly have enough clearance to avoid.  Be aware of road conditions where you are delivering as rain & ice can cause slippery conditions that make it harder to stop where you need to.

Caution is the hardest one to follow at times as it is so easy to get in a hurry to get your load delivered. You start to rush, and just like in our own personal vehicles, the rushing causes accidents.  Use caution in areas that have heavy pedestrian traffic, as not every dock is in an area that is safe from public traffic.  When backing up into the dock area, or pulling into a rack, make sure you have set your brake before stepping out of the cab.  Use caution when getting out of the cab and make sure you use the 3 points of contact while climbing down.  While out on the dock make sure you remain cautious, and watch out for fork lifts, potholes or other equipment that might be in the area.

Care is something most don’t think about when it comes to dock safety, as they think of care as more of a need for family.  One of the definitions of care is the serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly to avoid damage or risk.  You need to take care when operating a forklift or pallet jack, so that you don’t hit the truck or even anyone else that might be in the area with you while loading or unloading a truck. 

 There are always unpredictable hazards that can occur where ever you go, but when you keep in mind the 3 “tricks” you can help prevent most of the accidents or injuries that occur.  Always remember to stay safe & that each dock has its own unique set of challenges.

GPS Use for Truck Safety

Did you know that the FMSCA released a guide to help drivers select truck-appropriate GPS systems & how to properly use them?  This was done due to the alarming number of accidents that happened in the early part of 2013 with trucks & bridges.  During all their investigations they found out several drivers were using personal GPS systems meant for everyday vehicles not for the tractor trailers.

The issue with personal GPS systems is that they help people get to where they want to go in the shortest amount of time & don’t have to take into account all the things a truck driver should like their height, weight, & if it’s a hazmat load.  So because of that truckers weren’t getting the information they needed to avoid these issues accidents were imminent.

Some of the guidelines the FMSCA offers are:

a)      Make sure to get a system intended for the use of truck and/or bus drivers.

b)      Make sure you type in ALL relevant information about your truck to make sure that you are given the proper route for your vehicle, this includes height, weight, & if its hazmat.

c)       Follow the route recommended but remember to ALWAYS obey any signs or advisories that you might see, i.e. low bridge or axle weight limits, as they can change at any time.

d)      Avoid messing with the GPS when driving this includes trying to enter information into the system. DO NOT ENGAGE IN DISTRACTED DRIVING!  This can be as dangerous as texting & driving.

e)      If the system doesn’t have automatic updates be sure to get them so you have the most current rout planning information.

GPS devices are a great tool but in some instances they can steer you in directions that can increase your risk for safety or even accidents if not used correctly.  They also should never be relied on 100% due to so many changing roads or the system could crash.  So always take time to look over a map to familiarize yourself with the area you are going & that you are driving on appropriate roads for your load.  This only takes a few moments after dropping off one load or before heading off to your next delivery.

 

All information from the Safety Management Council of the American Trucking Association

Name That Drug

It is that time again . . . time to play “Name That Drug”. Okay, for those of you who don’t know how to play yet, I will give you a list of facts, signs and symptoms, other names and then, finally, I will tell you what the drug is named.  So let’s begin!

Facts: This drug’s base was derived from a plant. This particular drug can be made into synthetics as well. These drugs were first introduced to the United States in the early 60’s, but were not widely used until the early 70’s. This drug often shows no outward signs that are negative, when in fact they can have very negative effects.

Signs and Symptoms: For lack of a better word, this drug makes people lazy and causes delays in their brain activity. It makes them compulsively eat. The effects of this drug often results in personality changes, as well as stunting a person reaching their long-term life goals.

Other Names: Cannabis, Pot, Dope, Ganja, and Hash

Have you guessed what it is? Yes, it is marijuana. And, yes, many people will tell you that there are no long term negative effects on a person. They are right in that there are no long term health damages identified. But the 2 – 4 hours during which this drug is in effect are very dangerous. It can make smart people do very stupid things. It has been known to drop brain function, and make people extremely slow to respond. At home, these effects may not seem too bad, provided they wear off over time. When someone gets behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, and their reflexes are not as sharp, this drug has had very deadly results. All it would have taken to keep this person out of harm’s way was to not smoke pot. Another reality for those who think legalizing it keeps you from being prosecuted - not when you are on the job or in a vehicle. Now you know why!

Important Announcements for the Trucking Industry

DOT Physicals

Remember that all driver’s medical cards have to be issued by a doctor listed on the National Registry as of May 21, 2104. EOS is listed on that National Registry, but if you cannot come to us, be sure to look on the National Registry website to find a qualified doctor near you.

Attention All Truck Drivers

This coming week, members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee will be reconsidering an amendment brought to the floor by Senator Susan Collins of Maine last Thursday requiring a 34 hour restart per week to include two stops between the hours of 1 am to 5 am. Because the provisions were not completely studied by FMCSA prior to issuing the rule, another amendment is expected on the Senate floor that would remove this requirement. The trucking industry will be drastically affected, should this amendment stand as written. We need to let our Senators know how these amendments would affect your industry.

Looking For Million Mile Drivers

Companies with drivers that have logged at least one million miles safely on or after January 1, 2012 are in demand! The Wyoming Trucking Association is attempting to collect all million mile safe driver information to submit to FMCSA in an effort to prove Wyoming drivers are not reckless or dangerous on the road. You can contact Samantha at samantha@wytruck.org with the driver details to include driver’s name, company, state, and when the million mile safe “milestone” was achieved.

FMCSA Grants Exemption to Livestock Haulers

Livestock drivers have been granted a one-year exemption from the required 30 minute break rule during the first 8 hours of each shift. FMCSA recognized the problem of livestock being left in the standing truck becoming severely over heated during hot summer months. The original hours of service requirements were intended to prevent fatigue-related crashes, but most livestock drivers never go more than 150 miles for delivery.

All information in this blog provided by the Wyoming Trucking Association Newsletter June 2014.