Alabama Trucking Road Team Captains are offering safe driving tips and best practices for commercial vehicle drivers ahead of the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend, from Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25.
AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend. This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car. It’s also the traditional kick-off of the summer travel season.
“This weekend is the start of the busiest time of the year for highway travel.” – Lloyd Howell
According to Road Team Captain Lloyd Howell, a professional truck driver with more than 30 years of experience and a driver trainer for TCW’s Birmingham terminal, being patient and vigilant is the mindset you should take before you climb into the cab.
“This weekend is the start of the busiest time of the year for highway travel,” he says. “And this weekend, especially, roads and highways will be more congested. Drivers should plan accordingly and allow themselves time to make their runs.”
“The safety of other travelers is of the highest importance for truck drivers.” – Charlie Salter
Alabama Trucking’s current Driver of the Year and Road Team Captain, Charlie Salter, says commercial drivers are held to a higher standard, and their actions and decisions have more weight. “The safety of other travelers is of the highest importance for truck drivers,” he says. “We’re the pros. Our job is to be more vigilant, more focused and patient. We all have deliveries to make and customers to serve, but our number one job is safety. Let’s work harder and together to make sure everyone gets home safely. Treat each car like someone you love is in it, because they are loved by someone.”
Meanwhile, looking for ways to stay safe on the road, the American Trucking Associations offers the following tips for professional drivers:
Safety and Pre-Trip Planning
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Never rush: Rushing leads to missed load securement, missed appointments, and preventable accidents.
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Thorough pre-trips: Inspect critical components (brakes, tires, lights, and wipers) every time. It is easier to fix an issue at home than on the shoulder.
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Master the “5 S’s” for turns: Setup, Signal, Slow down, Survey, and Steer.
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Distance is your friend: Maintain at least a 7-second gap between your truck and the vehicle in front.
Time Management and Route Strategy
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Add a buffer: Arriving late causes panic and poor decision-making. Plan to arrive at shippers or receivers at least 4 hours ahead.
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Avoid blindly trusting GPS: Know the route, height restrictions, and weight limits before starting the engine.
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Combine stops: Try to align restroom breaks with meal breaks to maximize driving time.
Driver Health and Well-being
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Avoid distracted driving: Put your cell phone away. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations strictly prohibit texting and mandate hands-free dialing.
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Pull over when drowsy: Short 15-to-45-minute naps are highly effective at restoring energy levels.
Established in 2000 by the Alabama Trucking Association, Alabama’s Road Team is a public education program designed to teach the public how to drive safely near large trucks and share information about careers in the trucking industry. Our Road Team is made up of professional drivers with outstanding safety records and strong communication skills. These ambassadors for the trucking industry take a few days each month to speak to civic organizations, classrooms, businesses, and the media.
The Alabama Road Team is a free service available upon request to any group needing an informative or entertaining speaker. Presentations include “Share the Road” demonstrations, driver safety, industry promotion, and other topics. For more information, contact Susan Seymour at 334-834-3983 or sseymour@alabamatrucking.org.
