Tips for Safe Truck Driving
At ATI Truck Repair, we appreciate the important role truck drivers and owner-operators play in sustaining the BC economy. We also know that trucking is a demanding occupation–financially, physically, and emotionally. We want you to be as safe and comfortable on the road as possible. Here are some tips for avoiding accidents and injuries, and ultimately enjoying a successful career.
- Stay attentive. Do not allow anything or anyone to distract you while you’re driving. If driving becomes difficult for any reason (inclement weather, rough road conditions, family emergency...) slow down or stop if necessary. A safe driver maintains full awareness of his surroundings, and concentrates on the road.
- Be extra attentive when turning. A truck’s weight, length, and height make it nearly impossible for truck drivers to maneuver tight turns like regular vehicles. But drivers of smaller vehicles don’t always give you the room you need to make a turn. Signal well before starting a turn, and make sure you have the distance necessary to safely complete the turn.
- Be extra attentive when backing. Before backing, walk to the rear of your truck and look all around for obstructions. Look all the way to the point you plan to stop – there could be something in your path – and walk to that point. Then turn around and visualize the backing maneuver. Don’t just rely on spotters. You are the sole person responsible for backing your truck safely.
- Park smartly. Whenever possible, back your trailer against a wall or fence to block easy access to your trailer doors. Something this simple can prevent theft, and if you set your trailer brake and put tension on the fifth wheel pin, a thief can’t pull the fifth wheel release.
- Check your tires before getting back on the road. Pay special attention to your tires before starting a job, whether you’re driving a long distance or making a short trip. When tread separates from a tire, it creates a dangerous road hazard, and could cause an accident.
- Stay in one lane. It’s in your best interest to stay in one lane of travel until you come to a stop. Even if you encounter an incident – such as slowed traffic, getting cut off by another driver, or being struck by an animal – you will likely do less harm to yourself and others and create less property damage if you stay in a single lane of travel.
- Check and recheck your blind spots. Many motorists are unaware of where your blind spots are located, and as a result, unintentionally put themselves in harm’s way. Make sure to check and recheck your blind spots before attempting any maneuver.
- Don’t let other drivers get under your skin. Motorists with whom you share the road often drive unpredictably – and sometimes downright irresponsibly. Their poor driving may display ignorance of your truck’s limitations, or simply their own disregard for safety. Recognize and accept their inexperience and use extra care. Don’t let yourself get angry.
- Make sure your cargo is secured properly. Improperly secured cargo can cause your truck to be unstable, and could result in falling debris that may injure you or any people or vehicles around you.
- Follow hours-of-service rules. The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have many hours-of-service regulations to help prevent accidents caused by driver fatigue. Do not exceed these limits to try to make more money or meet delivery deadlines. It’s not worth it.
Learn How to Save Money by Conserving Fuel For Your Truck
There is an uncertainty in gas prices that causes most motorists to take precautions on how they save gas. More importantly, owners or drivers of commercialized trucks take extra care to save on the cost of fueling. There are a few simple gas saving tactics that you can use before you hit the pump to save on fuel costs immediately. Your commercial vehicle no longer has to be labeled as a gas guzzler in light of rising gas prices. Saving gas is as simple as a little ingenuity before you pay for decide to pump your gasoline.
How Maintenance Can Help You Save Fuel
Gas saving maintenance tips for you commercial truck can go a long way in terms of saving you money. Spend far less money and reduce the amount of time you spend refueling your truck. Surprisingly, fuel economy is eco-friendly and you’re doing your part to contribute to clean air. The following tips are sufficient enough to help you start saving an average of 25% on your fuel costs.
Tire Maintenance
Check your tire pressure regularly to maximize your gas milage. It will also help you operate your truck on the road safely. Your tires should always be properly inflated according to your truck’s capacity.
Get Your Engine Checked
When you engine is tuned regularly you increase the effectiveness of your gasoline mileage. Procrastinating on getting a tune up can affect your overall gas mileage by 5.1% according to a recent U.S. study on gas mileage.
Use The Correct Motor Oil
You should always use the correct motor oil based on your vehicle owner’s manual to maintain your engine functions and this allows you to save on fuel. Most people are under the assumption that they can put any type of oil in their vehicle and this hurts their gas mileage.
Change Your Air Filter Every 12,000 Miles
Checking and changing your air filter every 12,000 miles will improve the oxygen intake of your truck and contributes to saving in gas mileage for your truck. Be aware that your vehicle runs on both gasoline and oxygen.
ATI truck repair is your go to maintenance professionals for maximizing your fuel cost in the Delta, British Columbia area. Discover the benefits of their one stop truck maintenance opportunities with reasonable prices and quality service. They believe that they should be remembered by their service instead of the price of maintenance.
Truck Care Tips to Keep Your Rig Running Great
As a truck driver, you know you have to set aside time for truck maintenance and repair. But every minute you’re off the road you probably feel like you’re losing money. At ATI Truck Repair in Delta, BC, we understand your concern. Aside from sticking with a routine maintenance schedule – which is the single most important thing you can do for your truck – the best way to avoid unscheduled repair stops and unnecessary downtime is to take care of your rig.
It really doesn’t take much to make a huge difference in how your truck performs, and often the smartest and safest habits are simply common sense. Here are 10 tips to keep your truck running great between service visits:
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Every week (or more if you’re on a long trip), check your tire pressure. Underinflated tires can lower your fuel mileage and make steering difficult, and overinflated tires are more prone to punctures and pothole damage. It’s also important to keep in mind that tire pressure can fluctuate with weather changes and from driving at high speeds, so definitely monitor your tires in these situations.
- Regularly check your fluid levels. Before a long haul, make sure to check all of your fluids, especially your oil. Big diesel engines need lots of oil to run well, and if you don’t check your oil often, you could eventually harm your engine, leading to high repair costs.
- Regularly check your radiator. Prior to long trips, it’s also important to check your radiator. Look at the radiator itself as well as the overflow bottle. If necessary, top off the fluid, and if you see any leaks (even if they’re small), deal with them quickly before they cause overheating and do any damage to your engine.
- Make sure to use the correct fluids. You may think this goes without saying, but it’s all too easy to use the wrong fluid when you’re in a hurry. Make sure to double-check container labels before you top off your fluids.
- Check your fuel vent if you’ve been sitting for a few days. After a few days off, check your fuel vent before getting back on the road. Insects, such as wasps, are known to build nests in truck fuel vents, creating blockages and causing trucks to appear to be out of fuel.
- Check your brakes often. Do you hear squealing or feel vibration when you apply your brakes? If so, it’s probably time for a checkup. Dealing with the issue sooner rather than later will likely save you money and downtime in the long run.
- Drive properly. Drive at the posted speed limit and avoid slamming on the brakes. Simply following state and federal trucking regulations can save your truck a lot of wear and tear, prolong its life, and keep you out of the repair shop.
- Park properly. Avoid parking sideways on a hill and causing one side of your truck to be higher than the other. This can cause fuel from the higher tank to flow into the lower tank, and then when you start your truck, the uneven tanks will cause the fuel uptake system to draw in air instead of fuel.
- Allow your engine to cool before turning off your truck. Before you cut the key off, allow your engine to cool so that your exhaust gas temperature is below 300 degrees.
- Avoid harsh weather conditions. We know it’s an inconvenience to stop for inclement weather, but you can avoid significant damage to your truck by getting off the road when bad weather strikes.
Tips for Safely Sharing the Road with Big Trucks
ATI Truck Repair is proud to handle maintenance and repairs for fleet companies and truck owner-operators in the Delta area. Not only are these companies and individuals resourceful and hardworking, they are an integral part of the BC economy.
We also appreciate that the trucking industry has a small business emphasis. There are thousands of trucking companies located in BC, and most of them are small, locally owned businesses. And these companies are served by a wide range of supporting businesses (like us!)
Many Delta businesses depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods, so there are A LOT of semis on our streets and highways. We’d like to give you some tips for driving safely when you’re sharing the road with semi-trucks.
- Avoid blind spots around large trucks. If you can’t see a truck’s side mirrors, the truck driver can’t see you.
- Do not pass a truck on the right while the truck is turning right. Trucks must swing wide to the left to negotiate right turns safely.
- Do not cut in front of any large vehicle because they require much more distance to stop in comparison to cars.
- When passing a semi, wait until you can see the entire cab in your rearview mirror before pulling in front of the truck.
- Give trucks at least four to six seconds of space in wet conditions and at highway speeds.
- Do not cut off a truck in traffic or on the highway to reach your exit or turn.
- Slow down when driving through work zones. Nearly one-third of work zone fatal crashes involve large trucks.
- Always drive defensively, and never aggressively. Over half of traffic fatalities can be linked to aggressive driving behaviors.
- Stay focused on the road. Do not text or use your cell phone while driving.
- Always wear your seatbelt.
Cautious, attentive drivers make public roads safe for all motorists. You can also help by notifying traffic safety agencies of crashes, unsafe drivers, unsafe roadway conditions, and other situations that can lead to accidents.
How to Crosscheck Your Truck Repairing Work?
Truck repairing can be a hectic experience that consumes a lot of your energy and time. You are already stressed out after meeting with an accident.The last thing you want is for your truck to come back from the collision repair center without problems. While you can’t guarantee that your truck will be repaired successfully on the first try, you can save yourself some irritation by thoroughly inspecting the repair work before you leave the collision repair center
What You Should Know About Collision Repair Estimate
So you have bought a new truck and enjoying your ride and suddenly on your way to work a car smashes with your truck. You will definitely get nervous and be out of wits. At this time not only will you think about your safety, you will also be confused & think about whom to call for immediate help. Even the most defensive truck drivers can meet with such collisions. The fact remains true that there will be associated risks when you are driving. It is critical to practice safety driving and adopt defensive driving techniques to minimize the risks of truck collisions.
How to Choose the Right Truck Collision Repair Center
Being in a truck collision is a terrifying and traumatic experience. We at ATI Truck Body and Paint understand that while your truck may have undergone serious damage, there is far more involved than just repairing your truck. Every small or big truck collision involves:
- Police reports
- Physician visit
- Insurance claims
- Medical payments