Driving a big truck in interstate commerce has many challenges. We have not only to deal with traffic just like everyone else on the highway, we also have all the special regulations that deal with commercial drivers. Most of the things required by each individual driver only affect that driver. We have all been there; picked up a trailer at a drop yard only to find a flat tire, or a light was shorted out, the inspection sticker was out of date. I could go on and on, but here are a few ways to avoid leaving those problems for others.
- Pre-Trip inspections. A good Pre-Trip inspection cannot be over emphasized! Not doing a proper Pre-Trip inspection can make for a real bad day if you miss something that could potentially make your truck unsafe. We have a responsibility to keep our equipment as safe as possible. It could be something as simple as a burned out light bulb or as serious as a worn out tire that could have a catastrophic failure. One may not have the same consequences as the other, but it could still be a violation non-the-less. Here is a good pre trip inspection form to help you out.
- Post-Trip inspections. Most of the problems with a Pre-Trip inspection can be solved IF the last driver to operate the equipment would do a proper Post-Trip inspection. If you drop a trailer without doing a Post-Trip inspection and that trailer has a flat tire, then you have just created a problem for the next driver. There is lost
productivity, revenue, and it is really bad for moral. - Make sure you have all the CORRECT paperwork. You have to make sure the proper destination is on the paperwork along with any special instructions. Is the piece count correct? What about the weight? When you see that you have the correct paperwork, you SHOULD notice hazmat papers as well. Hazmat papers should be well marked, flagged, highlighted, and anything else to get your attention. It is paramount that you the driver know what you are looking at and what placards to put on a trailer. (I have met drivers on a relay who literally flipped the placards on his trailer AFTER he dropped it for me.) This is not only important, it is the law. If you get caught with improper placards and/or paperwork, it will fall on you.
- When you find a problem get it fixed as soon as possible or at least tell someone who can. As big a pain in the rear that these problems can be, they are part of the job.
You are the professional driver and it is your responsibility to do the job right. If we all would take the time to do the job right the first time, then maybe we could avoid a lot of the problems farther down the road.
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