Addressing these hazards will greatly improve the safety of log truck drivers.
Investigating log truck accidents and examining potential high-risk areas for log truck drivers allows us to come up with a list of nine important hazards that need to be managed to help prevent accidents. There are as follows:
- Excessive speed: Schedules and load targets must allow for acceptable speeds to be maintained. The schedules should include aspects such as distances, types of roads, road conditions and the weather. Drivers should also not become overconfident on familiar roads.
- Tailgating: Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Loaded trucks take some distance to stop and quick breaking can cause the load to shift. A three second gap should be kept between your vehicle and the one in front. This time should be increased at night or during poor weather.
- Driver inattention: 25% of all crashes involve some form of driver inattention. This can be caused by eating/drinking, cell phones/two way radios, adjusting FM radios, smoking related, vehicle controls, loose objects in the cab, looking at paperwork/maps, weather and driver fatigue.
- Load stability: Load heights must be legal. Travel at the appropriate speed going into curves. Do not overload as this increases the chance of roll-over.
- Equipment failure: Pre-trip inspections should be carried out. Brakes must be tested before and after movement of the vehicle. Use all senses to see, feel, hear and smell the operation of the truck. Good maintenance practices must be followed.
- Bulkhead guard: Sturdy bulkheads should be fitted.
- Loading and unloading: Many fatalities occur during the loading and offloading of logs. Loads can even shift on well loaded trucks. Proper load securement must take place and drivers and other personnel should be at a safe location during loading and offloading.
- Driver fatigue: Long hours behind the wheel or poor sleep increases the probability of an accident.
- Seatbelts: Seatbelts and airbags save lives. Source