Running a fleet of trucks is inherently dangerous. But if you and your staff are aware of the risks and are equipped with best cargo insurance to deal with them, you can develop a strategy for a fleet that is safer and more productive and has fewer accidents, penalties, and breakdowns.
The following six areas and solutions can help decrease accidents involving delivery and service trucks.
1. Ignoring Tires And Other Vehicle Maintenance
Maintaining a vehicle is essential for safety. The impact of tires alone is substantial. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tire problems, including as under-inflation or blowouts, account for 9 percent of crashes. Because of Put cars and trailers on preventative maintenance schedules advised by the manufacturer. Employees should get sufficient instruction on how to check trailers and cars before a trip and to alert a supervisor as soon as any problems are discovered. You can keep track of when preventative maintenance activities are due, spot issues before they become serious, and record service information with the aid of a telematics system with on-board engine diagnostics.
2. Improperly Or Inadequately Secured Tools And Equipment
Serious mishaps may occur if tools, materials, and equipment are not adequately covered and secured during transit. Make sure personnel understand how to properly secure, cover, or tie down equipment, tools, chemicals, supplies, and any other cargo to prevent this. Also teach them how to steady and balance weights.
3. Accidental falls in the truck body or from the vehicle
Slips may seem like insignificant accidents, but they can cause serious wounds like broken bones, sprains, back injuries, and concussions. Slip risks exist when navigating around a work or service truck, particularly in wet conditions.
4. Improper Trailer/Truck Connections
When trucks and trailers weren’t properly attached, serious accidents happened. Going over a few bumps might cause the trailer and truck hitch ball to separate if the truck hitch ball is the wrong size for the trailer. Employees can be trained to ensure sure the hitch and ball are correctly matched and fastened. The tongue of the trailer has a stamp with the proper hitch size information. Lift the tongue of the trailer to check that it is still attached to make sure it is hitched firmly. Use a tongue jack if the trailer and its load are too heavy for this. Two safety chains should be used to link the trailer and tow vehicle.
5. Defective Braking Systems
Lack of maintenance, hot weather, and busy roads can all contribute to brake failure, which will almost certainly result in an accident. Maintain brake systems properly and replace worn out components. Drivers should be taught to often check their brakes and to always do a test stop before hitting the road. They should be instructed to test trailer-breaking systems before towing as well. To learn when trailer brakes and breakaway systems—which engage when a trailer separates from its towing vehicle—must be employed, see your state’s department of transportation. For trailers that exceed a specific gross vehicle weight, the majority of states need these items. Breakaway systems and trailer brakes help keep an unhitched trailer under greater control and protect the tow vehicle from meeting an accident.
6. Access Points For Trucks’ Body Wrongly Placed
This is ineffective and creates extra safety risks. Access ports to the rear or curbside of the truck should be included for trucks that will operate largely in metropolitan areas to reduce exposure to traffic. Place the main access point as near to the driver’s compartment as you can in vehicles designed for off-road conditions to prevent the driver from being enticed to enter the bed in a dangerous manner.
The majority of service truck incidents may be avoided with properly spec’d, maintained equipment and focused personnel safety training.
Contact us here for more details on the best cargo insurance by Pioneer Insurance®. Calling us can eliminate work truck dangers. So, why wait? Call today!
