Your rig has been serviced and inspected and is ready for your cross-country haul. You are well-rested and ready, too. By having your rig serviced, you have taken one of the safety steps we are going to list below to ensure that you stay safe throughout your entire cross-country trek. It’s important that you protect yourself from potential crime throughout your trip. You are on time constraints to make your delivery but this does not mean you shouldn’t follow the important safety tips listed below.
Always Sleep in Well-Lit Areas
A cross-country haul requires you to pull over after you have driven your daily allotment of driving hours and get some rest. The best areas to pull over are rest areas that are well lit and have truck sections and truck stops. Never pull over and sleep in the dark. Rather, always make sure that you park your semi-truck in an area that has plenty of lighting to deter potential crime. Parking with other truck drivers is also a good idea because there is safety in numbers.
Always Lock Up Your Entire Rig
No matter how short of a stop you are making, always keep your rig locked up. You should also locket while you are driving. You never know when somebody who is desperate would try to get inside your rig to steal from you and possibly assault you. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Always keep the doors locked on your cab and make sure that your trailer is locked at all times, as well.
Avoid Stopping in Bad Neighborhoods
Take a good look at your route to determine if you are driving through bad neighborhoods. If you are, try to plan your route in such a way that you are driving through these neighborhoods in daylight. Also, make plans to avoid stopping in these neighborhoods. Plan your restroom stops and other stops around these portions of the country that pose a threat to your safety and the safety of your rig.
Keep Your Big Rig Maintained to Avoid Breakdowns
Finally, as we mentioned above, one of the best safety tips you can follow is to keep your rig maintained so you don’t break down. You may have seen frightening videos of truck drivers being assaulted when they are stalled on the side of the road. Keep your truck maintained so that you can rely on it all the way across the country.
Midlane Truck & Trailer Repair in Eugene, OR, would be happy to inspect your big rig before you head out on your trip. Schedule a service appointment with us today.