Heavy Construction: Cranes, Excavators and Bulldozers

Hauling heavy construction equipment has its risks; therefore, drivers of heavy haulage transport need to be more careful than the average truck driver. The reason is that heavy haulage truck drivers are more exposed to collisions than their counterparts, if road statistics are anything to go by. As such, irrespective of the number of years you have spent driving trucks, you need to know that you are always at risk whenever you are on the road. It is critical to take necessary precautions to avoid becoming part of the statistics. Insights highlighted in this article will ensure truck drivers deliver packages safely.

Defensive Driver Retraining -- For one to get a job as a heavy haulage truck driver, they need to have completed and passed a defensive driver training course. The primary role of defensive training is to help heavy truck drivers to react quickly whenever they sense danger. However, with time, one's reflexes become slower and less sharp thereby putting them at risk whenever they are transporting heavy equipment. A refresher course every few years is, therefore, a necessity because it helps to avoid regression of reflexes. Additionally, retraining in defensive driving allows drivers to stay accustomed to the dangers that they would encounter on the road.

Involve Other Motorists -- One misconception with heavy truck driving is that as long as the driver observes all precautions, then they are guaranteed total safety on the road. It would only be true if you were the only driver on the road. The fact that there will always be other motorists using the road means that 100% safety is not guaranteed. For this reason, heavy haulage truck drivers need to involve other drivers on the road. For instance, when taking tight turns, heavy haulage trucks need all the space they can get. Therefore, other motorists need to keep their distance until the truck completes the turn. Inexperienced drivers might not know this, but it prevents dangerous situations. Most importantly, heavy haulage truck drivers need to engage other motorists on the road whenever possible. 

Use Up-to-date Weather Reports -- Weather conditions affect transportation of heavy equipment, which is why it is imperative for drivers to get weather reports. However, most drivers rely on weather reports that are up to a day old thereby inaccurate. Weather conditions can change any minute; therefore, it is best to rely on weather reports that come out one to two hours before you start the journey. While on the road, keep track of weather conditions, especially for regions that are prone to wet weather such as Northern Australia. The possibilities of getting derailed by weather conditions are heightened if drivers fail to use up-to-date weather information.