Safety first! Always kick the tires (and check brakes, lights, etc.)

In my former life with the State of New Mexico’s Motor Transportation Police, I was always shocked by the number of commercial drivers who didn’t make time to do proper pre-trip inspections before getting on the road. Part of this oversight is an inherent trust drivers seem to have in their truck operating well on their last run or with the driver that drove the truck last. The other part was simple math – the less time spent outside of the truck, the more time on the road. Unfortunately, these pre- and post-trip inspections, also known as “kicking the tires,” is the easiest action operators and drivers can take to protect themselves and others.

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Don’t freeze your safety standards in the cold, icy weather

With over 70% of the nation’s roadways located in snowy regions, staying safe on the road during the cold, wet and harsh winter months means much more than keeping hands at 10 and 2 and checking mirrors periodically. As driving conditions deteriorate to anything but ideal this time of year, fleets and drivers rely on safety technology paired with a comprehensive safety program as defining factors to navigate the winter months unscathed. Many fleets turn to a video-safety program as an essential tool that allows managers to proactively address risky driving behavior early and intervene with targeted driver coaching to ensure roadway safety. 

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