While truckies are often blamed for the crashes they are involved in, most members of the industry are professional and comply with road rules and safety regulations. However the small number of truck drivers that continue to flout the law are giving the industry a bad name by claiming the lives of many innocent road users due to their drink and drug driving, speeding and driving while fatigued. As a truckie, it is never too late to turnover a new leaf. With government and authorities cracking down on offenders, the best thing for truckies to do is comply with the law. Here we provide you with a few tips that you can start with. 1. Drive with Extreme Caution when Carrying a Load Drive at a consistently moderate speed if you are driving a truck with a loaded trailer. Suddenly increasing or decreasing your speed may result in the trailer’s cargo shifting which can cause a truck to skid or roll over. Huge truck trailers that carry loads up to full capacity are 10 times more at risk of rolling over than trucks with empty trailers. 2. Beware of Road Construction Zones Slow down when in the proximity of a construction work zone. Get into the right lane before entering the work zone. Ready yourself and your truck to adjust to sudden demands of slowing down or stopping. Many lives have been lost due to trucks crashing into construction workers. 3. Reduce Speed in Poor Travelling Conditions Uneven roads, potholes or other adverse road conditions can make driving difficult and unpleasant. Extreme weather conditions such as snow, rain, ice etc. make roads slippery and reduce visibility. The truck will become difficult to manoeuvre in these conditions. Reduce your speed limit to match these conditions. Most fatal crashes are the result of speeding. Drive slowly and with more caution on icy roads and stop your vehicle on the roadside if necessary or if you feel you will not be able to maintain traction on the road. 4. Handle Curves Cautiously Speed limits are announced by warning boards and signage prior to curves and bends in the road, most of these apply to passenger vehicles not trucks. Large trucks need to slow down to a speed even lower than that indicated on a signboard. It is possible for large trucks manoeuvring the curve while moving at the signboard speed limit to lose control and over turn. Avoid applying brakes while manoeuvring a curve, as this can cause the truck’s wheels to get locked and cause the truck to start skidding. 5. Abide by Truck Load limitations Semi-trucks and trailers have special rules and limitations. These limitations include state laws that limit where trucks can travel, the lanes they are able to use, truck-specific speed limits and other restrictions. Truck drivers must understand the driving restrictions for every city and region in which they drive a truck. Don’t exceed the load limit of the vehicle as this will affect how the truck travels and brakes on the road. 6. Maintain Good Visibility Truckies have limited visibility and often encounter situations where blind spots can cause safety concerns. The effect of blind spots can be minimized through proper mirror placement, strategic lane change procedures and advanced turning options. Truckies can avoid crashing into with smaller vehicles traveling beside their truck by using their signals, slowing down or speeding up to obtain a clear line of sight and planning for directional changes in advance. 7. Equipment Failure Faulty brakes, light failure and air brake problems can create safety concerns for truckies. Training on emergency handling procedures for all types of equipment failure situations can help avoid incidents and potential injury. Truck drivers should be able to perform alternative stopping methods and evasive manoeuvers, use emergency equipment  and know how to call for assistance when their equipment fails. Companies employing truckies should have procedures in place for this occurrence. 8. Bad Weather Conditions Bad weather conditions such as gale force winds, heavy rains, storms etc can pose a threat to truckies. Damp and wet weather conditions and snow cause slippery roads, increasing the time needed to slow the vehicle down. These conditions can also impede visibility and can cause the truck to sway erratically due to gusty winds. Truck drivers should be trained to drive in rainy conditions, emergency procedures, when to stop driving due to danger and how to limit the impact of poor conditions on their driving.  Truckies should also know when to stop driving for a while and wait fr the weather to clear if need be.