Did you know in 2020 there were 3.36 million truck drivers employed in the US? This may seem like a large number, but it is actually a decrease of 6.8 percent from 2019. For companies that rely on trucking, it puts them in a hard spot.
That is why more businesses are searching for truckers and offering more trucking jobs, especially in Nebraska. If you have been thinking about becoming a truck driver or if you already are one and want a new job, there is no better time than now to make the switch.
But how can you make sure you stay safe on the road when taking on truck jobs in Nebraska? Let us look at some truck safety tips.
Truck Jobs in Nebraska: Engage in Defensive Driving
Driving defensively means driving while being aware of changing road conditions. It is all about predicting the actions of others to prevent accidents. This is important for truck drivers because most regular drivers do not understand trucks or how they operate.
Always leave space between you and other cars, more than a regular motorist leaves. Remember that the average braking distance for a commercial truck is 4 seconds.
Watch Your Speed
For trucks, sometimes the speed limit is too fast. Pay special attention to your speed when approaching curves, ramps, and corners. The speed limit posted is usually for regular cars and not trucks, so go slower than is recommended to avoid risking tipping over.
Keep Lane Changes to a Minimum
Once you pick a lane, try to stick to it. This is a tip that is in every trucking safety guide. Ignore the cars that dodge you and change lanes.
If you do have to change lanes, do so very slowly, checking your mirrors and being mindful of your blind spots. Remember that the likelihood of an accident increases each time any vehicle changes lanes and that goes double for trucks.
Subscribe to Weather Alerts
When taking on trucking jobs, you always want to know what the weather conditions will be when you take the road. Winter weather causes almost 25 percent of all speeding-related truck accidents, so cut your speed down to half if the road is icy or snowy.
Give yourself more time to do everything in winter weather, including signaling. If you see other truck drivers pulling over, follow their example.
Check Delivery Spots
If the delivery spot is tight and does not offer maneuverability, a truck can get stuck. To avoid this, go and see the delivery spots on foot. Many accidents can happen when backing up, so you want to try to prevent having to do this.
When you check out the delivery spot on foot, you will get a better sense of where you may encounter issues.
Drive for Chief
If you want a challenging and engaging new job, we have truck jobs in Nebraska that can offer the opportunity you need. Chief Carriers, for the second year in a row, was named a finalist in the Best Fleets to Drive For competition. “We’re all in the people business and transportation just happens to be the service we offer. As a business leader, once you understand that, it allows you to focus on investing your time and efforts into our most important assets, our people. The Best Fleets to Drive For is a platform that continues to push our industry forward through innovation.” Said, General Manager Andrew Winkler.
Whether you live in Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, or somewhere else, Chief Carriers is hiring truck drivers. Chief Carriers offers reliable and stable truck driving jobs throughout the country. Apply now to get started in your new career!
Military Experience
Are you still trying to figure out what life outside the military will look like? Chief Carriers would like to talk to you about truck driving jobs in Nebraska.
Veterans invest years (if not decades) in service to their country. And time in the service provides these vets with many great skills. Unfortunately, veterans often have trouble translating that military experience into other careers. That’s where we come in. At Chief Carriers, we do more than respect our troops: we hire them to begin the next exciting stage of their lives! Wondering why former soldiers thrive as truck drivers with us? Click here to discover the answer!
Stay Safe & Start Your Career Today
We’re more than just a paycheck at Chief Carriers. We want your work to be personally satisfying as well as financially rewarding. So, at Chief Carriers, we’ve built the kind of work environment where you’ll feel like part of the family. We know each other here and every member of the office staff stands behind you to make sure you’re successful. That includes providing you with outstanding equipment, maintenance, and safety programs—because nothing is more important than getting you home to your family safe and sound.
Join our award-winning truck driving team in Nebraska! Get started now!