Driving a regular car and driving a heavy vehicle like a bus, truck or a tractor are two different things. Both have many similarities, the principles of driving a car can be used for driving a truck, but yet, there are many things that might be new to you if you are planning to start driving a truck, or any other heavy vehicle.
Safe driving practices
At the start of the day, always do a walk-around check of your vehicle. In particular, check water, oil and fuel levels, compressed air braking system, tyres, wheel nuts, trailer coupling devices, mirrors, lights, horn, wipers, windscreen, vehicle licence label, number plates and reflectors, warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness, road user charges licence or time licence, certificate of loading, company documents, logbook, dangerous goods documentation/placarding, if required, any damage that may have occurred on a previous trip and load.
Check your load
When checking your load, the most important thing to look for is load security. The driver is responsible for making sure that the load is secure and loaded correctly. You should check that your load is secure after each rest stop, driving over uneven surfaces.
Brake correctly
When braking, never slam on the brakes – instead, apply pressure to the brakes gradually, increasing pressure as the vehicle slows. When driving a curve brake before entering the curve, maintain a steady speed through the curve, accelerate out of the curve (braking on a curve could cause you to lose control).
Safe loading
There are many laws you must follow when loading a heavy vehicle or driving a heavy vehicle that is carrying a load of any kind. You can be prosecuted for failing to follow the laws relating to vehicle loading, so it is important that you are familiar with them.
To ensure a safe driving experience on your heavy vehicle, you have to make sure the vehicle is free from any kind of fault that may cause a break down or any other mishap. Dynamic Diesel Services can be available to you on call for servicing and maintaining your