truck driver's checklist

Your life and the life of other road users depend on your alertness and reactions in an emergency!

Professional driving is very demanding,so you need to stay fit, physically andmentally. Eating and drinking healthilyand taking regular exercise will helpyou to feel better, drive better and livelonger!

Adjust your seat so you are sitting ascomfortably as possible, with all con-trols within easy reach. Ensure yourhead is positioned to benefit from thehead restraint in case of an accident.

Use your seat-belt if you have oneand don’t forget your co-driver. Eventruck drivers can die if they go throughthe windscreen! Anyone resting in abunk should be secured when the vehi-cle is in motion.

Respect the legal requirementsrelated to driving and rest times.Non-compliance or tampering with thetachograph is illegal and implies a lackof respect for human lives. Use yourrest hours... to rest!

Don’t drink alcohol before driving ortake any kind of drugs or medicationwhich may impair your driving skills.Avoid heavy meals before driving, asthese can make you feel drowsy.

Don’t continue driving if you feeldrowsy – STOP! Get out of your vehi-cle, stretch your legs and get somefresh air.

. . . A N D I S E V E R Y T H I N G E L S E R E A D Y ?

Is everything in good working order?Have you checked the brakes and brakelines (both tractor and trailer), tyres (pres-sure and tread depth), coolant and oil?What about the mirrors, windows (arethey free of unnecessary stickers?),windscreen wipers, lights, indicators.How about special equipment like extin-guishers and snow chains? Is there anyvisible damage and is the vehicle clean?

Is the load evenly distributed andproperly secured? Will you have toredistribute it and secure it again ifyou unload part of it before your finaldestination?

Do you have the right documents?Have you inserted the tachographdisk/card? Do you have the legallyrequired disks on board?

Check your route. Any bridges, tun-nels, etc. where your vehicle mighthave a problem (dimensions, weight,dangerous goods)? Does it make bestuse of motorways and avoid residentialareas? Where will you take your breaks?Check weather conditions!

A R E Y O U P R E P A R E D ?

Share the road safely – a road transport sector initiative

The Truck Driver’s ChecklistAs a truck driver, you need to drive in a high-ly responsible manner at all times and showyour professionalism by anticipating andforgiving unsafe behaviour by other roadusers. You can help save lives, improve the imageof your profession and help your industry toobtain a better legal framework.

Professionally driven trucks are involved infewer road accidents per km travelled thanother vehicles. However, when they areinvolved in a crash, regardless of who is toblame, the results can be more serious onaccount of their greater weight and largerdimensions. The nature of the goods carriedmay also increase the severity of an accident.

Remember your blind angle preventsyou from seeing smaller road users(cars, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestri-ans) close to your vehicle. Pay particular attention when:

- Turning, in case a vehicle is over-taking in your blind angle

- Reversing, especially if the driving wheel is on the “wrong” side(GB-IRL/continental Europe)

Don’t overtake unless you are surethat you have enough room and will notforce other vehicles to slow down.

Keep a safe distance from the vehiclein front of you – in any case, at leastthe minimum legal distance. The fasteryou drive, the greater the separationyou need. The safe distance increaseswith rain, mud, ice and snow.

Stop if your engine brakes orretarder becomes overheated. Don’tproceed until you are sure that there isno further risk of overheating or failure.

Try to anticipate problems. Avoidsudden braking and acceleration whichmay be dangerous to other road users,waste fuel and generate extra pollution.

Respect traffic regulations at alltimes. Don’t adopt the bad habits ofother road users. Driving safely protectsyour life, the lives of others and your job!

In a breakdown, accident or otheremergency, inform your base and/orthe local emergency services immedi-ately. Programme emergency numbersinto your mobile phone.

At night, dip your headlights in goodtime when traffic approaches from theopposite direction. Make sure your lightsand reflectors are clean, so that yourvehicle is visible.

Adapt your driving to weather condi-tions. When roads are slippery withrain, mud, ice or snow (remember yourchains!), reduce your speed – the samegoes for driving in fog, rain or in twilight,and in tunnels.

Park only where permitted. Take carenot to obstruct traffic or the vision ofother road users and avoid residentialareas. Make sure the vehicle cannotmove when unattended. Don’t leaveyour engine running unnecessarily.

Use secure parking areas whereverpossible. Don’t park in isolated, unlitplaces, especially at night. Don’t tellstrangers about your load or itinerary.Drive in a convoy if possible. Inspectyour vehicle and load for signs of unau-thorised entry or tampering beforeresuming your journey.

It is illegal to use a handheld mobilephone while driving. If you need totalk on the move, get a proper “hands-free” system installed.

After the trip, report to your companyany problems with your vehicle, theroutes you used, or the deliveries youmade, so that repairs or adjustmentscan be made before the next trip.

Show you are a professional – and you will be respected!The IRU and its Member Associations represent yourbusiness. They are working to obtain the best possibleregulatory framework for the road transport industry.

T A K E E X T R A C A R E O N T H E R O A D

As a professional driver, you are performing a role thatis essential for the economy and society. Be proud ofyour job, be proud of your driving!

www.iru.org© 2003 IRU I-0032-1(e)