In today’s workplace, most employees fail to get enough sleep from day to day. With long hours required at work along with a busy personal life, most working individuals fail to sleep enough hours in between their shifts. Because of this, fatigue can become a problem in the work place, and in some industries, fatigue can turn deadly. Truck driver fatigue is one of the most hazardous forms of driver fatigue. Because of the vehicle size and hours worked, truck driver fatigue can cause horrendous accidents in the Baltimore and Mid-Atlantic region. Evan Transportation hires and trains truck drivers who know the signs of truck driver fatigue and what to do when preventing or dealing with truck driver fatigue.
Knowing the Signs of Truck Driver Fatigue
The first step in preventing truck driver fatigue is to know the signs of fatigue. If you are beginning to suffer from truck driver fatigue, you may begin to experience the following:
- Fixed Stare
- Restlessness
- Rubbing of Eyes
- Wanting to Stretch
- Neglecting your Mirrors
- Excessive Yawning
As truck driver fatigue progresses, drivers will notice a slower reaction to activity around them. This means stopping for traffic or traffic signals becomes slower, making drivers dangerous.
How to Prevent Truck Driver Fatigue
There are several ways drivers can prevent truck driver fatigue. Those steps include:
- Get a full night’s rest before a long trip.
- Avoid consuming high amounts of sugar before a trip. Instead, consume foods high in protein to prevent a sugar crash during your trip.
- Stay hydrated throughout your work day by avoiding sugary beverages and drinking plenty of water.
- Avoid consuming alcohol before trips along with avoiding prescription medications that could hinder your driving performance.
- Never multitask while driving, especially when experiencing truck driver fatigue.
As soon as you begin to feel the signs of truck driver fatigue, pull over immediately and contact a fellow driver to explain the situation.
Evan Transportation was founded in 1992 by Jerry Wolfarth, who at the time had over 25 years of experience in the trucking and transportation industry. The initial operation consisted of a few trucks and drivers who were dedicated and professional. The goal of the company was, and remains, to provide excellent, dependable service.
Contact us today for all of your freight shipment needs or call us at 443-673-3365. We will discuss your tractor trailer options for the freight you wish to ship.
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