More than 3.5 million men and women drivers keep America moving through their hard work and dedication, undertaking one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs.
Truck drivers make nearly every aspect of daily life possible by transporting goods and resources, like food, vital medical supplies, household goods and many other items we depend on each day. According to the American Trucking Association, these road warriors move over 10 billion tons of goods and products every year, accounting for 70% of the nation’s total annual freight. 80% of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking to deliver goods.
If you’re looking for ways to show your respect, here are a few things you can do while sharing the highway:
- Don’t linger alongside a truck. If you find yourself lingering either keep moving forward or back off so the driver can see you. Look for the driver’s face in their mirror. That will tell you if you are visible to that driver or not.
- If possible, pass on the left where the blind spot is smaller. On the right side, the blind spot runs the length of the truck and extends out 3 lanes.
- When following behind a truck leave yourself 20 to 25 car lengths behind it. This may seem like a long distance but will give you enough time to react if road conditions suddenly change.
- When passing a truck and moving back into its lane make sure you can see the truck’s headlights in your rearview mirror before you move back in. That allows the truck enough space to slow down or stop if something happens up ahead.
- Do not multitask while driving. Whether it’s adjusting your mirrors, changing the music, eating a sandwich, making a phone call or reading an email, do it before or after your trip or pull over.
For their long hours on the road, millions of deliveries made, inclement weather faced and commitment to show up each day, MHC says thank you to all the professional drivers across America. Your hard work and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed.