Safety (really, How Dangerous Is This?)

Thanks again, you guys. I actually talked to my son about some of your info, and it helped. I think I really want to do this, but I'd prefer him to be at least a little on board.

The thought of a rear facing camera is horrifying. I plan on talking to myself a lot.

The thought of a rear facing camera is horrifying. I plan on talking to myself a lot.

So bring your son on board for a week or so. Let him see what its like. My mom hated me doing it....now she keeps telling the neighbors where I am. They ask me about it when I get home.

From my understanding, the cameras only activate at certain times so it's not like someone is watching g you 24/7.

With Prime the "hard brake" is an issue, but they also give "critical events" for excessive speeds downhill and around curves. So we can get hard brake, speed, or roll over critical events. Our dispatch calls after each to confirm we are OK and no involved in an accident. Too many and you get pulled into safety and have to take the defensive driving course again. Not sure how many you are permitted. I got one in training.

I know a guy who has three in the last maybe six months or so. I don't think they pulled him in yet. But I know for a fact that he thinks 200/ft is a safe following distance. He won't listen to anyone. So he'll keep getting them until he is fired.

Rainy wrote:

I don't know where you were employed but I love my company so much so that it nauseates G town at times hahaha

Not really. Your enthusiasm is a refreshing change and something we can all appreciate.

Statistically - the fatalities are more on the side of the 4-wheel drivers that get tangled up with 18 wheelers.

If you consider the number of trucks on the road (estimates range from 2-4 million) - the traffic accident fatality rate for truck drivers is actually pretty low. Not to say that there aren't.

Causes run the gamut from fatigue (inattentiveness, falling asleep behind the wheel), to aggressive driving, to driving when road/weather conditions make it too dangerous - to plain old ACTIONS OF OTHERS.

Where injuries mainly come in - is getting in and out of the vehicle or trailer (slip & falls) which is why training always stresses "3 point of contact", falling off loads (flatbeds) or having loads fall on them (flatbeds or unsecured loads in trailers).

Others have discussed truck stop safety, etc.

In general, trucking may put you "in harms way" more often - because anytime you drive out there, you are in harms way. The average car driver racks up 12K miles annually, to and from work, shopping, etc.. The average OTR Truck, over 100K miles annually - so you are (statistically) 10+X more likely to get in a wreck.

Rick