Projections are that over 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend. That's a 2% increase from last year. Fuel prices have risen, but are still low compared to previous years. Due to the lower fuel prices the majority of travelers are hitting the road, with more 35 million driving. That is a lot of extra traffic on the roads starting the week of July 4th.

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Slips, trips and falls are frequent causes of injury for drivers. Over half of all slips and falls occur on or near the tractor or while drivers enter and exit their tractors and trailers. In addition, slips and falls occur while hooking up the trailer or securing the load.

Slips, trips and falls are also common on loading docks, where drivers in multi-stop and pick-up and delivery work are at the greatest risk. No matter where they occur, slips, trips and falls can be very painful and costly. Resulting injuries may include cuts, bruises, muscle sprains and strains, broken bones and back injuries, and may even result in death.

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Roadcheck 2014 is slated this year for June 3-5. Roadcheck is the largest, targeted commercial vehicle enforcement program in the world. During its 72-hours, an estimated 14 commercial vehicles will be inspected every minute from Canada to Mexico! During Roadcheck 2013, over 73,000 inspections were conducted by an estimated 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial, and federal inspectors at 2,000+ locations across North America.

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As the temperature drops, the number of slips and falls rise!

The effect weather has on workplace accidents and injuries cannot be overstated. Wind, rain, snow, and ice all play a part in increasing the frequency of several types of accidents and injuries. Snow and ice raise special safety concerns because they increase the likelihood of slips and falls, particularly on stairs, ramps, slopes, and parking lots

Accident studies indicate that almost 80 percent of slips and falls due to snow and ice occur in parking lots or on sidewalks. More than 50 percent occur in the morning between 6:00 a.m. and noon.

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It’s that time of year again! Driving a commercial vehicle during the often extreme driving conditions of winter presents many challenges for our drivers. Many serious crashes occur during winter driving months because drivers have not planned ahead! Good planning and a few simple good habits can protect you and those that share the road with you during the winter months ahead.

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Making turns in a tractor trailer is something that needs perfecting through practice and patience.  Practice comes from doing it…the daily honing of critical skills necessary for the job. Patience comes from the knowledge that you are capable of handling any situation the road throws at you, in a professional and courteous manner, because you have fine-tuned those critical skills needed to drive a tractor trailer safely. In this video we will touch on different issues of making a turn with information that...

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As delivery drivers, backing is something we must do every day.  Almost all backing accidents are preventable!  GOAL…Get Out And Look, is the best way to prevent a backing accident. In this video we talk about different job duties drivers fail to do that will result in a backing accident. To watch this video and more have a look at our YouTube channel or the Employee Video library found here on our website (login required). ...

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  A large part of Fatigue is Drowsiness, which is the last step before falling asleep…not the first. Drowsiness means you are seconds away from falling asleep; you must put forth a conscious effort to remain focused and stay awake. At one moment you are aware of the fatigue and in a split second you are sound asleep, completely unaware of what your vehicle is doing. This is an incredibly dangerous situation! Fatigue can be responsible for all different kinds of accidents…from hitting a yellow pole in a parking lot to a rollover accident due to ...

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Winter often means snow-covered and icy roads. Experienced truckers know that the lighter the load, the less traction the tires have. Even trucks hauling heavy loads can lose traction in snow and ice. One of the most important things about driving a commercial motor vehicle during adverse weather conditions is to maintain vehicle traction. Ice, snow, and high winds all work towards reducing traction as well as visibility.  Tire chains are one of the best tools to help maintain traction when the road surfaces are covered in winter precipitation. In this video we ...

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Winter is just around the corner and with that being said comes challenges in all aspects of our job duties. The long days will be drawing to an end resulting in shorter days and longer nights. Warm breezes will soon change to cold harsh winds. Gentle showers will change over to bitter snow or ice storms. Soon, just a short walk from the truck to the building could be a challenge in and of itself! Each year, thousands of professional drivers are seriously injured due to not paying attention during winter conditions. Driving or even walking in ice and snow requires yo...

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Uncoupling the trailer is a relatively simple procedure, but if you perform this task wrong, the results could be very expensive. Damage to equipment, freight, and service issues for our customers could result. This video explains how to minimize risk by properly uncoupling the trailer. Remember… A little consideration for the next driver can go a long way.  You never know… you might be the “next” driver!   To watch this video and more have a look at our YouTube channel or the Employee Video library found...

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Pulling a refrigeration unit while in use is a little different than pulling a dry van. In this video we will explain how the unit works, how to set the temperature, and a few other things you will need to watch for when pulling a reefer unit. Learning about the reefer unit will allow you to efficiently use a refrigerated trailer without damage to the unit and without damage to the product you are hauling. To watch this video and more have a look at our YouTube channel or the Employee Video library found here on our website (login required)...

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FirstFleet has been working very hard to create a way for drivers to acknowledge log infractions in a quick and easy manner. Starting today, we are proud to give you three different ways to do this. You can now acknowledge log infractions using your QUALCOMM unit in your truck, by phone, or by logging into FirstFleet’s website from your phone or computer. Please view this video to see how you can complete the log infraction acknowledgement easily and quickly. The goal of this project is to help streamline the communication between the saf...

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Coupling a tractor and trailer is an essential skill for a driver. You can't imagine the feeling you will have if you look in the mirror and see the trailer slide off the fifth wheel!  As long as you follow the proper procedures, you can couple to a trailer safely every time.  Both visual and physical confirmations are necessary to ensure that the kingpin is coupled securely to the fifth wheel.  These dual safety measures take only seconds and can prevent a costly major accident. To watch this video and more have a look at our ...

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A Pre Trip Inspection is extremely important, so try not to take the attitude that you will just kick a few tires, check a few lights and head on down the road. A proper Pre-Trip involves a lot more!  Spotting potential problem areas ahead of time may save you a breakdown on the road…may save you a fine or citation due to an inspection…may save you time due to being put Out of Service…could possibly save someone’s life or even your life!  With that being said, we also have to remember DOT regulations require a driver to conduct a pre-trip inspection at the s...

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