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Avoid These 3 Causes of Semi Rollovers
Admin • Apr 23, 2019
The trucking industry continues to steadily grow and generated over $700 billion
in 2017. This type of growth combined with the nature of trucking only means an increased potential for accidents among truckers. Trucking accidents block or snarl traffic, cause damage to goods in transit, and cause injury and fatalities to passengers.
Rollover accidents account for a mere 3.3%
of truck accidents, but this dramatic crash type causes more than half of fatalities. These staggering statistics highlight the need for increased trucker awareness of how to prevent a rollover scenario. Take a look at how to avoid these three surprising causes of semi-truck rollovers.
1. Your Load
One overlooked cause of semi rollovers is the condition of the load you haul behind you, which has a large influence on your ability to safely pilot your truck. For example, your company may tend to overload your truck to maximize profits. This practice only makes it difficult for a driver to gauge proper slow down speed to navigate curves safely.
Additionally, any load may shift suddenly if it is not properly secure. Weight shift increases the tendency for a trailer to rollover during abrupt lane changes or sharp curves.
You can follow a few simple practices to avoid a rollover accident. First, don't give your load the opportunity to become unbalanced. Make sure it is secure before you get behind the wheel, and check it again at each subsequent break. Think twice before taking on a load that is difficult to secure even with multiple tie-down methods.
Finally, aim for a better feel for how your truck performs when it is heavily loaded. Be aware that a heavier load affects turns and dramatically reduces your deceleration.
2. Uneven Pavement
Trucking is not always limited to wide, smooth freeway lanes. Sometimes your truck must access side roads or highways with imperfect pavement conditions. Your truck can suddenly drop one or more wheels off the roadway when it encounters differing pavement heights. First instincts urge you to quickly turn the wheel sharply to correct the position of the truck. Unfortunately, doing so may cause your truck to rollover.
Instead, immediately slow your truck speed and pull over completely. Decide to re-enter traffic only if you can do so at a safe speed until all your tires are on the road again. Only re-enter at a slight angle to prevent an accidental rollover.
3. Your Tire Pressure
The tires on your tractor and trailer perform an important job, but some drivers still fail to check the tire pressure regularly. Slightly under pressure tires do more than reduce your fuel efficiency and wear out irregularly. Tires with low pressure cannot safely carry your load and lead to sudden blowouts, which may force your truck onto its side.
Instead, always check all the wheels with a calibrated gauge instead of guessing with other methods. Your tire pressure gauge can more accurately give you spot-on readings in crucial situations.
Also, tire pressure is important when road conditions are less than desirable. You must be able to pinpoint your pressure if you drive frequently in snow or ice, or encounter sand or mud. You can boost your traction by lowering pressure slightly. Don't forget to re-inflate your tires when road conditions are normal.
Rollovers and downed trailers still happen despite a driver's best judgement. If your truck is involved in a rollover, always maintain a safe accident site with flares or cones. Stay away from your wreck while you wait for help. Rusko's Service Center
specializes in heavy towing scenarios and can help you in the event of a truck rollover. Contact us to find out more about towing trucks and trailers.
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