Contents hide

2 Feel safer and more secure behind the wheel.

2.1 Prevention is the Key

3 Are you adequately insured?

3.1 Staying Safe on The Road

3.2 Stay Healthy

3.3 Stay Awake

3.4 Stay Smart: Keep Your Commercial Trucking Insurance Up-To-Date

There is no question that America is facing one of its biggest challenges in the past century. The Coronavirus has put people at a literal standstill as they practice social distancing and avoid public places. While many businesses and public locations were forced to close their doors, essential places like grocery and hardware stores remain open for the public good. That means commercial truck drivers are the unsung heroes of the nationwide lockdown.

Without a strong force of truck drivers moving much-needed supplies, Americans would be lost, hungry, and even more afraid. It’s crucial that truckers remain safe to continue their essential work.

While it may seem like the roads are emptier than usual, it’s highly essential for truckers to evaluate their commercial truck insurance needs and keep it up-to-date. Now, more than ever, is not the time for our brave truckers to be slowed down or stopped on their routes.

What is Coronavirus?

The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a new viral disease that started in China towards the end of 2019. Its symptoms include coughing, fever, troubled breathing, muscle aches, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. Unfortunately, not everyone who is infected with the disease shows symptoms.

Moreover, COVID-19 is highly contagious and can even be spread by those who are not showing symptoms. It spreads quickly. While many who are infected don’t have any major complications, others require hospitalization.

At the moment, there is no coronavirus vaccine or cure. There are drugs in the testing phase that may help symptoms, but there are no definitive measures to help with the disease. The best way to deal with COVID-19 is to prevent getting it in the first place.

Here are some things truckers should consider to stay safe during this global pandemic:

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Prevention is the Key

There is a social responsibility to not only keep yourself from getting the Coronavirus, but to also keep from spreading it to others. That means the best offense is a good defense. For most people, staying at home is the best option. Truckers don’t necessarily have that option as they are needed to transport needed goods.

Truckers do have an advantage in that they typically work alone while driving. But they need to be especially careful when picking up goods, making deliveries, and interacting with people during the drive. Whenever possible, truckers should keep their distance from others and if you must interact with another person, such as stopping to get a hot meal, you should make sure to wash your hands before and after each interaction.

Keeping your hands clean is a vital step to avoid catching the Coronavirus. Soap and water is the best way to ensure your hands are properly sanitized. Experts recommend washing for at least 20 seconds with warm water. The critical action is rubbing your hands together with the soap. This friction is what actually removes germs.

Truckers should take every opportunity to wash when they stop. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer is a good alternative. Generously rub the sanitizer across the entirety of your hands and let it air dry.

Outside of keeping your hands clean, truckers should also do their best to avoid touching the face, mouth, nose, and eyes. If your hands do come into contact with the Coronavirus, you won’t get sick unless those germs enter your body. By avoiding touching your face, you can reduce the chance that you’ll catch the virus.

The CDC is also recommending wearing some kind of facial protection when out in public. Surgical masks or even masks made from other materials is sufficient. The key is to take the mask on and off by the ear straps. Many people find wearing gloves to be a reasonable precaution.

Make sure that you always wear, remove, and dispose of safety gear like masks and gloves appropriately. Mishandling this equipment leads to a higher chance of being exposed to germs.

Are you adequately insured?

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Staying Safe on The Road

While catching the Coronavirus is a risk that truckers run when leaving their homes, there are other dangers to watch out for while working. Sadly, just because there is a pandemic doesn’t mean other accidents or issues are no longer possible.

Stay Healthy

Now more than ever is an essential time for truckers to pay attention to their overall health. Getting sick with any disease could result in missing work. Truckers should focus on eating well. It’s easy to stock up on snacks to eat while driving, but these snacks are often full of unhealthy ingredients. Do your best to eat natural, healthy food whenever possible.

Stay Awake

There is enormous pressure for truckers to deliver their goods as quickly as possible. This pressure could lead to truckers working longer hours and making fewer stops. Truckers need to be very cautious about spending more time behind the wheel than what they can handle. Driving while tired can result in accidents, damaged cargo, or loss of life.

Before starting a shift, drivers should get a full night of sleep. They should also stop every so often to stretch, walk around, etc. If you find yourself getting sleepy, don’t try to push through. It’s OK to find a safe place to pull over and nap or sleep through the night. Arriving at your destination a few hours early isn’t worth putting yourself or others at risk.

Stay Smart: Keep Your Commercial Trucking Insurance Up-To-Date

With the potential for long hours and many miles, it might be easy to forgo shopping around for semi trucking insurance. But this is not a time to overpay for this essential service. It’s also not a time to miss out on the tremendous benefits available to you.

From protecting your person, truck, and cargo, to being able to get you back up and running again, proper commercial truck insurance can make a massive difference to your operation. Even a small accident could take you out of commission. That means less money in your pocket and more people going without their much-needed supplies.

While the Coronavirus isn’t here forever, it is going to impact lives for the foreseeable future. During this time, truck drivers are in high demand. Staying safe isn’t just important for yourself, it is crucial to the millions of people depending on you to get food, safety equipment, and more.

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