708-467-7181     16425 Van Dam Rd., South Holland, IL 60473

 

Regardless of your experience driving your truck cross-country, you might not be able to maneuver your vehicle through a natural disaster or severe storm. And breakdowns can pose their own slew of problems when you’re trying to make a deadline on your delivery. Fortunately, you don’t have to embark on your next route unprepared.
Before you put the pedal to the metal, read our emergency preparedness guide below. Here, we discuss which items you should keep stocked in your truck in case you experience or encounter any kind of emergency on the road.
Emergencies to Plan For
First, you should know exactly what kinds of emergencies you should plan for during each specific journey. Generally, though, you should prepare for the following scenarios

    Severe weather like heavy rain or snowstorms
    Flooding
    Traffic jams
    Truck breakdowns
    Wildfires
    Landslides
    Rockslides
    Tornadoes
    Road closures
    Accidents
    High winds

Many hazards will vary based on your location and the time of year. Before you hit the road, you can also check the National Weather Service or use an app to track specific weather conditions along your route.

 

    New semi trucks aren't always the best option. You can get so much more out of buying a used semi truck. If you are a driver who wants his or her own truck, you really should consider both the obvious and not-so-obvious benefits of buying a used semi truck.

Save a Lot of Money

Used anything usually means big savings when you are ready to buy. You can save tens of thousands of dollars off the new price for a used semi truck. This factor becomes even more important if you want to buy a doubly-large semi cab with double the sleeper space. The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the price, but when you buy used, you can buy much more truck for the price.

Know What Is Wrong with the Truck Before You Buy It

We have to put the trucks through a major inspection before they can list the trucks for sale. Just as a car dealership has to find everything wrong with a vehicle before selling it, so we do. We will ensure you know exactly what to expect if you buy one of their vehicles. There is an official sale inspection sheet on every truck that shows what has passed inspection and what is not currently working on the truck. They cannot sell anything that has some majorly dangerous dysfunctions, which helps you feel safer about what you buy. Stop by at our used semi truck dealership to see the entire used semi truck collection.

 

Wind and ice present unique challenges for drivers. Being highly aware of weather conditions can prevent unexpected circumstances and get you to your destination safely.

As part of the Our Roads, Our Safety campaign, the FMCSA has mapped out helpful tips for commercial vehicle drivers, which include:

1. Drive defensively.
Commercial drivers have to be constantly vigilant to stay aware of any unexpected road conditions, distracted drivers and motorists who don’t understand how commercial vehicles operate. Scan ahead about 15 seconds for traffic issues, work zones and other dangers. It’s also encouraged to check mirrors every 8-10 seconds to be aware of vehicles entering your blind spots.

2. Use your turn signals.
Signal and brake to give other drivers plenty of time to notice your intentions. If you need to pull off the road, use flashers, reflective triangles and road flares to alert approaching drivers.

3. Know when to slow down.
When you drive too fast for weather or poor road conditions, it creates risks for spills and rollovers, as well as crashes.

4. Maintain your vehicle.
Make sure that pre-trip safety inspections are completed, especially on your truck’s tires and brakes. Check that your load is well balanced and secure. Loose materials create road hazards.

5. Buckle up.
Safety belts save lives, reduce injuries and allow drivers to stay inside and in control of their vehicles in case of a crash.

6. Get enough rest.
Don’t drive a commercial vehicle when you’re feeling fatigued, too ill to focus or on medications that make you drowsy or dizzy.

7. Stay up to date on weather and road conditions.
Getting the right information helps you plan your trip. Be aware that non-commercial navigation systems and apps may not provide warning of height and weight limitations, as well as other commercial vehicle restrictions.

8. Practice work zone safety.