NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

August 12, 1999

Safe Trucking a Part of A Safe Harvest

Harvest in the region brings an increase of truck traffic on the roads. Unfortunately, there's a corresponding increase in the number of truck-related accidents. Many of those accidents could be avoided with proper safety precautions, says a safety specialist at North Dakota State University.

"Empty or loaded, large trucks require more care on the road," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "Farm trucks handle differently than the family car or pickup. They tip easier and have more momentum and that requires some significant changes in driving style."

The higher center of gravity of a fully loaded grain, beet or potato truck causes it to be easily tipped over. That's an important consideration when trucks are operated on hills or near ditches. Sudden turns can also cause a rollover. Loaded trucks need more time and room to accelerate safely and more time and distance to stop and turn.

"In general, slowing down increases your margin of safety," Maher notes.

Large trucks are easier to see because of their size. So why are they involved in so many accidents with other vehicles? Maher explains that large objects are usually moving faster than they appear to be. Other motorists may misjudge the speed of the truck. Being aware of this situation allows truck operators to be more cautious and anticipate the dangerous actions of other drivers.

In short, drivers of farm trucks need to take precautions. The following are points for consideration by drivers of all vehicles.

• Legal lighting is required for all vehicles, including farm trucks used on public roads. Trucks must be equipped with working headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals. Clearance lights that indicate how large the truck is are also an excellent safety item.
• The handling and control of a truck suffers with overloading. A granular material such as grain is a safety hazard to other motorists when it is spilling or blowing from the box. Overloaded trucks also cause damage to water-softened country roads.
• A daily check should be made on truck tires for proper inflation, cuts, bulges and other defects. The inside tires on a dual axle usually do not get inspected as thoroughly as the outer tires but are necessary for proper and safe operation.
• Clean windows frequently. Dirt and dust on windows can be a serious problem in harvest conditions. A buildup of grain dust on the windows can make looking into the setting sun or glare of oncoming headlights very dangerous. While frequent use of the windshield washers will keep the outside clean, the inside of windows need frequent cleaning too.
• Don't push yourself past your abilities. Fatigue increases your reaction time and reduces your mental alertness. The noise and other conditions of truck driving can bring on fatigue much earlier than other types of work. Know your limits and don't extend them.
• Use your seatbelt. Seatbelts save lives in accidents. Also, a fastened seatbelt fastened helps ensure better posture and decreases back strain.

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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629