Experience Matters on the Road
It’s true with every type of driver – the more experience a person has behind the wheel, the more competent they become. While that applies to vehicle operators across the board, it takes on greater importance with commercial truck drivers. Not only are semi-trucks more challenging to operate, but they are also more dangerous when involved in collisions.
Some of the reasons experience is crucial for truck drivers:
- Trucks are many times larger and heavier than passenger vehicles with which they share the roads.
- Big rigs take more time to come to a stop, so situations need to be anticipated and the horizon must be constantly scanned for potential obstacles.
- Large trucks are more difficult to maneuver, especially on surface streets and at intersections.
- Trucks cannot make fast evasive moves without a serious threat of rollover.
Thorough training is crucial for all truck drivers in the interest of the safety of all drivers on the roads. Lowering turnover in the trucking industry would be beneficial since it would reduce the number of drivers with less experience out on the highways. However, especially with the increase in demands during the pandemic, newly trained drivers commonly travel on the highways next to us each day.
Watch the YouTube video posted below discussing what to expect during truck driver training.
Research on Truck Driver Experience
A national trucking safety organization conducted a study that examined a truck driver’s age and years of experience in the context of crash risk analysis. Not surprisingly, the driver’s experience was determined to be a better predictor of whether they had been involved in a collision compared to the driver’s age. In other words, younger drivers with more operator experience were less of a crash risk than drivers who were older but had less truck driving experience.
Age did become a factor when coupled with inexperience. The study found that a 50+-year-old driver without significant experience was more likely to be involved in a collision than a 25-year-old with roughly the same amount of experience.
Inexperience heightened the crash risk of drivers spanning all age groups.
Why Are There So Many Inexperienced Drivers?
Deregulation of the trucking industry throughout the past few decades has led to trucking jobs becoming more demanding and offering less pay. Thus, the career has become less desirable, and the turnover rates have increased. Some of the large carriers report a turnover rate exceeding 90%.
There is a shortage of drivers in the industry, and trucking companies have been lobbying for federal laws that would allow younger drivers to operate trucks. The problem of inexperienced truck drivers on the road appears to be one that will stay with us for the foreseeable future.
Stay Aware
Northern California has several heavily-traveled interstate trucking routes. We all know that we must share the road with the commercial carriers. Remember that our passenger vehicles are at a real disadvantage if they were to be involved in a crash with a big rig.
Until the industry figures out a way to retain its workforce and keep experienced truck drivers satisfied and on the roads, there will undoubtedly be more accidents caused by newly trained drivers.
Carmichael Truck Accident Lawyer
Hello and thanks for reading. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a truck accident lawyer in Carmichael, California. A big rig accident has a high potential to cause severe injuries or death. Passenger vehicles are at a great disadvantage when it comes to weathering the impact from an enormous commercial truck. If you or anyone you love has sustained injuries in an accident caused by a careless or negligent truck driver, please call my office for compassionate, free, and friendly advice. A skilled and experienced injury lawyer can be reached at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/transportation-system-freight-haul-3248736/
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