Lets talk about how to stay safe during hot weather on the road during these hot months.
1. Staying hydrated is vital to your health. Drink water before you get thirsty to keep from getting dehydrated. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men, and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.
2. Sunscreen sounds silly when sitting in a truck all day but most of us are aware of the infamous Trucker’s Arm, also known as driver’s tan. Trucker’s arm is when you have that left arm baking in the window while out on these hauls. Sunburns can keep you from getting an adequate amount of sleep, keeping you up, or even contribute to major health risks such as skin cancer. Please be sure to use sunscreen to prevent damage to your body.
3. So the weather is no longer spitting ice and snow, looking at beautiful road conditions. However we are in those hot months that we still need to watch the weather for storms including tornadoes, hurricanes, tropical storms and severe thunderstorms. Wet road conditions can be fatal if one is not properly prepared.
4. Staying on top of your truck maintenance should always be on your list. During the heat be sure to check tires and brakes when stopped. Overheated brakes can result in a failure to brake properly. Keep an eye on your tire pressure. Under/over-flatted tires on the road in the heat can contribute to a blown out tire.
5. School is out, amusement parks and beaches are open, meaning more traffic out there. Stay on the look out for increased road traffic as families travel more during summer. And don’t forget to WATCH for motorcycles, they are harder to see and out more often during these warmer months.
We hope these tips help! Keep rollin’ and stay safe!