To become a Kleiner Services moving truck driver, our employees must go through rigorous training and demonstrate that they are more than competent behind the wheel. Be it a 15-passenger van, a 1-ton vehicle or a 5-ton truck, it’s critical we have safely trained drivers. When you’re sharing the road with trucks, it’s important to be mindful of a couple key things to make it work for everyone. The following tips will help you on the road when you see a Kleiner Services truck or another big rig.

Blind Spots
While large vehicles have an enhanced view of the road, they also have dangerous blind spots. Spots to avoid include:

• directly in front of the truck
• directly behind the truck
• on both sides of the truck

The best place to be seen is right beside the driver.  Save that, it’s important to know how to follow trucks.

Following Distance
Trucks are big, heavy vehicles. They require more time to stop. Keeping that in mind when you are on the highway. Allow trucks to keep at least a five-second gap. If you suddenly change lanes in front of a truck, the driver might not be able to maintain proper spacing, putting you and your passengers in serious  danger. How to you determine following distance?

• Watch the vehicle ahead pass some checkpoint on the roadway, such as an overpass or signpost.
• Start to count: “One thousand and one, one thousand and two, One thousand and three, One thousand and four, One thousand and five.” That’s five seconds.

In all cases, rules for determining safe following distance apply to ideal driving conditions. If conditions are less than ideal, increase your following distance.

In I Like Big Trucks I Cannot Lie part 2, we’ll give critical tips about stopping distances, corners and tailgating…and we don’t mean the party.