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While getting your CDL A and starting your career as a truck driver is an amazing opportunity, it’s also something that comes with a lot of responsibility, and in many cases, it comes with more risks than simply driving a normal vehicle.

You’re behind the wheel of a very large vehicle that is difficult to maneuver, hard to stop, has limited vision, and requires you to drive for long hours at a time. That increases your risk of getting into a dangerous situation, and when you do get into one, it tends to be even more serious than if you were in a normal vehicle.

Today, we’re going to give you 9 safety tips to stay safe on the road as you start your fruitful career as a CDL A driver.

1. Maintain Your Health

You might not think about it because you’ll be sitting and driving a lot, but you do need to maintain your health considerably as a truck driver. In fact, it’s going to be required of you throughout your career. Things such as heart attacks, various illnesses, and disorders that develop due to poor health, and other issues can lead to horrible tragedies on the road.
Eating healthily, maintaining a proper sleep schedule, avoiding undue stress, and other basic health measures can not only help you pass your required health exams, but they can also keep you safe on the road. Not to mention, being healthy is simply a good thing overall.

2. Avoid Alcohol and Drugs

This is part of maintaining good health, but it is important enough to warrant covering on its own.

You’re aware that you shouldn’t drive while under the influence, but it’s actually best not to use alcohol or other substances at all.

They decline your overall health and leave you more susceptible to health issues that can put you at risk or end your career, and if you test positive for a substance, even if you don’t feel affected by it, it can cost you big time.

It’s best to leave substances alone.

3. Wear Your Seatbelt

Everywhere you go in the US, you will be required to wear a seatbelt. Unfortunately, one in six truckers still don’t wear one while they’re driving.

Behind the wheel of a massive vehicle, you might feel as if you’re safe, and you need to be focused more on other people’s safety. However, you can be propelled from your truck just like everyone else; a collision can cause you to slam into your wheel, door, or other parts of your cabin and lose consciousness, etc.

Wearing a seatbelt is just as important for you as it is for every other driver on the road.

4. Take it Slow on Curves

Curves aren’t that big of a deal in a normal vehicle as long as they aren’t too sharp, but in a fully loaded semi with a far higher center of gravity, they can be disastrous.

Even if you’re confident or the curve doesn’t look like a big deal, go a little slower than road signage for normal vehicles indicates. You want to be extra cautious to prevent rolling your truck over and harming yourself and others.

5. Stay Off the Phone

We get it. You’re on the road alone, you don’t have management breathing over your shoulder, and you’re driving for a long time. It’s tempting to mess with your phone while you drive. Don’t.

Not every state has banned the use of phones while driving, and you even have some dash-mounted options that allow you to legally use your phone to drive in states that do ban actually holding the phone. The law isn’t the problem here. Whether it’s legal or not where you’re at, it’s incredibly dangerous.

You cannot afford to be distracted. A car can slip into a blind spot without you knowing it, and when you go to change lanes, a tragedy can occur.

Stay off your phone until you’re stopping for your breaks.

6. Always Watch Your Blind Spots

We just mentioned the blind spot problem, but it deserves to be a tip of its own. Always watch your blind spots. It’s easy for cars to slip into them, they’re notorious for hovering around despite putting their own safety at risk, and if you do miss them in your blind spots, you could make a tragic mistake.

7. Do Not Engage with Aggressive Drivers or Lose Your Temper

You’re going to deal with two types of bad drivers while you’re on the road.

First, there are people who just genuinely can’t drive properly. They’ll haphazardly pull out in front of you, stay too close to you while you’re trying to switch lanes, get in front of you and barely go the speed limit, etc. This is annoying when you’re in a normal car, and it’s worse when you’re in a truck trying desperately to protect them, but you have to keep your cool and remember that safety is more important than bypassing them.

Then, there is the unfortunate problem with insurance fraud attempts you might have to deal with. Some drivers aren’t just bad drivers. They’ll intentionally pull out in front of you and attempt to “brake check” you to get bumped, prevent you from passing them, etc. This is well documented, and it’s an attempt to make an insurance claim. The best thing to do is remain calm, avoid giving them what they want, and if possible, get a report to the police if it’s persistent.

8. The 7-Second Rule

The 7-second rule is a slight adjustment to the 3-second rule you were probably taught when you got your normal license. You need to have 7 seconds’ worth of space between you and another vehicle in perfect condition. If there are adverse conditions, you increase it.

9. Go the Speed Limit

Sometimes, you can get stressed trying to make your scheduled time for a shipment, and you might feel the need to speed up. Don’t.

You need to heed the posted speed limits at all times. With the weight behind you, the faster you’re going, the harder it is to stop.

Stay Road-Smart and Secure Your CDL Success

As you begin your career as a CDL driver offers much more than just an occupation—it’s a path toward making smart, safety-conscious decisions every moment behind the wheel. At East USA Trucking, we don’t just prepare you to meet the standards; we equip you for success. Our comprehensive training programs, including CDL Entry Level Driver Training, CDL CLASS A & B Testing, CDL A Practice Course, and CDL A Refresher Course, provide all the tools necessary for not only ensuring your safety but also enhancing your professional growth.

Don’t just drive—thrive. With East USA Trucking, you start your career journey with the confidence of being thoroughly prepared, supported by our commitment to industry-leading expertise and continuous learning. Contact us today to secure a future on the road crafted with excellence and supported by the best.