If you’re in the fleet industry, you already know it’s a high-risk profession. Therefore, you should take every step possible to make the work environment as safe as possible for drivers. Part of this process is ensuring that drivers have the required safety equipment for commercial vehicles on hand at all times when they are behind the wheel. This will prevent things from escalating if they are ever in a dangerous situation. However, it is difficult to predict everything you could ever possibly need.
What’s the best commercial vehicle safety equipment to keep on hand? And what are the commercial vehicle safety equipment requirements set in place by the Department of Transportation? We’ll discuss all of that for you here.
Required Safety Equipment
Fire Extinguishers
It may seem obvious, but drivers should always have a fire extinguisher in their trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that all tractor-trailers have a fire extinguisher. Drivers must have the appropriate fire extinguisher for the type of fire that could occur in their work environment. These fire extinguishers must be OSHA-approved and inspected monthly..
This fire extinguisher must be ready to be used at all times and must be serviced annually. This means it must be filled up and secured in the truck in a way that doesn’t allow it to move around. If your vehicle is transporting hazardous material, the fire extinguisher must be rated 10 B:C or more. Otherwise, the requirement is 5 B:C or more.
Spare Fuses
If your drivers are operating vehicles that require fuses, it is a requirement that they have spare fuses for each part and accessory that uses a fuse. They will need a spare fuse for each type and size of fuse that they have on their vehicle.
Warning Devices
Truck drivers may sometimes need to pull over to the side of the road and therefore need the proper warning equipment. This equipment includes at least one of the following:
- Three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles
- At least six fusees or three liquid-burning flares.
These devices will help alert other drivers on the road to your presence.
Recommended Safety Equipment
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is recommended for any job, but it is particularly important for truck drivers who may not be near a place where they can get medical attention quickly. In these cases, a first aid kit is crucial.
Safety Vest
If a driver has to work on the side of the road at night or in low visibility, they must have a fluorescent-colored safety vest with retro-reflective stripes. This way, oncoming drivers can see them, and they are less likely to get injured.
Tools
Drivers know that all kinds of situations can come up at any time. Having the right tools on hand is crucial. These can be used to make quick repairs that will get the truck back on the road or will get equipment working again as it should.
Get the Best Safety Technology
At Azuga, our goal is to keep your fleet safe and effective. We offer a wide range of technology solutions that accomplish precisely this. From dashcams to telematics to GPS tracking, we have it all. Try a demo of our software with one of our experts and check out what we can do.
