They’re big, they’re bad, their ubiquitous. And we so have to be aware of them and their drivers.

Whenever I see a couple of these trucks on the road, I often think of that old 1970s song, “Convoy.” Whether these are semis, 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, moving trucks or any other commercial vehicle, they dominate the roadways and highways, especially in urban areas where there are many places that require deliveries.

Commercial vehicles are central vessels to a productive economy, sending goods from sellers to buyers across the country and the continent as efficiently as possible. As many of these vehicles are larger than passenger vehicles, they can have a lot of influence in traffic  and commerce.

CMVs are part of traffic, sharing the road with passenger vehicles and yet they have their own administrative state in the U.S. federal government, called the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which provides safety guidance and rules for CMVs and those who are transacting commerce using these vehicles.

Recently the FMCSA put out new safety campaign initiatives to help those who drive alongside CMVs to share the road more safely, in an effort to educate drivers and reduce the number of dangerous road accidents that involve these large, heavy vehicles which can do so much death and damage in incidents.

The Administration wasn’t introducing anything revolutionary  to drivers; the initiative was meant more as a public-safety reminder to those who drive passenger vehicles and are used to being around other similar vehicles, that CMVs are different animals and should be handled with more caution and deference.

The crux of the initiative is bringing forth a handful  of key tips to help drivers negotiate their way around CMVs when in traffic or on highways.

  1. Avoid being in “blind spots” around a cMV; always make sure the driver can see you at all times.When behind such a vehicle, be far enough behind it that the driver can at least see your side mirror or a headlight.
  2. Always pass with certainty, making sure that you see the driver in the mirror before you begin your pass. Seeing the driver in the mirror ensures that it sees you and knows you are trying to pass. Many drivers will accommodate a pass when they know it is coming.
  3. When looking to merge into traffic in front of a CMV, make sure to have enough room in front of the vehicle that it does not have to slow down. A bigger, heavier vehicle does not slow down as fast as a smaller passenger car, so the key is to merge far enough ahead that the CMV does not have to apply brakes to remain a safe distance behind you.
  4. Larger vehicles tend to have a larger turn radius, which often means a CMV may likely have to use a second lanne to complete a turn instead of staying in its own lane. Always allow for that clearance if a CMV is looking to turn; if you can, get two lanes over and do not get back into the lane of the CMV until you have sufficient clearance once the CMV completes the turn. Wide turns are normal for these vehicles, so stay clear whenever you anticipate a vehicle making such a turn, whether left or right.
  5. Don’t allow yourself to get distracted, even for a second, when on the road with a CMV. If you can’t see all the traffic around a vehicle, you really can’t know what all is going on, and a CMV could swerve or slam on brakes unexpectedly. Always be observant, especially when in a near vicinity of a CMV and assume that there will be some traffic you will never see as long as you are close to the vehicle.
  6. As CMVs are generally bigger and heavier, they often do things on the road in a slower, more deliberate fashion. Knowing this, always be patient around those driving these vehicles. They have an obligation to be careful in everything they do because a crash involving a CMV is more likely to be deadly than regular passenger cars. Be deliberate and thoughtful yourself when around these vehicles.

More information can be found at this link.