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FEEDER NEWS JANUARY 2022
OLL R ROLL WITH SAFET SAF ETY Y SAFETY @ CACH Feeder /
@ CACH CHSP
T S A L B
OFF! WITH
Safety 2022
DRIVE S AFE , DRIVE SMAR T!
HOW
EMOTIONS AFFECT YOUR
DRIVING While some driving distractions—such as cell phone use, or loud music—might seem more obvious, being overcome with strong emotions can be just as dangerous. Your judgment may become clouded as you focus more and more on an emotionally-charged interaction, idea, or event. We’ll walk you through some of the warning signs of emotionally distracted driving, as well as help you with some tools to handle your emotions when you’re behind the wheel.
CONSEQUENCES OF EMOTIONAL DISTRACTIONS
AVOIDING CONFLICT WITH OTHER DRIVERS
If your emotions got the better of you, and you accidentally do something t Mouthing “I’m sorry.” Allowing the other driver to get ahead of you. This w event another driver continues to go after you and begins threatening you: there are plenty of witnesses. DO call the police and wait for them to defus
EMOTIONAL DRIVING DISTRACTIONS
Your mood can shift in a matter of seconds due to emotional stimulation that, on the surface, you may not see as affecting you at all. However, it’s important to recognize situations that may have the potential to alter your mood—and therefore your driving. These situations can result in both negative and positive distracting emotions.
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
Some examples of negative events that may affect your mood and ability to focus on driving include:
• • • • •
Getting into an argument with your significant other. A stressful day at work. Another driver on the road cuts you off. Receiving sad/distressing news. Running late to an important appointment.
If you find yourself in one of the situations above, or notice yourself becoming stressed, angry, or sad, take a moment to acknowledge how you’re feeling. Know that how you’re feeling is okay and perfectly normal. Then, take a few more moments to recollect before getting behind the wheel of your car. Take a look at our section below, Handling Emotional Distractions, for steps to take before driving once you’ve experienced a situation that’s left you with negative emotions.
POSITIVE EMOTIONS
Similar to the effects of negative emotions, positive life events can also leave you just as distracted on the road. A few examples of positive situations that could result in distracted driving include:
• • • • •
Receiving a raise at work. Getting good/exciting news. Heading to or from a celebration. Winning a prize. Listening/singing along to a song you really like.
Although these situations may not seem problematic at all, getting wrapped up in the emotions that come as a result could lead to very negative consequences. In fact, for some it might even be harder to let go of positive emotions than negative ones. So, if you find yourself getting excited as a result of positive circumstances, let yourself experience the inevitable happiness and enthusiasm to their fullest extent. Then, when you’re sure you can fully focus on the road ahead, hop in the car and drive as if it were just another day. See our section on Handling Emotional Distractions for more tips on how to manage emotions that can lead to distracted driving.
HANDLING EMOTIONAL DISTRACTIONS
If you find yourself experiencing strong positive or negative emotions, notice them, and try to acknowledge the specific effects they’re having on your physical and mental state. Before you decide to react on the road, you should:
• • • • •
Pull over (if you’re already driving). Take deep breaths, perhaps while counting backwards in odd intervals. Turn some calming/enjoyable music on. Remember that you have full control over your own actions and intentions, not the person, idea, or event affecting you. Envision the consequences of your actions if you began driving recklessly.
to upset another driver, make every effort to express remorse. Ways you can do this include: Waving. will immediately defuse the situation and prevent it from escalating into a dangerous encounter. In the : DO NOT pull over on the side of the road to get out and confront them. DO go to a public place where se the situation.
The Nitty Gritty Of Cleaning, Sanitizing, And Disinfecting
YOUR TRACTOR
AGAIN!
THIS MONTH WILL COVER HOW TO EFFECTIVELY DISINFECT ( YUK! ) YOUR TRACTOR SO YOU CAN GET OUT ON THE ROAD QUICKLY AND WITH CONFIDENCE KNOWING YOU’RE A-OK. HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT!
YOU CAN DO IT!
AS YOU ENTER THE CAB OF YOUR TRACTOR, SPECIFIC HIGH TOUCH LOCATIONS SHOULD BE CLEANED FIRST 1) DOOR HANDLE(S) 2 & 3) GRAB BARS
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OUNCE IN YOUR TRACTOR, WIPE DOWN YOUR TURN SIGNAL LEVER 4) AND YOUR SEAT-BELT, BOTH ENDS PLEASE 5 & 6) YOUR DOING FINE!
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OK, GOOD JOB BUT NOW DON’T FORGET YOUR SEAT ADJUSTMENTS WHICH ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED 7 & 8) NOW TACKLE YOUR STEERING DEVICE 9) YOUR ON YOUR WAY!
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NOW CLEAN YOUR GEAR SELECTOR, MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC MAKES NO DIFFERENCE 10) AND WHILE YOUR IN THE AREA HIT ALL YOUR KNOBS, BELLS & WHISTLES PLUS LIGHT SWITCHES 2&3) NICE!
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YOUR ALMOST DONE, NEXT CLEAN YOUR INSIDE DOOR HANDLES, DOOR LOCKS & WINDOW BUTTONS 13) YOUR VISOR DESERVES A GOOD WIPE DOWN TOO 14) FINALLY LAST BUT NOT LEAST YOUR KEYS 15)
EXCELLENT, nothing like using a nice clean and sanitized piece of equipment. With luck COVID-19 will soon be in the history books thanks to all our efforts of keeping one another safe, but don’t let that stop you from adopting these helpful tips to keep yourself from coming down with other pesky ailments as well. Feel free to add these steps to your everyday routine before you pre-trip, it only takes a few moments to get to the “Nitty Gritty”
GREAT JOB!
WINTER DRIVING TIPS FOR TRUCKERS TO SLIP or NOT TO SLIP, That is the question! Snow is on the way like it or not and we need to adjust how we do our jobs to avoid serious injury, how do we do this? Slow down, maintain solid footing, keep your body weight
over your feet and use smaller steps, also look before you step!
We all know that driving in challenging winter conditions can be difficult. Even for the most experienced drivers, unpredictable bad winter weather makes driving dangerous. For truck drivers, driving on snow covered roads or icy highways is twice as difficult, as you’re driving a big rig vehicle that demands greater skid control and maneuvering skills compared to smaller vehicles. Since the roads are slippery this time of year, truck accidents tend to rise during this season. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 17% of all vehicle accidents occur during the winter months. These accidents are avoidable, however, so follow these winter driving tips in order to stay safe, keep the risks minimal, and get through the rough months without incident.
TIP 1: PREPARE YOUR RIG
BEFORE STARTING ANY JOURNEY ON ICY ROADS, MAKE SURE YOUR TRUCK IS PROPERLY PREPARED BY CHECKING ALL IMPORTANT ITEMS: TIRES. Check that all your tires are winter ready and that you have tire chains with you. Remember to check that your tires are inflated properly because as the temperature drops, your tires’ air pressure drops too. WINDSHIELD WIPERS. To keep a clear view through your windshield, check that your wiper blades are not brittle and are still wiping properly. You should also make sure that you have the correct windshield washer fluid reserve that can withstand the winter temperature and won’t freeze. THE TRUCK’S FLUIDS. Determine if your truck’s oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluids are all at the correct levels. Keep your truck in its optimum running condition during the cold months by changing oil or refilling fluid as needed. LIGHTS. Before you leave, make sure that you check all your lights, and remember to check again after each stop. BRAKES. Your truck should stop immediately once you hit the brakes. If not, or if you hear a squeaking noise, there might be a problem with the brake pads or brake linings. If that’s the case, immediately bring your truck to your mechanic to have it checked. A frozen valve could also cause problem. If this happens, some experts recommend that you pour some methyl hydrate through the brake system in order to thaw it.
TIP 2: ADJUST YOUR DRIVING STYLE
AS A RESPONSIBLE TRUCK DRIVER, YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO ADJUST YOUR DRIVING STYLE BASED ON THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF OTHERS, YOU CAN: Drive slower and put more distance between you and the vehicles in front to give you more time to react if anything happens in front Take extra caution and be gentle when accelerating and braking so you don’t lose control of your truck Always be on the lookout for black ice patches, which are very hard to spot. Black ice is a sheet of slippery ice, which can cause your truck to lose traction. There’s a higher chance of black ice when there’s ice build up on the truck’s mirror arms, the top corners of the windshield, or the antennas. You can also tell if there’s no spray from the tires on vehicles in front of you. Keep in mind that mountain roads can be very dangerous especially during bad weather conditions. Stop and find a safe place if necessary. If you really need to keep driving, though, drive slowly with your hazard lights on.
TIP 3: DON’T FORCE YOURSELF
Truck driving requires focus and all of your attention, especially during the winter season. You have to be in the zone. When you get tired or sleepy, pull over and get some rest. Don’t push your limits. If needed, reschedule your delivery appointments. Always be alert so you won’t be risking your life or anybody else’s. As previously stated, seek shelter if the weather conditions become bad. One of the major reasons for truck accidents is the driver’s belief that they can drive no matter what the weather conditions are. Your years of driving experience don’t make you invincible, so don’t fall into the trap of being overly confident and thinking that you can pass through the worst weather conditions. Don’t take the risk of driving through bad road conditions.
TIP 4: PLAN AHEAD
ALONG WITH WINTER COMES THE HAZARDS OF WINTER DRIVING. ALTHOUGH WE CAN’T AVOID ROUGH WEATHER CONDITIONS, WE CAN STILL STAY SAFE BY SIMPLY PLANNING AHEAD. HERE ARE SOME REMINDERS TO MAKE YOU PREPARED BEFORE YOUR TRIP: Check the weather forecast for the route you’re going to engage on Plan the best route ahead of time, and, if possible, avoid roads with sharp curves or hills Give yourself extra time to make your trip Make sure your fuel tank is full so you don’t run out of fuel.
TIP 5: PREPARE YOURSELF
ASIDE FROM BRINGING A WARM JACKET AND OTHER WINTER CLOTHES, TAKE A FEW EXTRA ITEMS ALONG WITH YOU SUCH AS: • A FLASHLIGHT AND BATTERIES (Note: Aside from the one you have, you can also bring an extra flashlight and extra batteries. Remember, two is one, one is none, so it’s better to be prepared.) • A BLANKET/PROPER SHOES/GLOVES/BOOTS • HEATER DEFROSTER WORKING PROPERLY Work SMART, not HARD! In this weather everything • EXTRA MEDICATION is frozen, don’t be stubborn and not ask for • A WINDSHIELD BRUSH/SCRAPER help when needed. DON’T RISK IT! • DRESS PROPERLY • CARRY EXTRA FOOD/SNACKS/WATER • FIRST AID/EMERGENCY KIT
CRITICAL Push/PULL THINKING/HYPER AWARENESS: REQUEST ASSISTANCE BEFORE AN INJURY OCCURS. SNOWED IN DOLLIES? FROZEN 5TH WHEELS? STILL LANDING GEAR? IN THESE SITUATIONS THINK IT THROUGH, “THIS COULD REALLY HURT” THEN MAKE THE CALL FOR HELP IF NEEDED BEFORE AN INJURY OCCURS. GRAB A SHIFTER OR FELLOW DRIVER, YARD CONTROL AND AUTOMOTIVE ARE GOOD CHOICES AS WELL.
More than meets the
Eye!
Hopefully by now you all have received the Goodie Bag distributed during the holiday season, if you haven’t one is waiting for you in dispatch. It contains some healthy snacks for the road, a one of a kind CACH Feeder Beanie and two handy dandy items. A CACH weekly planner and yearly CACH Feeder Calendar. But they are no ordinary calendars, along with the weekly planner both have a QR code attached that will enable you to access vital safety info in the form of instructional videos enabling you to keep up with all current safety procedures pertaining to feeder. If you are a little rusty at something you will be able to access ( on your phone ) the correct video on-road to review said task. Miss a PCM? We got you covered. Need to confirm how a 5th wheel should be checked if it’s properly locked? It’s all there, watch for updates on Telegraph and in the dispatch office for the latest updates on the new exciting CACH QR SAFETY. Lastly, the insert is chocked full of helpful stuff like building destination addresses, vital phone numbers. And a really slick doubles and triples check list with QR-code to make sure you’ve got that right, yes siree. More than Meets the Eye!
DON’T FORGET! Be Mine?
Valentines Day,
Monday February 14th
BE PREPARED SHOULD YOU ENCOUNTER
BAD WEATHER/CLOSED ROADS! MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR EQUIPMENT ARE READY!
• CLEAN INTERIOR GLASS • ICE SCRAPER • WASHER SOLVENT RESERVOIR FILLED • HEATER/DEFROSTER WORKING PROPERLY • DRESS PROPERLY • CARRY EXTRA FOOD/ SNACKS AND WATER • PROPER SHOES/BOOTS • PROPER GLOVES
JANUARY QUOTE: “My dad was a truck driver. We all used to ride along with him. And the way he’d keep awake was to sing while he was going down the road. So we all joined in.”__Ronnie Van Zandt.