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Experienced Truckers Share Valuable Driving Tips You Need to Know

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America is currently facing a logistics crisis partly due to disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic and an acute shortage of truck drivers. If you have ever wanted to be a trucker, there is never a better time than now. 

But the conditions and the pressures of work can easily have a toll on truck drivers, making it one of the riskiest professions. But some truckers have been in it for a lifetime and have managed to drive incident-free. 

Keep reading as we share some valuable tips from experienced truckers that you may want to know early in your newfound career. 

American Trucking Industry Statistics

The trucking industry employs approximately 3.5 million Americans representing 5% of all full-time employees. This industry is male-dominated, with only 10% of all truckers being women. 

Other statistics indicate that the industry is 80,000 truckers short, a figure expected to rise as older truckers approach retirement. As a result, the existing truckers are often pushed to the limit to ensure that trucking companies meet the deadline, a significant contributor to truck accidents in recent years. 

In 2020, over 4,865 people died in truck-related injuries in the U.S., representing a 1% decrease from 2019 but a 31% increase since 2011. If you want to get an in-depth look at the trucking accident rates, this list of truck accident statistics can be a good read for you.

Safety Tips from Experienced Truckers

Drive Defensively

Defensive driving means driving with an awareness that you could be the only driver on the road with safety in mind. According to most experienced truckers, many drivers do not know how to drive safely around big rigs. A study conducted by a Michigan university showed that over 80 percent of all crashes involving a trailer are caused by other vehicles rather than the truck. 

Some defensive driving tips for truckers include being cautious about your blind spots, which can be relatively broad, and maintaining a wider following distance than an average car. With up to 80,000 pounds in tow, you will require a longer distance to come to a stop than an average car.

Ensure Your Truck’s Maintenance Is Up to Date

The responsibility of ensuring that the truck’s maintenance is up to date lies with the trucking company. Your life is at risk when driving a truck, so you may want to ensure that the company does what it is supposed to do. 

You do not have to wait for the maintenance schedule to look for mechanical issues. Regular inspection of your truck before getting on the road is vital to ensure everything is in its right working order. 

For example, you may want to physically examine the wheels to ensure they have the right pressure and that there are no loose screws. You may also want to ensure that all your brakes, brake lights, and turn signals are functional before getting on the road.

Get Adequate Rest and Sleep

Adequate sleep and rest are essential when operating big rigs. If you do not get enough of any, you risk sleeping while on the road creating a significantly high risk of getting into an accident. Federal laws stipulate a maximum of 60 to 70 driving hours per week and regular breaks that vary depending on the driving regime.

Most trucks come with automatic logs that indicate the number of hours they have been on the road. However, logging out doesn’t always mean the driver will get adequate rest. 

Some truckers use the brakes to engage in other activities such as drinking, which could mean they don’t get enough rest to drive the following day safely. According to experienced truck drivers, if you feel drowsy during your drive, it is best to pull over into a rest area and take a break before proceeding. 

Michelle has been a part of the journey ever since Bigtime Daily started. As a strong learner and passionate writer, she contributes her editing skills for the news agency. She also jots down intellectual pieces from categories such as science and health.

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Lifestyle

Commercial and Industrial Lighting Solutions: A Bright Future with LEDLightExpert

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Today, conserving the planet’s dwindling resources is more critical than ever, but many commercial buildings still waste approximately 30% of the energy they consume. Fortunately, the emergence of LED lighting equips these businesses with a powerful way to improve operations while reducing overhead costs.

“Our mission is to provide sustainable lighting solutions that reduce energy consumption and lower the carbon footprint of commercial and industrial operations,” says Dara Greaney, CEO of LEDLightExpert.com. “LED lighting is a huge leap forward in technology. It offers outstanding benefits both for businesses and for the planet.”

Why LED lighting is the sustainable choice for commercial and industrial applications

Traditional lighting solutions like incandescent and halogen lamps convert much of the energy they consume into heat, making them hot to the touch. In contrast, LEDs generate minimal heat and use most of their energy to produce light, making them far more efficient and reducing a building’s cooling load.

Thanks to their efficiency, LEDs use approximately 75% less energy than their incandescent counterparts. For large commercial and industrial spaces requiring extensive lighting, energy efficiency translates into substantial cost savings. The energy bills of facilities operating on a 24/7 schedule, such as warehouses and manufacturing plants, stand to benefit the most.

A positive review from an LEDLightExpert customer states, “The 52-500, 100-watt LED flood lights we ordered were heavy-duty, sealed for exterior use, and had 50% more lumens than the 100-watt lights they replaced.”  

LEDs also boast an impressive lifespan. Because LED bulbs last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, customers can expect fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs.

Whereas traditional lighting options might need to be replaced every few months or years, LED lights last for decades with minimal maintenance. This longevity is crucial in industrial environments where accessing light fixtures can be challenging and costly.

In a recent review, another satisfied LEDLightExpert customer reports, “We have used these 150w LEDs to retrofit 62 400w metal halide lights in our church parking lot. I just ordered the last [five] needed to complete this project. The original LED lights have been in for over a year with not one issue. Great product […] great customer service!”

LED bulbs are an all-around boon for the environment. By consuming less energy, they lower greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a smaller carbon footprint. Their long lifespan also reduces waste and the overall impact on landfills. 

Finally, unlike fluorescent lighting, which contains hazardous substances like mercury, LEDs are non-toxic and do not require special disposal procedures. This makes them a safer and more eco-friendly option for businesses looking to enhance their sustainability practices.

LED lighting offers improved lighting quality

It turns out that LED bulbs benefit people as well as the planet. Advanced LED features such as dimming capabilities, smart controls, and motion sensors allow businesses to tailor lighting systems to a range of needs and conditions. 

Additionally, the wide range of cool and warm lighting options available from LED bulbs enables businesses to optimize comfort with the most natural lighting possible. Studies confirm that well-lit workplaces lead to increased productivity, health, and job satisfaction for employees.

“The brightness, clarity, and consistency of LED lights ensure safer and more productive work environments,” Greaney notes. “At LEDLightExpert, we are dedicated to lighting solutions that enhance visibility and make the workplace a more enjoyable place to be.” 

LEDLightExpert: Leading the way in commercial and industrial lighting

LEDLightExpert has made a name for itself in the realm of commercial and industrial lighting, and its commitment to quality and innovation is evident in its comprehensive product offerings. The brand’s high bay LED lights deliver bright and consistent lighting even in rooms with high ceilings and expansive spaces, making them ideal choices for warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and gymnasiums, providing powerful and efficient illumination. The high bay lights ensure every corner of the facility is well-lit, enhancing both safety and productivity. 

For these unique applications, LEDLightExpert offers several options. First, named for their characteristic circular shape, UFO Style High Bay lights provide broad and efficient illumination. Designed for maximum efficiency and minimal maintenance, their innovative design ensures an even distribution of light across expansive areas such as factories and storage facilities.

Next, featuring long LED tubes, Linear Style High Bay lights are known for their energy efficiency and high lumen output. They are perfect for spaces with ceiling heights ranging from 15 to 30 feet.

Finally, for spaces that need 360-degree lighting, LED Corn Bulbs from LEDLightExpert present an ideal solution. These bulbs, shaped like an ear of corn with multiple LED chips installed on all sides, are excellent replacements for traditional metal halides, high-pressure sodium lamps, and CFL bulbs. They offer a cost-effective path to upgrade lighting systems by enabling businesses to retrofit current fixtures to LED without considerable infrastructure changes.

Safety and security are a top concern in industrial and outdoor commercial settings. LEDLightExpert offers commercial LED floodlights that illuminate vast areas such as parking lots, building façades, and construction sites with bright and consistent lighting that enhances visibility and deters potential security threats. Their durable design withstands harsh weather conditions while providing maximum visibility.

For outdoor perimeters, LEDLightExpert’s Industrial LED Wall Packs are another excellent lighting option. These fixtures provide powerful lighting that enhances security and aesthetics at the same time.

LEDLightExpert’s street and parking lot lights are well-suited for municipal and commercial applications, ensuring well-lit paths and parking areas. Their design focuses on both performance and energy savings, improving public safety with reliable, bright lighting. 

“Our lineup of LED products meets the wide range of needs expressed by our commercial and industrial clients,” explains Greaney. “From high-wattage flood lights to customizable lighting solutions, we are constantly innovating to bring the latest LED technology to our customers. With LED, the benefits are clear, the products outstanding, and the future undeniably bright.”

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