The short answer is yes. They represent an increased potential for multiple types of vehicle accidents. It’s just one of the reasons that individuals should exercise care and caution when engaging the services of a heavy hauler. The size and weight of the vehicles means they cause more damage when involved in a collision, which also increases the risk of fatalities.

Different Requirements

Heavy haulers require more time and distance to stop or try to avoid an accident than passenger vehicles. They also need more room to maneuver and make turns. The size of the trucks result in significant blind spots – facts that motorists typically don’t think about. Carelessness around any type of cargo hauler can result in catastrophic outcomes and the risk increases with heavy haulers.

Oversize Loads

Most Common Accidents

The three most common types of accidents experienced by truckers are rollovers, blown tires and jackknife crashes. Rollovers happen when trucks are forced to make sharp turns, the load’s weight isn’t evenly distributed, or the load isn’t adequately secured. Tires support a lot of weight and a blown tire can result in drivers losing complete control of the tractor and trailer.

Jackknife crashes can occur when a tractor-trailer rig must come to a sudden stop, while traversing downhill slopes and steep grades, or when truckers are transporting cargo on wet, snowy or icy roads. It happens when the tractor and trailer “fold” at a sharp angle to each other. The driver has no control in these situations and the trailer can easily swat other vehicles off the road.

Driver Precautions

Tractor-trailer rigs are more dangerous simply due to their size and weight. Reputable truck drivers and companies, especially heavy haulers, take every precaution to protect loads and deliver them safely to their destination. Operators of passenger vehicles need to keep in mind the extra time and space that truckers need to operate safely and maintain a safe distance.

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