Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/367801
to Trucking Introduction 10 www.studentdriverplacement.com September '14 by Tim Brady We interview two truckers monthly, changing names/details so they remain DQRQ\PRXV%XWUHVWDVVXUHGWKH\·UH real. Falling is one of the biggest causes of WUXFNGULYHUZRUNUHODWHGLQMXULHV/HW·V FKHFNZLWKRXUWUXFNHUVDQGÀQGRXWKRZ they avoid tumbles. What are three areas of your truck where falling is a risk? Naomi: Getting in and out of our truck Getting in and out of our trailer The catwalk (And the bed ... LOL) Ben: Getting in and out of your truck, get- ting in or out of your trailer; standing on the steer tire or engine to clean the wind- shield or replace clearance lights. What do you do to avoid falling in each of these areas? Naomi: Butt out and three points of con- tact always. No jumping. No standing on WKHEHGZKHQWKHWUXFN·VLQPRWLRQ Ben: I always use three points of contact. I make sure I have solid footing before WUXVWLQJP\ZHLJKWRQZKDWHYHULWLV,·P standing on. Have you ever taken an unexpected tumble doing your job as a trucker? Describe how it happened and what you do now to avoid it happening again. Naomi: I actually stumbled last week get- ting out of the truck after backing into a dock. There was a pothole at the base of WKHVWHSV,GLGQ·WVHHLW,VWHSSHGRIIWKH last step and down in the hole. I tweaked my back pretty badly. Ben: I unbuttoned my jeans one day be- cause they were so tight in the waist. But I forgot to button them back up. When I stepped out onto my running board, my jeans fell to my ankles, which caused me to trip and fall off the side of my truck. Very embarrassing; especially in a truck- stop with other drivers watching. From then on I keep my jeans properly se- cured! (You did say this is anonymous, right?) What's the worst fall by a trucker you've witnessed? How do you avoid the same fall? What It's Really Like Trucking, Part 33 The Beginning of Fall Days - Avoiding the Tumble