Even under the best circumstances, backing a commercial motor vehicle is not risk-free because, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, tractor-trailers have limited visibility and large blind spots. Before backing up, Landstar, along with the National Safety Council, urges drivers to practice the G.O.A.L. method - 'Get Out And Look.'
'Landstar encourages business capacity owners (BCOs) to practice the G.O.A.L. method before backing up. Get Out And Look is an extra step to ensure the driver has sufficient space to back safely,' explains Landstar Vice President of Loss Prevention Shelly Seaton.
According to the National Safety Council, backing crashes are common with larger vehicles, but can be prevented when drivers get out of their trucks and look for potential obstacles in their paths prior to backing their rigs.
The Safety Council offers these guidelines to help prevent backing collisions:
Avoid backing whenever possible by parking in spaces you can pull-through.
Know your vehicle's blind spots and remember mirrors do not show the whole picture.
Be aware that steep inclines add to the difficulty of seeing behind vehicles.
Use a spotter, someone who can guide you and ward off any pedestrians or other vehicles until you have pulled away.
Honk to warn anyone in the area that you are going to begin backing up.
Think and plan in advance, try to avoid putting yourself in unnecessary backing situations.
Join us on the Safety Thursday Conference Call, dial 877-717-5921 at Noon ET on October 20, 2016.
Landstar System Inc. published this content on 19 October 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 19 October 2016 00:13:05 UTC.
Original documenthttp://www.landstar.com/news/4804/safety-get-out-and-look
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Landstar System, Inc. is a technology-enabled, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions delivering specialized transportation services to a range of customers utilizing a network of agents, third-party capacity providers and employees. The Company operates through two segments. Transportation logistics segment provides a range of integrated transportation management solutions. Transportation services offered by the Company include truckload, less-than-truckload and other truck transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo, ocean cargo, expedited ground and air delivery of time-critical freight, heavy-haul/specialized, United States-Canada and United States-Mexico cross-border, intra-Mexico, intra-Canada, project cargo and customs brokerage. Insurance segment consists of Signature Insurance Company and Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. The insurance segment provides risk and claims management services to certain of Landstars Operating Subsidiaries.
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