Though it does not often capture the attention of the media, the weight of a delivery truck can have a huge impact on the overall safety of the driver. In general, a truck’s weight holds more importance than non-truckers would expect.
But how does a truck’s weight factor into crashes in particular? Does an over or underweight truck really pose a danger?
Legal repercussions of an overweight truck
Modern Work Truck Solutions examines the way a truck’s weight can impact a driver’s crash risk. First, there are the issues related to overweight trucks. This happens when a company overloads a truck, forcing it to carry more than its maximum or comfortable capacity. Not only is this illegal and can result in the truck driver facing fines and jail time, but it also impacts the safety of the driver.
With more weight, a truck becomes more unwieldy. Drivers will find it harder to execute moves that require control, like turning or even braking somewhat suddenly. Trucks with too much weight may lurch when a driver brakes, too, which can cause the trailer to come out of alignment with the truck.
Underweight truck issues
Underweight trucks pose less of a safety risk, but it is still not an ideal situation. With underweight trucks, this often means that the trailer has not gotten loaded to its full capacity. This could potentially result in items inside the trailer shifting around while the truck is in motion. If the truck moves too suddenly, the shifting of weight inside the trailer can actually cause it to fall over or swing into another lane.
Any of these problems could cause potential crashes and may result in injury or even death, which is why a truck’s weight plays such a crucial role in safety.
