With Hurricane Irma bearing down on the coast, residents of Atlanta, GA, are gearing up for the aftermath. For commercial truck drivers and non-commercial drivers alike, knowing how to keep your vehicle safe in flood conditions is key for anyone contending with extreme weather over the coming weeks. The truck driving professionals with Bay and Bay Transportation encourage all drivers to pay close attention to safety alerts and to plan ahead with the weather in mind until Irma blows over for good.
When your job as a truck driver keeps you on dry land (hopefully) more often than not, it can be easy to forget that water has a lot more power than it seems. This is due particularly to two characteristics: water is deceptively heavy, and it gets everywhere in a hurry. Even a foot of flood water in the right conditions can kill a car or even upend a truck, and not even the best truck driver in the world can do a thing to stop it. In fact, four inches of water is enough to start causing trouble for even the tallest, sturdiest vehicle. If water splashes up into any vital parts, boom. Dead truck. No amount of truck driving finesse can magic a flooded truck back to life, and if the water is deep enough to do that kind of damage, you’re already in a world of trouble.
Even if the water seems shallow enough to drive through, flood water isn’t going to be clear like the stuff coming out of your faucets. It’s murky, occasionally filled with chemicals, and often concealing unexpected dangers like potholes, sharps, or shrapnel. Plus, thanks to the extreme weight of water, roads can collapse under the pressure. If your truck driving route puts you through a flood risk area, plan to re-route and take all barriers and warnings extremely seriously.
Seasoned truck driver or not, getting caught in flood waters can be hazardous to your health as well as your truck. Plan your routes around official warnings and take those warnings seriously. If it looks flooded, avoid it. If it looks fine but the sign says it’s flooded ahead, avoid it. You may think that your rig is heavy enough to push through a few inches of water, but if your truck dies and won’t start up again, you’re stranded with a few tons of weight and very few options. Play it safe and play it smart to keep your cargo and yourself on the move.
Truck drivers or professionals interested in truck driving information in Atlanta, GA, can contact Bay and Bay Transportation today for more information on available positions and safety information. Call today at (888) 801-3026 or visit their website here.