Driving a commercial vehicle is an intensely visual task. Even a momentary lapse of concentration can cause a devastating accident. In a vehicle as large as a commercial truck, each second of reaction time matters. When something happens fast on the road, a distracted truck driver simply may not react in time to avoid a fatal collision.

Common Types of Trucker Distractions

While smartphone use is highly publicized, commercial drivers face a unique set of distractions inside the cab. The most common types of distracted truck driving we see include:

• Texting or reading messages on a mobile device.
• Talking on the phone, even hands free, while navigating heavy traffic.
• Using a GPS or complex corporate navigation system.
• Eating or drinking while driving to stay on a tight delivery schedule.
• Adjusting music or climate controls.
• Reaching for objects that have fallen inside the vehicle.

Federal Distracted Driving Rules

Research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows that texting is one of the most dangerous forms of distraction. It carries the highest crash risk among all known distractions. Federal rules reflect that extreme risk. Truck drivers are expressly not allowed to text while driving. Only hands free electronic use is allowed, and even then, it must be done safely.

Smartphone use isn’t the only distraction plaguing truck drivers. Long haul drivers often eat on the road to stay on schedule. It may seem practical, but studies show that eating and drinking can severely increase mental workload and lead to more crashes during critical moments. When a driver takes their eyes off the road, they put everyone’s life at risk.