2 things to consider before buying a large truck
Posted on: 4 March 2018
There are a number of factors you should take into consideration before buying a large truck which could be legally classified as a 'heavy vehicle.' Here are two such factors.
Are you physically fit enough to drive a heavy vehicle?
Trucks are usually very heavy, with most weighing several tonnes. Because of this, any accidents involving this type of vehicle tend to have extremely serious consequences; the impact of a large truck colliding with a car or a motorbike, for example, could easily result in multiple fatalities.
Unfortunately, there are many illnesses and medications which could increase the likelihood of a person making a serious, accident-causing error when they are behind the wheel of a truck.
For instance, anaemia, hypothyroidism and diabetes can all cause extreme fatigue. As such, if you suffer from any of these conditions, there is a much greater risk that you could lose your concentration or even drift off for a few seconds whilst you're driving. This could lead to a major collision.
Likewise, if you take any medications which sometimes affect your eyesight (tricyclic antidepressants, for example, can sometimes cause blurred vision), it might not be safe for you to operate a heavy vehicle, as this side-effect of your medication could make it harder for you to read road signs or spot and avoid hitting passing pedestrians or cyclists.
As such, you should only purchase a heavy vehicle of this kind if you are physically fit enough to drive it safely. If you suspect that you have any physical ailments which could potentially impact your driving abilities, you should undergo a full medical assessment before you purchase a truck.
Are you prepared to undergo the necessary training?
If you want to drive a truck that is legally categorised as a 'heavy vehicle,' you will need to take a training course, in order to receive your heavy vehicle licence.
Courses of this kind are designed to teach participants critical skills that will significantly reduce their chances of making errors when they drive their heavy vehicles.
If you take a course like this, you will be taught things such as how to safely manoeuvre, park and turn a large, cumbersome vehicle, how to identify and avoid potential hazards (such as low bridges and overhead power lines) as well as how to keep the vehicle in good working order.
If you want to pass the course and obtain your licence successfully, you will need to commit to carefully studying the course materials and practising the skills which are demonstrated by your teachers. This will take a considerable amount of time and effort.
As such, before you spend thousands of dollars on a new truck, it's important to make sure that you have the motivation, self-discipline and the free time to devote to taking this course.
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