Trucking and COVID-19: What You Need to Know

By now you have almost certainly heard of the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic, a highly transmissible virus that has required most of the world to quarantine, except for essential workers. Truck drivers are considered essential workers, thanks to their efforts to keep the supply chain moving—which means you need to take extra precautions while trucking during COVID-19 in Wytheville, VA.

COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets—if you inhale them, or touch them and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you can be infected. Most carriers are asymptomatic, meaning they can infect others even when they don’t show any signs of having the disease.

What drivers can do

Here’s what drivers can do to slow the spread of COVID-19 while trucking in Wytheville, VA:

• Stay home if you’re sick or have a family member who is sick: If you are showing symptoms of coronavirus, including a dry cough, shortness of breath, fever or fatigue, stay home and notify your employer immediately. This also applies if you are living with a household member who is showing signs of the virus.
• Follow social distancing protocols whenever possible: Since the virus can be spread at distances of six feet or more, public health experts recommend staying a minimum of six feet away from other people who aren’t members of your household. Avoid shaking hands, file paperwork electronically when possible, limit your number of stops and call ahead to facilities for loading and unloading protocol.
• Wear a mask: The CDC recommends wearing a face covering whenever you’re around other people in public. This is to protect others from catching the virus if you happen to be an asymptomatic carrier. If you don’t have a cloth face mask, you can tie a bandanna or scarf around your nose and mouth.
• Wash and disinfect your truck and hands: Frequently disinfect your truck, including door handles, knobs, radio controls, the steering wheel, dashboard, wiper controls, air conditioning and any other frequently-touched surfaces. The more you disinfect your truck, the less likely you and other drivers will transmit the virus. You should also disinfect your hands every time you come into contact with outside equipment or people.

What employers should do

Employers aren’t off the hook, either. Here are some things trucking companies should be doing during the pandemic:

• Educate employees about COVID-19: Make sure your employees know the seriousness of COVID-19 and why it’s important to follow all precautions to the letter.
• Encourage sick employees to stay home: If your employees are ill, don’t penalize them for staying home—you could be saving the rest of your workforce from infection.
• Provide PPE, sanitizer, disinfectant and tissues: Make sure to provide all sanitizing equipment for your drivers, and educate them on how and when it’s best to use them.
• Implement social distancing policies: Evaluate your current operations and determine how to best implement the CDC’s social distancing guidelines within that framework.
• Pre-qualify truck stops for your drivers: Call ahead to truck stops and verify whether they’re open and what kind of social distancing measures they’re taking.

With extra care and precaution, the trucking industry can protect itself while still performing essential functions. For heavy towing and truck service in the Wytheville, VA area during the coronavirus pandemic, be sure to call Complete Truck Service, Inc.

Categorised in: Trucking Tips

This post was written by Writer