
Trucking: different responsibilities in the transport of merchandise
Every job category comes with its own set of responsibilities. Respecting these is of the utmost importance in order to guarantee the good work, safety, productivity and professionalism of everyone involved.
Trucker drivers have many responsibilities in merchandise transport. They must guarantee customer satisfaction, the preservation of goods and the safety of others on the road.
The driver’s responsibilities to customers
The responsibilities of truck drivers to customers who use their specialized transport company to move their goods are:
- Inspecting the transport vehicle prior to departure;
- Store the merchandise safely and properly in the truck;
- Handling merchandise with care;
- Shipping freight from point A to point B;
- Respecting the established timetable;
- Keeping the customer informed of any challenges or unforeseen circumstances that threaten to break the deadlines for the delivery of the cargo.
The truck driver’s responsibilities for merchandise in transport
Road transport by truck has specific characteristics to be considered, particularly in relation to the type of goods being delivered.
Merchandise responsibilities include compliance with:
- Load and dimension standards;
- Storage standards;
- Regulations for the shipment of hazardous materials.
Imagine a truck carrying dangerous materials. It should go without saying that everyone wants the driver to be responsible and to take the necessary precautions to avoid damaging the cargo and the safety of others on the road!
In the context of transporting oversized goods, this requires precise management and must be carried out differently than other types of cargo.
In other words, truck drivers must carefully check all goods loaded in their vehicle and identify the type of merchandise to be transported.
It is then required to take all necessary precautions and to meet the specific requirements of the cargo, whether for packaging, storage, or driving guidelines on the road.
Responsibilities towards other road users
Drivers must ensure that they are up-to-date on the heavy vehicle driver safety measures. But it is not enough to simply understand the regulations; they need to be applied as well!
Responsibilities concerning merchandise transport driver behavior on the road can be divided into three categories:
Safety of maneuvers
This category refers to all truck driving maneuvers, which must comply with the Highway Safety Code. For example, truck drivers must hold special traffic permits to be allowed to move merchandise on Quebec and Canadian roads.
Involvement in accidents
Certainly, every truck driver must do their best to avoid accidents. Safety and vigilance are always a must! But despite all the precautions, nobody is entirely safe from accidents!
In such a situation, the trucker’s responsibility is to first stop as safely as possible and to assist the other vehicles involved in the accident.
Driver conduct
The overall conduct of a truck driver must also be taken into consideration, including civility and respect for other road users.
In conclusion
As you can see, there are many responsibilities associated with merchandise transport. Drivers must comply with all requirements to minimize the risk of causing accidents, damaging the goods being transported or delaying the delivery of cargo for which they are responsible.
Transport Econo Nord proudly hires reliable, qualified and responsible professionals. We provide them with all the support, equipment and information needed to ensure impeccable service when delivering merchandise from all our customers.
If you need a trucking company that you can fully trust, contact us today!