Professional Drivers
You have critical decisions to make at every turn. If a route includes railroad crossings, it's important to know what to do when you see railroad signs and signals.
Are you a Delivery Driver? Watch our PSAs.
Take Operation Lifesaver, Inc.'s ProDriver Challenge eLearning!
Posters and Safety Brochure for ProDrivers
View and download our safety posters for semi-truck and tanker truck drivers to make every trip a safe one!
Low Clearance PSA
Operation Lifesaver's new public service announcement for drivers of low clearance vehicles highlights the potential for low clearance vehicles to get stuck on railroad crossings and how important it is for drivers to recognize warning signs before railroad crossings along their route and know what to do in the event their vehicle gets stuck.
Five ProDriver Steps to Safely Crossing Railroad Tracks
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Eliminate all distractions. Turn off noisy fans and radios. Look and listen for a train.
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Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the crossing.
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Look carefully in both directions for approaching trains before crossing. If necessary, look around visual obstructions. If your view is obstructed, do not attempt to cross. Look both ways twice before crossing.
- Know the law. Trucks carrying hazardous materials are required to STOP at all crossings unless there is an exempt sign posted at the crossing.
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Once you begin crossing the tracks, do not hesitate. Cross without stopping. If stuck or stalled on the tracks, evacuate immediately and call the number on the Blue and White sign. Give the crossing identification number so the railroad knows your location.
Note: Refer to state and local laws and company policies for additional information.
Rail Safety for Cement, Dump and Garbage Truck Drivers
Operation Lifesaver's 3-½ minute video, titled “Rail Safety for Cement, Dump and Garbage Truck Drivers,” shows all professional drivers the steps to take to avoid a devastating crash with a freight or passenger train, including details on how to:
- Use increased attention when approaching and crossing railroad tracks
- Recognize and obey signs and signals before and at the crossing
- Know what to do in the event a vehicle is stalled or stuck on the tracks
Funding for production and distribution of the video was provided by FRA.
- It can take the average freight train traveling at 55 mph a mile or more to stop.
- Cell phones are the top distraction for all drivers; many states prohibit the use of hand-held devices while driving.
- A standard line haul unit weighing 80,000 pounds and pulling a 53-foot trailer on a level road under good surface conditions requires a minimum of 14 seconds to clear a single track and more than 15 seconds to clear a double track.
FRA has a free Rail Crossing Locator Mobile App, downloadable from the Apple App store and the Google Play store. The app pulls data from the FRA highway-rail grade crossing database, and lets you map information on crossing locations right from your mobile device. The tool allows you to locate crossings by USDOT Crossing ID, address or geo-location. The crossing information includes the specific ENS emergency number for the location.
Stay Alive When You Drive
When you're a professional driver, you're always on the move. The more you know about rail safety the better prepared you'll be to deliver your cargo safely every time. Operation Lifesaver provides professional truck drivers with crucial information to safely navigate highway-rail grade crossings.
VIDEOS & TRAINING
- Stay Alive When You Drive - Operation Lifesaver, Inc.'s professional drivers video
- View an excerpt on Vimeo.
- Purchase from OLI's Authorized Vendor, Morton Suggestion Company.
- Training Guide (pdf)