Where Are the Blind Spots on Heavy Duty Commercial Trucks?

There are two types of blind spots on large trucks:

Static Blind Spots

Right-Side Blind Spot

The right-side blind spot is the most dangerous blind spot on a large truck! It extends from the rear end of the cargo box to the end of the driver's cab. The larger the cargo box, the larger the blind spot.

Left-Side Blind Spot

The left-side blind spot is near the rear of the cargo box and is relatively smaller compared to the right-side blind spot. As the driver's cabin is on the left side, truck drivers can see the left-side road conditions through the window, making it relatively less hazardous than the right-side blind spot.

Rear Blind Spot

Directly behind the large truck is a complete blind spot, almost invisible to vehicles following behind. If a rear-end collision occurs with a large truck, the smaller vehicle might get wedged underneath the truck, leading to severe damage or fatality.

Front Blind Spot

The front of a large truck falls under a partial blind spot. Despite the height of the vehicle, there are significant visual blind spots in areas immediately adjacent to the truck body. Generally, the area 2 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the driver's cabin is a blind spot.

Dynamic Blind Spots

The "death moon" refers to an area shaped like a crescent moon that occurs when a large truck makes a right turn due to the difference in turning radii between the front and rear wheels.

Heavy Duty trucks have numerous blind spots, and if other vehicles enter these blind spots, the consequences can be unimaginable. Therefore, for pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles, and small vehicles, the above-mentioned areas are high-risk zones that require extreme caution!

Truck drivers should always remember:

• Overloading trucks for travel is strictly prohibited.

• Avoid driving while fatigued.

• Given the multiple blind spots on trucks, drivers should be especially cautious of vehicles and pedestrians on the right front side, ensuring safety before changing lanes.

• Practice right-side yielding and strictly adhere to speed limits.

• Slow down in changing road conditions; avoid abrupt lane changes or sudden steering.