Truckers spend hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of miles on the road every week, often dealing with traffic and adverse weather conditions in the process. That’s what makes the accomplishment of Brian Evers so impressive: the Coventry trucker recently celebrated 25 years of accident-free driving, having traveled two million miles in that time.
Ocean State Media’s Luis Hernandez spoke with Evers to learn more about what’s behind his perfect driving record.
Interview highlights
On achieving 25 years of accident-free driving
Brian Evers: It’s a great accomplishment. I’m very proud of myself. I thank my father. My father taught me how to drive. He used to bring a trailer home when I was just a young boy. When he came home with it, I’d go running out there and jump in there with him and stuff. And of course I had all the trucking little toys you could ever imagine. I still have most of them. I just wanted to be a truck driver. I just loved it.
On how to be safe while driving a rig
Evers: Pay attention to everything going on – the cars passing you, in front of you, on the side of you. For me, coffee, not a lot, but definitely I have to sip some coffee (to) calm me down. A radio helps a lot. A little crack of the window; that’s nice. Even if it’s two degrees outside, crack the window a little bit. And plenty of sleep. I’m definitely a huge, huge, huge, fan of sleep to get yourself where you’re going on a long trip. You cannot be tired. You’ve got to get really good sleep.
On why trucking is so dangerous
Evers: I think it’s because when an accident does usually happen with a trailer truck, it’s usually catastrophic. I’ve seen a bunch of them out there. Of course when the truck’s fully loaded, the trailer or trailers are behind the gentleman driving the truck. If the truck can’t stop in time, the trailers usually run themselves over, if you will. That’s why I think it’s so dangerous.
A lot of times on a highway, when I see a catastrophic truck wreck – I’m not saying “I’m glad I saw it.” What I’m saying is, I look at that crash and I say to myself, “Whatever went wrong there, I’m not going to be that person.” So when I see that crash, it more or less helps me to focus again and slow down or pay attention.
On the importance of being considerate of big trucks on the road
Evers: A lot of these trucks out here are governed. They don’t do over 60, 65 miles an hour, maybe 70. So when the guy’s in front of you, just give him a break. He can’t go no faster. The truck won’t allow him (to), which you probably shouldn’t be anyway.
It’s a tough vehicle to get around. I mean, just look at the size of it. I drove the trailer truck for 30-something years and I was able – more than once – to bring my trailer home at my house…I put that thing in my driveway and I was amazed by the size of it, because you’re just not used to a truck that size in your driveway. So just give the guys a break anytime you can.
