To Net or Not to Net and Why You Should

Written By Deb LaBree

Teams!

Yes you!

Do you use the bunk safety net while the truck is moving?

You should and here’s why.

I’ve been preaching about wearing the bunk safety net while the truck is moving for many years. We’ve all seen the accidents. We all have friends that have been in accidents. Teams are in trucks that are moving constantly and the partner sleeping needs to be protected as much as the partner driving.

We started using the bunk safety net about 10 years ago, when we learned of a team, that was in a bad accident. The team partner in the bunk, was severely injured. They were never able to drive truck again. The team partner seat belted in had minor injuries.

Using the net, took practice. We were determined to overcome any phobias, real or imagined, that kept us from being as safe as we could.

Last month, a team was in an accident. They did not have major injuries. The truck was totaled. The team partner was in the bunk and was using the safety net. It was said that the net saved the partner from being thrown around the cab. That’s a win in my book!

A few weeks ago I was on a zoom coffee and chat call sponsored by Dior Novello, a Transportation Consultant for IOA, Insurance Office of America. I joined the zoom from the comfort of my bunk. The first thing Dior noticed was that I was behind the bunk safety net.

Later Dior shared her views and this is what she said, “From a trucking insurance prospective, ensuring a safety net for team drivers on the road is crucial. Not only does it mitigate the risks and provide liability coverage for accidents, but also safeguards drivers, ensures compliance with regulations, and offers peace of mind. Remember, having a safety net for the person in the bunk is just as important as ensuring the driver wears a seat belt.”

When it comes to the bunk safety net, I could not agree more.

Start using the bunk safety net TODAY!

It could save your life or your partner’s life!

*Photo provided from Tri-State Truck Center Inc. of Joplin, MO. 2024 Volvo VNL860.

Deb LaBree

Deb LaBree is a professional truck driver, owner-operator, and trucking coach with two decades of experience in the trucking industry. She has been team driving with her husband since 2006 and became an owner-operator in 2014.

Deb has logged over 1.8 million accident-free miles and has received numerous safety and industry recognitions, including being named NASTC Driver of the Year and Women in Trucking Driver of the Year (2024). She previously served two terms on the board of the Women in Trucking Association and is a retired Legacy Image Team member, having volunteered and represented the organization for many years.

Throughout her career, Deb has been featured across national and industry media, including SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio, NBC Today, The Wall Street Journal, and various transportation publications. She has also participated as a research subject in multiple college and university studies focused on trucking and transportation.

Today, Deb is the founder of A Woman Trucker, where she mentors and supports women entering and advancing in trucking through coaching, education, and lived-experience leadership. Her work is grounded in safety, integrity, and peer-to-peer understanding — always putting the profession and the people who do the work first.

https://www.awomantrucker.com
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