With trucks helping to move about 71.5% of the nation's freight by weight, there are more commercial truck drivers than previous years. And with more trucks on the road, the technology put into today's trucks is safer and more advanced. However, accidents can still happen, like a tire blowout or an engine failure, and drivers should always be prepared. So in this article, we're going to discuss a few safety items commercial drivers should always have with them on the road.

Reflective warning triangles: If your truck does happen to malfunction or break down and you need to pull over on the side of the road, you need to be able to tell other drivers your truck is there. While you can use your flashing lights or road flares, a triangle warning kit is also a must-have. These reflective warning triangles can simply be placed in the road around the truck to let other drivers know where it is -- this can help increase safety for both truck drivers and other drivers as well.

Some basic tools: Every driver should have a small toolset with them when they're on the road. Basic tools like screwdrivers, pliers, a strong pocketknife, and even a fuse and light kit can all come in handy if something goes wrong. Whether it's re-connecting a loose wire or replacing truck headlights, having these simple tools on hand can help complete small jobs. Otherwise, the need for bigger repairs will have to be called in so someone can bring the right heavy duty semi truck parts.

Ratchet straps: A safety item checklist wouldn't be complete without ratchet straps. Commercial vehicles often carry heavy loads -- cargo should always be tied down properly before the vehicle is on the road. But, again, accidents can happen and cargo may come loose or unevenly distributed during the trip and this is extremely dangerous. So all drivers should always have extra ratchet straps on hand to be able to tie down any loose cargo as needed.

There are a lot of heavy duty semi truck parts and items drivers should know about. But these simple safety items are some of the most important items to keep in mind. So before you head out on the road, make sure you have these items with you.