At highway speeds, even one second too close can change everything. Rear-end collisions remain one of the most preventable accidents in commercial trucking, and the solution often comes down to one simple thing: maintaining the right following distance.
For truck drivers, following distance is a core part of being a professional on the road. When done right, it gives you the time and space to stay in control, avoid crashes and protect the career you’ve worked hard to build. In this guide, we’ll break down how to calculate following distance in real time, why it matters, and what small changes can help keep you—and everyone else on the road—safer.
What Is the Proper Following Distance for Trucks?
The short answer is that it depends. Your speed, your truck’s weight, and the road conditions all affect how quickly you can come to a full stop. But let’s put it in context.
At 65 miles per hour, a typical heavy truck covers nearly 100 feet every second. That means even with top-notch reflexes and well-maintained brakes, it takes around six seconds—or well over 600 feet—to recognize a hazard, react, and come to a complete stop. That’s under ideal conditions, on dry pavement, with a fully alert driver.
Too often, drivers assume that they can close the gap a little to save time or hold position. But that space in front of you is more than just a buffer; it’s your response window. When it shrinks, so does your ability to avoid costly mistakes.
For a more detailed breakdown of stopping distances, refer to our article on Understanding Proper Following Distance.
Measuring Your Following Distance in Real Time
You don’t need any special tools to calculate following distance. All that’s needed are awareness and a simple method.
Pick a fixed object on the roadside: a sign, a shadow or an overpass, for example. When the vehicle in front of you passes it, start counting slowly; “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand,” and so on. If you reach the identified object before you get to six seconds, you’re too close at highway speeds.
For each added risk—wet pavement, reduced visibility, nighttime driving, or extra-heavy loads—it’s smart to add another second or two.
For more insights on monitoring road hazards, check out our post on Monitoring Road Hazards As You Drive.
Making Safe Following Distance a Habit
In the real world, you’re constantly dealing with pressure: tight schedules, fast-moving traffic, and even other drivers who don’t understand what it takes to stop 80,000 pounds of steel.
One effective strategy is to drive a few miles per hour slower than the general flow of traffic. This allows faster vehicles to move ahead naturally, without your having to constantly adjust your position. It also keeps you out of the pack, where sudden stops and unpredictable lane changes are more likely.
Another important factor is staying mentally present. Every second of distracted driving, whether it’s checking your phone or letting your focus drift, eats into your reaction time.
And when conditions change, you need to adjust. Rain, snow, fog, steep grades, and heavy loads all mean longer stopping distances. Slowing down and increasing your space is a professional decision that protects your safety and your reputation.
For additional driving techniques, refer to our article on The Essential 7 Driving Techniques.
Why It Matters Beyond the Moment
Rear-end collisions hit your CSA score, affect your insurance premiums and can hurt your chances of landing premium routes or long-term opportunities. Fleets pay close attention to safety records, and nothing undermines confidence faster than a pattern of preventable accidents.
Maintaining proper following distance shows that you take your responsibility seriously. It’s a reflection of your training, your awareness, and your commitment to the job.
At Joe Morten & Son, we offer comprehensive insurance solutions tailored to protect your livelihood, including Commercial Truck Liability, Cargo Insurance Coverage, and Owner-Operator Insurance.
The Bottom Line
Following distance is a safety system that starts with you. At 65 mph, six seconds is your minimum space in perfect conditions. But real-world driving rarely offers perfection, which is why good drivers always give themselves extra room.
That same mindset—planning ahead, reducing risk, and staying in control—should guide your approach to insurance, too. At Joe Morten & Son, we offer coverage designed for professional drivers who take safety seriously and expect the same from their partners.
This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. does not provide legal advice to its insureds or other parties, nor does it advise insureds or other parties on employment-related issues, therefore the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds or other parties. Legal advice should always be sought from legal counsel. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein. Reprinted with permission from Great West Casualty Company.