Chains.......

You throw "iron" to get out of bad conditions.....never drive into bad conditions.....

Your load is not so important that you must risk your life or other people's lives around you...


Snow is not bad on the flats.....
Just watch driving in the passes....they can be tricky......Better to pull over and wait for conditions to improve..
Watch driving in big cities.....
It never fails that when you drive in cities where it snows.....The first time it snows....The 4-wheelers all act like they're from California.....


Ice........

Get off the road ASAP.....
If you have to park in a wide spot...park as far from the road as possible.....

Get behind a tree or another truck if possible for shields....
Believe me...There's Super Truckers out there who think they are "smarter" than ice.....

They'll call you every derogatory name in the book but, guess who's always in the ditch when there's ice?........

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A Patriot's Dream Come True.......Beauty, Brains, And Conservative......

Obama and Company: Step aside and let the adults take Charge.......Playtime is over.....

Really appreciate this. Yes, I think being too confident can get a person in trouble as well. I'm the type that even if someone in the car is talking to me I refuse to take my eyes off the road. Amazing what can happen in 1 single second

Really good to know about the chains, wow, you've never had to use them. I believe it. Thank you again, Denise in Sams Valley OR

Yeah, I guess I kinda jumped the gun on the chains issue. Only time I've ever used them is when they were *required* on various passes.
I would certainly agree with the "If in doubt, it's probably a good time to go ahead and get caught up on laundry or that novel that's been stuck behind the mattress" philosophy. A yellow streak can make for a longer trucking career, sure.

I am so grateful reading this stuff. Funny, but when I was just a sprout my mom told me to stick with the truckers, I'd be safe. Now she meant driving of course, LOL But I suppose truckers have always been a part of my life growing up in timber country. Now I am finally going to give it all I got to join the ranks.

Thank you again, Denise in Sams Valley OR

I'm gonna save all these for "after" I take the training so I will know more about the lingo Thanks Eck, this is really so interesting I'm soakin it up like a sponge! Denise in Sams Valley OR

Never seen anything like that but can only imagine! And you had a front-row seat to the action. I think I'll be in the "turtle-class", maybe slower, but surerererrrrr, LOL Denise

You are the type of person that does well out here, because you are willing to listen, and to learn. My Dad always told me that whenever i had down-time i should converse with the old timers, just in regular casual conversation you end up learning a whole world of information that i can almost guarantee you will need to use one day.. and i guarantee that when you do you will feel so accomplished for not having to call the safety department, and so accomplished when you can pass the information down to new drivers yourself.

I truly wish you the best of luck in your endeavor! I can't even tell you the things I've learned just from having normal casual conversation with veteran drivers at shippers and receivers, or during late night runs on the CB, officially training is just the start of it, you'll be out here 30 years and still learn something new nearly every day, that's what i love the most about the job... The know it all types are the ones that end up in ditches, so stay away from them.

I'll be honest, i ran around alot in the winter time out west, and haven't always been a "good boy", but every time i've done something stupid i've had it followed up very promptly with a reality check.. I can't even describe how many close calls i've had out there... Someone was definitely watching out for me, and i learned alot of hard lessons on my own!

I hear you and I am so glad to hear it. I wondered if truckers were expected to go through anything to get "there" on-time. I already knew that I won't drive any less safe than I have in a car. I wondered if companies ever mistreated their drivers if they didn't go through some, damn storm. I'm sure it happens but I will stick with you on "pull over if it looks that bad".

Thanks WCP, I love your sig. by the way

It's good to meet you even if it's only cyberspace. I love all I am learning from you guys and I feel better and better about my decision to go for this. I'm the one in the passenger car stopping at the truck-stops just to be around the people who drive these monsters

Anyway, I am starting very late in life, I'm 56, but, I know I can do this. I feel as if everything I've done in my life has prepared me for it. I don't think I would have made it when I was young. Who knows, but now, I figure even if I can do it 10 years it's going to be the best 10 years of my life, Denise in Sams Valley OR

I have been an O/O since I started my biz...
Never worked for a company dispatcher.....
I went from owning dumps to OTR, so I don't deal with them.

I have talked to a few drivers at rest stops or truck stops and have heard some horror stories about dispatchers threatening drivers if they don't "hammer down"......

You can always get another job...but you only have one life....

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A Patriot's Dream Come True.......Beauty, Brains, And Conservative......

Obama and Company: Step aside and let the adults take Charge.......Playtime is over.....