Driving in the snow

Don't try to rush it. Don't go any faster than your comfortable with.

 

Smooth and easy. Not necessarily slow. Also I have my own personal thing of not changing lanes on bridge decks on snow covered road.

 

Go slow on ice and snow. The real reason that you need to carry tire chains is because the states that require you to put them on are just in it for the money. If you don't have them it will cost you, if you have them but don't use them it will cost you, even if you do use them it will cost you. Look for a safe haven BEFORE you have to put chains on a big rig.

 

add power like there is a raw egg between your foot and the throttle and you don't want to break it. Keep your rpm on the high side. Todays' high-torque engines can get you in trouble if there is room to add power (and RPM's) and traction is poor

 

I disagree with looking for a safe haven before you chain up. Ive driven a lot in snowy conditions. You have chains for a reason. They are designed to give you traction in snowy or icy conditions especially when driving in the mountains. I believe the main reason people don't use them is because they dont want to put them on. Driving in winter conditions is a part of the job. Use good judgement. slow down and pay attention. there are times when it is a good idea to stop. If the road is shut down by the DOT because of dangerous winter conditions then by all means you have to stop. Otherwise use the equipment you have. Thats what you have it for.

 

no sudden moves. Use the brake pedal, as if there was an egg under it(dont break the egg). Never ever try and run in a pack of other trucks. Always stay away from other traffic as much as possible. Most important dont get comfortable just because everything seems to be going smooth. Keep your cb on so you know whats going on up ahead.

 

slow the heck down...and dont be afraid to stop if weather is getting real bad. call and tell them roads are not safe, any decent company wont give you grief. but your REAL enemy is not the snow...it is black ice. any time it is raining and the weather is close to freezing...BEWARE!! pay attention to the trailer tires...if the spray diminishes/stops, thats a darn good indication that you are in an icy situation. what else...oh...dont use the cruise control in snow.ice.potential ice. you want to have the control of when you take your foot off the gas pedal, that will begin to slow you down. do not get yourself into a situation where you will have to use a good deal of brake pressure..if you NEED to brake, do it very gingerly. you almost never want to pass a road salt truck...the roads are significantly better behind him than in front of him. if you see more than one or two disabled vehicles in the median, chances are the roads are bad enough that you should be stopping. turns are also your enemy. when getting off the highway...slow WAY down..well below the posted yellow caution signs. do NOT stop to help disabled vehicles if the roads are really bad. one accident will often be a magnet for other vehicles. instead, call 911 and tell them where the help is needed. observe the mile marker you pass as soon as you pass that disabled vehicle,then tell 911 driver needs assistance on I40 westbound mile marker before mile marker 228. im sure im leaving stuff out...please dont be afraid to stop at the truck stop and tell your fm the roads are too bad, and to please reschedule the appointment time. oh...in that vein, during the winter you will want to arrive at your destination as SOON as possible. drive as many hours as you legally can while the weather is good, so that you give yourself a better opportunity to make your delivery on time, even if later the weather slows you down. oh, and if you are not familiar with how to chain up...if you arent ABSOLUTELY sure you know how...please have a fellow driver show you. and then do it a few times in good dry weather. when you NEED to use the chains, you want to be extremely comfortable that you can do it unassisted. if you need help with something weather related, ask your fellow driver. if the first one you ask is a #### about it, ask another. im always happy to help..i know ill NEED help sometime in the future, and karma will look after me.

 

Lol.. chains only help with traction it does not mean u will always have traction. I will not chain up this year. You can still slide with em on. Remember this, if you need chains the roads are not good. Pull it over.

 

oh, and that #### about "use the equipment you have from jsun? please completely disregard it at least until you are COMFORTABLE driving in winter weather/ if its bad enough to chain up, it is CERTAINLY time for the "newbie" to get the heck off the road. and watch out in the northwest, especially on elogs. when they close that interstate, they do so with little notice sometimes. and you may find yourself sitting on the interstate for several hours (i sat in I80 one time for 10 hours before they let us drive far enough to get off the road...trust me, youd MUCH rather be at a truckstop in the sleeper berth!)