This is what scares me about doubles

I seen FedEx Freight on the Grapevine I-5 Spin a Whole set 360 Degress and then when he got done sliding the whole set straight as an arrow in a circle he Jack knifed.

Also a good trick to gain some traction when Icy and slick as snot is to run the passenger side on the Rumble strip.

 

Stay off the brakes and jake if its thats icy, and you will be fine.

 

I've had my doubles endorsement the whole time I've had my license and have absolutely no desire to haul those fricken things. None.

 

SLOW DOWN!!! Quit driving like a bat outta Hades!!

 

If that icy. Park it, how hard is that...

 

Those guys with the pup trailers do drive like maniacs. I don't get it because they are paid by the hour. ?

 

Stuff like that happens. I've never had a back box out that far but I've read Con-way before - that's why a slang term for the back box is a "kite". The kite can go pretty far and still come back when u release the brakes - the worst is a dolly with sticky brakes paired with a light kite.

Worst thing that ever happened to me was the truck started going not the trailers. I wasn't going real fast and it was one of those real cold windy snowy nights on I80 in Pa - was on pretty flat ground and the truck just started turning to the left. I didn't really do anything I just go lucky that it caught some grip when I slid off the black ice into the snow covered left lane.

I've done quite a bit of winter driving with doubles in Pa and NY and this would be my advice to keep yourself safe.

Know your how your equipment reacts and handles with different weights. A 20 and 10 are perfect to me. Two 15k trailers will break ok but you'll get stuck on hills easily with that. A 20 and an empty will have good drive traction but won't stop well. Two empties stink.

Maintain a good following distance and be smooth with the accelerator and brakes.

When you get stuck behind a bunch of clustered up drivers on and off the brakes in front of you either drop way back or if you can, put them behind you.

Especially with a single axle, understand how easily doubles will get you stuck in the snow. A lot of it varies with total weight and where it is in the trailers but sets get stuck easily. Watch where you park and if you're coming up a hill to a red light do whatever you can do to time the light.

Something else I figured out is when running on non-divided 4 lane with lights stay in the right lane if you can. The road will be pitched from the middle of the entire road and not the center of one direction. Keep that in mind if you're in the left lane passing and a light turns.

One of our drivers on this forum crosses Donner every night. He could probably give some good advice..

 

It's following distance, following distance, following distance. It's all about following distance. Drive a reasonable speed for the conditions, keep a safe following distance and pay attention. If a trailer starts to come around get off the brakes and get on the power and hope you have room to accelerate it back to a controlled position. No Engine Brakes in Adverse weather, never.

Currently I'am pulling my powder train loaded with 6300 gallons of contaminated water, this has a surge in all directions, You learn really quick to be smooth and add to the following distance.

When you add bad weather the driver has to increase his concentration. I hae 2 million miles with double and franly I prefer them, but I run CA, AZ, NV, UT, ID and not much of the white stuff.

 

Thanks for your post and 2 million miles with doubles, thats great. You say you actually prefer them, will you explain why this is? I am curious and it seems that more and more trucking jobs are requiring you to pull doubles.