A few cold weather tips

The difference between genuine experts in their field and pseudo experts with limited knowledge in their field.........the true experts go to their grave still learning. The ignorant pseudo experts quit learning as soon as they think they "have things figured out".

 

I think it's mostly because of the new breed of newbies who don't slow down in bad weather, when most of traffic is doing the right thing and going 35-45 because the roads are bad it's good idea to use your flashers to let the steering wheel holders who think they can still do the speed limit that your driving at a safe speed so they don't rear end you as has been happening a lot of late.

 

I'm pretty well a newbie myself but starting out truck driving at the beginning of winter I think has helped me learn some hard lessons quickly. If I'm not comfortable driving at least half the posted limit I will park it. I like to get going early and sometimes its just better to wait for the sun to come up, it takes some of the visibility problems out of the equation and gives the salt shakers time to get a handle on the roads. Make checking the weather along your route a part of your trip planning routine. Slowing down and being smooth and easy with everything is probably the number one thing if you do decide to keep going. Common sense stuff.

 

When You and I'm referring to anyone whether you have 6 weeks or 60 years in this occupation ever calls someone a moron for going slower than you or an idiot for going faster then you,do the rest of us a favor and leave trucking.

My "comfort zone" is just that MINE! If conditions in my opinion required 15-20mph im parking at the closest safe spot.

edited to add my #1 winter tip. Anco winter weather wiper blades. they will not freeze up or clog up with snow/ice nearly as fast as reg blades.

#2 window washer additives.. the blue stuff says -20 will freeze at +20 due to wind chill.

 

I can't speak for the poster who said that in this thread, but I believe he was making a reference to a bit George Carlin once did. I can certainly understand your reaction if you weren't familiar with the Carlin bit. Just trying to help clear what I believe is simply a misunderstanding.

The quote from Carlin: “Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”
- George Carlin

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/22782.George_Carlin

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread and to those I just learned from. Good information here.

 

Wind chill has no effect on inanimate objects ... If it is 20 degrees and you have 100 mph winds, your skin will feel very much colder than 20, let's say it *feels* like -20 ... but if you had a liquid that freezes at say 0, it will not freeze in the same winds ...

 

Im no science major so I cant dispute ya. if youd be so kind tell me why the nozzle on the wiper will freeze but not the container? same liquid, same temp...does the liquid change molecular properties from point a to point b? The only variable difference is 65mph wind hitting said nozzle.

Anyway regardless, my point was that if you cant see where your going your a tragedy waiting to happen.

 

In my experience its not the washer fluid freezing at the nozzle, it's water that's gotten on top.

 

The minimum speed on I-80 is 40mph. If you can't do that, then you better park it and wait for sunnier days.

 

As noted in Colorado's code: "It is also a violation to be going the speed limit when that is too fast for conditions."

I guarantee you that if there is a blizzard and I'm going 30 mph in a minimum 40 mph zone I won't be cited. However, the super trucker going 75 mph in that same blizzard will be cited.