Winter driving tips

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ThomasTrucker21, Nov 21, 2020.

  1. Hazmat Cat

    Hazmat Cat Medium Load Member

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  3. MBAngel

    MBAngel Medium Load Member

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    Tucson, Arizona
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    Drive to the road, not the load. If conditions are bad, slow down. Only go as fast as you feel you can stop if needed. Look for snow sticking to stuff.. the grass off the side of the road, the shoulder, the space between lanes on the stripes, covering the left lane, and slow down accordingly. Below 10 degrees and salt stops being useful. Watch for spray coming off other vehicles tires. Watch for ice on the front of your mirrors. Wind blowing across the road can turn it icy. Back off the gas rather than hitting brakes in icy situations. Don't use cruise control in bad conditions.
    If you feel unsafe, get off at a safe haven and tell your fleet.
     
  4. tallguy66

    tallguy66 Medium Load Member

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    yes but for me since I come by my companie’s terminals often they provide it at the maintenance desk
     
  5. Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    West Melbourne Florida
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    “From Florida “
    Have you ever driven in snow?

    I need to gauge how many “driving tips” you’re going to need :)
     
  6. MBAngel

    MBAngel Medium Load Member

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    Tucson, Arizona
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    All of them, lol... I'm from Arizona and needed all of them.
     
  7. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Humboldt, Sk
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    Don’t drive any faster than you are comfortable with.
    If conditions are bad and you feel comfortable at 45 mph, but some guys are still doing 65 mph. Just ignore them, if something happens up ahead they’ll be the one’s piling into a chain reaction wreck, you’ll be able to stop.
     
  8. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Northern Ontario
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    Snow can build up on your lights making you invisible from behind at night, stop and clean them off when you can.

    It can also build up on your airlines and pull them down. It can build up lots of places and cause problems.

    As part of your pre trip make sure that your wipers work and that washer fluid comes out, the nozzles can freeze with temp changes.

    Don't let your fuel get too low, you might need it.

    There are many good threads if you search. Here's a few

    Winter driving
    Winter weather advice from veteran drivers please!
    Newbies!!! It's almost winter!!! Here's some tips.
    winter driving, little nervous
     
  9. dptrucker

    dptrucker Road Train Member

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    adelanto,ca.
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    if your morrow ices up.. chance are the roads are too.
    watch tires of other drivers on wet roads. if there is no spray it's most likely ice.
     
  10. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    twin cities
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    These trucks are so big and heavy it's near impossible to get one to slide or slip.....
    Just kidding of course.

    As I head into my 47th winter my advice would be to drive in slippery conditions at a speed in which you feel relaxed and in control.
    Don't let other drivers dictate how you operate.

    You're a OTR driver now and you will encounter slick roads.

    If your a-hole puckers, you have a neck and/or back ache, or your hands are cramping from the death grip on the wheel you need to slow down.
    Easy inputs to the gas, brakes and steering.
    If you feel it is too risky or dangerous... shut er down.
    You are the captain and no load is worth a wreck or a life.
    Sometimes just a short break will allow conditions to improve and plows or salt or sand trucks to show up.
    But if not remember, the truck stops fill up fast when the weather gets bad.
     
  11. austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

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    Missouri
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    I was from Texas when I started. youll get the hang of it. like others said S L O W D O W N when conditions get slick AND, be sure to keep plenty of winter formula windshield washer fluid on the truck. I learned that the hard way lol - Good Luck
     
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