Winter Driving ?

But you don't know what's under that "light powdery coating." If you encouter black ice with snow on top, you won't have any warning.

Agreed, it depends on the situation - and I'm always assessing conditions because it can change rapidly and frequently. If you don't have a feel for it, I'd say best advice is to turn off the jakes and use the brakes enough to control your speed. If you're geared-down enough, 10psi or less should be fine. But you should know that using jakes - even on low - can and has caused a jack-knife when used inappropriately. I tend to turn them off in winter driving because of this, and in really bad conditions rely on getting my speed down well in advance of situations that require me to slow down, use tons of following distance and probably grab a lower gear going down grades than I need to.

 

if it is pure ice I would rather watch a movie

 

That's my usual approach...

how about "The Day After Tomorrow"?

 

Remember while winter driving: "If your driving faster then you can see, it's all in the reflexes!"

My buddy Jack Burton said that.

 

I began driving in the winter in the mountains of NY, hauling animal feed. All the tips are great, but I did not see one that my boss taught me: if something happens in front of you, and you know you cannot stop, get off the throttle, ease to whichever side of the road is safer, and ease into the snowbank. Might bust a light or something, but beats hitting something hard. I used to haul a Butler blow tank, 1500 cu. Ft, hauled 52,000 lbs of chicken feed or corn. Have stopped LOTS of times in the snowbank. I hate to see people slide into someone else, when there is a perfectly good snowbank right there.

 

You should change your handle to "snowman!" =)

 

This is some really good advice here guys!!

 

the down side, too #### much of this intermodal equipment has defective ABS that they won't/don't/can't/aren't/will never fix.

 

I get the point had not occurred to me has I pull the same equipment every day but anti-locks are just wishful thinking for me

 

I'm new driver, started April/08 and survived last winter driving solo for the first time. Other than that, have no other experience driving on snow. Born and raised in tropical country and here in America, lived mostly in GA and had never driven on snow (not even my car) until started driving the truck on snow last winter. Now will have to go through this ordeal again . Last weekend drove through nasty snow storm on I-81 VA. My question is, how should one drive on mountains, hills, on snow, slush, some ice. Would appreciate tips and techniques going up and down those hills in WV, VA, KY, etc.... light and/ or heavy. Thanks and Merry Christmas!