A big key to safe driving in the winter, with or without jakes, is having a proper reaction. Small movements with the steering wheel, light pressure on the brake and throttle. People tend to over correct when they go into a skid by stomping on the brakes and cranking the wheel.
Need winter advice !!!
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by AustinC0397, Sep 30, 2022.
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Don't use the brakes [either 1] going down hill and don't accelerate going up.
That's the short answer.AustinC0397 and Kyle G. Thank this. -
Put buckets on the stacks and let her sit until late March/April
most everything gets shut down if it gets that bad, try not to drive in others tracks if you can help if, that just melts and refreeze constantly, powder usually has pavement under it, don’t drive like a ####head but also don’t do 20 mph in the hammer laneTropsnart, ProfessionalNoticer and Kyle G. Thank this. -
as you are driving during winter, frequently check the front of your mirror for icy build up.
feel ice on the mirror?
start SLOWING DOWN, and looking for a pull over place.
always check the weather reports BEFORE starting your trip for conditions.
if it's going to be that bad, call dispatch and inform him/her the roads are not safe, and you will get up and running as soon as you can.
it's one thing to be caught in bad weather as you are already on the raod, it's entirely different to START driving when you can plainly SEE the weather is bad.
don't let anyone else tell you to drive, or you'll be fired. call the safety dept and tell them it is not safe and YOU don't feel safe.
don't let other truckers on the cb radio or at the truck stops tell you how to drive your truck.
you have to live with your decisions, not them, if you crash.AustinC0397 Thanks this. -
In Alaska,we use Jake brakes all winter.If it's below 0 traction is usaully very good.Exceptions are freezing rain,either park it or chain up.
With an automated transmission manual mode is the best,engine brake on low can be used most of the time.
I was usually in manual mode,6th,7th,or 8th,gear downhill in the Canadian Rockies,last winter.
I had super singles on the drives,regular duals are much better.I had to chain up 3 times on one trip.That was because of the freezing rain,normally you can run all the way to Alaska without chaining up.
Just take it easy or park it when it starts snowing.Give the highway crews some time to get the road cleared or ice control to start working,melting the ice.hookster359 Thanks this. -
Okay i will park all my trucks and equipment for 5 months a year from now onD.Tibbitt, Hammer166, buddyd157 and 1 other person Thank this. -
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Geekonthestreet, ProfessionalNoticer and buddyd157 Thank this.
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If you have it, always use manual mode, keep your wits about you, learn to drive by "feel", "feel" what your tires are doing, learn what the road "feels" like. If you drive the same truck all the time, learn what your truck feels like, learn what your truck is telling you, you being the captain of your ship are responsible for making sure your truck is ready for winter. Every winter I pull my chains and inspect them, whether I used them the previous winter or not, and then rehang them so they can be easily pulled (it's amazing how tangled they get from May 31st to Sept. 1st., watch your tach, a lot of times your tach will tell you you're slipping/sliding before the speedo will, and sometimes before you feel it.
Yes, going too slow kills, usually because the super trucker with their hair on fire racing by you will run into you. I turn my CB on very low to hear the road report, I ignore the super truckers complaining because I'm going too slow.
The biggest reality of winter mountain driving, is to drive at your comfort level, not anyone else's comfort level.Last edited: Oct 1, 2022
Tropsnart, ProfessionalNoticer, D.Tibbitt and 2 others Thank this. -
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER!
even if you're a perfect driver, chain up and everything that doesn't save you from other vehicles sliding into you.
Or worse another semi losing control sliding into you knocking you off the side of a mountain.
Early on I thought I can drive super slow granny style while loaded heavy and I can maintain control and drive in not good conditions.
After multiple times of seeing people slid off the road around me, slid into other vehicles around me.
Yeah nope.
As crazy as it sounds if someone else loses control and slides into you, YOU can be held responsible and sued.
It happened to Werner.
Read it here
Werner to Appeal $89.7 Million Verdict Related to Texas Crash
striker and MartinFromBC Thank this.
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