Winter Mountain Driving Advice Needed

What I'm seeing is someone who takes everything they were taught as gospel, never to be questioned. And not realizing that training is aimed at the lowest common denominator. We're all out here in the real world, willingly operating safely in conditions that many won't, and being told we're doing it wrong because it doesn't match the training. We understand the reality of truck behavior behind the training, and why it's taught that way.

We're crazy for risking a single corner wheel slip, yet blindly going off a grade with just brakes is safer because one is going slower because it's slick? How much slower, how slick? I've seen roads go from "as much traction as you need" to "15mph is skating on the edge" with zero visual indication of that traction change. Call me crazy, but I'd much rather find that out with 2 or 4 tires and not 18!

The bottom line, offensive as it might be? The training being quoted is basic driver's education level, and we're talking professional-level skill sets. It's as stark a difference as being able to safely navigate around the block versus being able to competitively hustle around a road course.

We now return you to the regularly scheduled programming of the students trying to school those who could school their teachers.

 

Studded flip-flops anyone?

 

My engine brake is always on.

 

"aware of bail-out options will help."

That very same advice was given me 72 years ago as: "And always be looking for a soft place to land."

 

You can risk a wheel slip using the engine brake. That’s your choice, but it not a good idea. I’m not sure why you would want to get one step closer to have a possible problem. Maybe you can explain why, are you trying to save your bakes ?

You already know this slippery or you should. You don’t need a wheel slip from the engine brake to figure this out. Do you really think only using 2 or 4 drive axles/ wheel ends is more safe then using all 18 tires/ brakes to give yourself the most traction possible ?

Yes that sounds pretty crazy to me because I was tough all this stuff a long time ago. The idea that 8 drive tires will give you more traction then 18 tires does that even sound possible?

New drivers ask this question every year and Im surprised how many people say use engine brake. Every company I have driven for says the same thing. In snow or icy turn off engine brake and cruise control.

Remember when you turn on engine brake the trailer is now pushing your tractor down the hill. When the trailer is pushing your tractor, the trailer is in control of you. That’s a bad way to drive in slippery roads because the trailer will push you tractor out of the way and keep going straight.

 

So I’m curious if any of you guys ever use the jonny bar or whatever you call it in your part of the country. The handle to just activate the trailer brakes on slick hills.

 

Anytime you go down hill with a heavy load this is true. That’s why you build up speed.

 

Personally, I've never made that part of my habits. Back when such things were talked about on the radio, it always seemed to be most popular among drivers from the South who didn't have a lot winter experience.

That said, it could be helpful running drag chains, but not enough sensitivity or feedback on naked tires for my tastes. Slick road trucking is about minimizing traction demands, not ham-fisted last ditch attempts to recover from previous mistakes.

A tractor-trailer, even one in the edge of traction, is still remarkably controllable with balanced brakes and decent tires .

 

Holy ####! I explained exactly why, and it still went over your head at about 30,000'!

I'm out!

 

It’s the same discussion with him every year. He doesn’t understand traction and how quickly conditions could change. I’m wondering what he’d do if faced with a hill with no chain up sign and no phone service to have access to any cameras or other forms of information, nothing but knowing the outside temp and what he’s looking at out his windshield. I’d also venture a guess he’s never been on any hill in danger of the whole mess breaking loose because he’s going too slow riding his brakes. That’s probably why he’s not willing to even think that maybe a bunch of people with who knows how many miles of mountain driving experience in all conditions might actually be on to something. Reminds me of that expedite_it guy who got banned. What he was told by his trainer was gospel and never to be questioned by anyone.