How well do you do on snow/ice roads?

Being that I am from the south and we very seldom have snow or ice, I'd have to say I have no idea how well I'd do on snow or ice. I've played in it a few times in a car but I've yet to experience it in a truck. Maybe someday, if I ever get a trainer, I will. I'm really starting to regret that I got my cdl so early in the year because now I'll be out of training (maybe not!) before winter conditions arrive. One thing for sure, I'd never drive on the snow or ice if I felt it was unsafe for me or others.

 

First thing, turn off the jake brake.

 

Yep! I was taught that tire chains are for getting out of trouble, not into it.

 

We had forced runs on the ice, just a really unusually icy Winter for us. We don't normally have but a few patches and it normally thaws quickly. We were in a group picking up on farms before it had it chance to thaw out and turn to mud. The highway (rural, and narrow) was solid ice and I literally had to pull off halfway into the ditch to let 3 cattle trucks by me. They almost got one of our trucks behind me, he went into the ditch on purpose too, there was oncoming 4 wheelers and those guys were flying! I really thought the one coming up was going to hit me and most likely would have, had I not pulled over into the ditch. I was going 20 MPH and felt that was pushing it as it was considering the road conditions. That was a bad day!

 

I agree 100%!! I chained and drove when younger---but now, I'm older & wiser!!

 

I tried to upload some pics of the trucks and loads but it keeps failing to upload lol. All the weight is on the front and overloaded at that. There's no other way to load them and it sure would be easier if there was! I'm just hoping for a normal dry Winter this year

 

I gotta say, that I am a bit nervous about this coming up winter. As a new CDL holder, I have hardly had any experience driving in the rain, let alone snow and ice. I have been on the road now for a couple of years with my hubby and he does fantastic. Best thing I can do is to listen and learn from him. I will NEVER be a supertrucker, I have way too much respect for this truck than that, let alone the thought that everything I hold dear is in the bunk sleeping. Keep the tips coming, ya'll, cuz I am learning a lot from you as well.

 

Are you still looking to upload photos? If you upload your pictures to your gallery/photo album, then paste it to where you want it -any post I believe- it should work.

 

My two rule of thumb rules were :

a.) When driving into a winter front....after seeing 2 or 3 cars off the road and a truck or two, it was time for me to park.

b.) If I didn't feel reasonably safe driving a minimum 45 MPH, then it was time to park.

While others were poking along 15 to 20 MPH, I got valuable rest waiting for road crews to do their job.

By the way , road crews are my winter time heroes....they do remarkable work under the most adverse conditions....God bless them.