Rookie Winter Driving

Add in leaving beach ND and starting across Montana at 12:30 AM in the same blizzard. The truck would start to loose power/ability to climb hills.

Waking the trainer up and pissing him off to tell him the truck is broke and then be told to just "push the clutch in" going down hill.

To waking him up and telling him to get his ### up front to figure this out.

To finally finding out that the roll pin on the throttle cross shaft under the hood is sheared and not allowing any throttle control.

Then having to replace that #### roll pin in the -10 blizzard in Miles City MT.

It was just a BLAST.

At 80,000 lbs, you need very little "clear pavement" to keep good traction. So long as you have one "clean" wheel track, your truck will do some incredible things.

You still don't want to be stupid,....

But you can do a lot more than you will ever think.

 

I don't think companies consider someone's start time to time of year...

I started in Nov of 2010, right at the beginning of a bad winter and found it the best way to learn as driving on dry roads in summer isn't much of a challenge, comparatively...I also had no trainer time which means I had to learn on my own by being extra cautious and asking lots of questions...I think you'll be happier if they don't try to route you away from weather...You've also found this forum so you'll have all the info and brains to pick as you need...

 

This topic is also one of my biggest concerns about entering this industry. I'll be training here by around June but my biggest fear is mountainous, icy roads as a new driver. I've never had any issues with driving in deep snow, untreated solid ice, etc in my personal vehicles (RWD and FWD) though, but they don't weigh 40 tons.

I work around truckers and I've asked several of my buddies here about this issue, and the answer I keep getting back is "Just go slow and you'll be fine."

 

Slow is such a relative term....


But yeah, that's the jist of winter work. Slow and steady gets the job done.

Nothing you do regardless of weather/time is worth getting in a hurry. It's when you do that accidents happen.

 

For those of you asking these questions, props to you! There is a guy on another thread buying a truck, doesn't have a license yet and wants to know where to get loads!!!

So don't feel bad asking about stuff like this. Every little question is very important to your individual success out there. Some guys might joke with you but you will get some straight answers.

p.s. please wait a good year before thinking about buying a truck. Could you imagine owning your own truck having never driven in the snow and mountains?!

 

And what's wrong with the questions the other guy is asking? He is planning and putting forth the effort to learn what it is he wants to do before he does it.

Seems to be about 5 steps ahead of most students who get roped into a fleece program with a BFI company.

 

slowwwwwww-it makes the pucker affect go away faster so you can think.

 

Not looking forward to winter driving either. I will definately be going the slow and steady route. I have almost zero winter driving experience being from coastal VA. Just thinking about it has my "pucker effect" in motion!!! But, I will be cautious and if I feel I need to stop, then I will.