Push in the clutch method when skiding

Once in an old Mack 10 wheeler with no front brakes the drives started skidding. Dynotard ended up killing the engine so there goes the power steering. Ended up in a parking lot 180 degrees from travel direction.

I knew it was icy and I came to the slight downgrade and slowed way down but with no front brakes and no weight on the drives it was hopeless. Didn't hit nothing. Pulled my undies back out of my butt and continued on.

Nowadays with all this traffic it would have been a disaster.

 

You need to be aware of why is your truck skidding. Every scenario requires a different corrective action and there is not necessarily only ONE action that might work but to be sure, one action (method) may make a bad situation worse. Are you applying too much torque (power)? or is it a wind-blown skid? are you coasting downhill and skidding in a turn? There are too many different types of ice skids and for an instructor to give such a rather lame method for dealing with skids borders on malpractice IMO. I would advocate you would NOT want to depress the clutch when you are in a skid situation because you can not very well control any future re-engagement of the drive (release the clutch) and how this is probably going to worsen your problem. You need to focus on steering, power application, and possibly light brake application in some cases.

 

I'll probably get slammed for this but here goes--SKID-SLID-your truck and trailer--find a BIG ### parking lot(just like when you were a kid)and go SLIDE--gently at first--get the feel--locked the brakes let trailer slide--over power drivers and skid--just do it slowly--with plenty of room--at slow speeds-unlockin brakes and/or letting off gas--should straighten you right out--that way if it happens in the REAL WORLD--you won't be so skeerid--Remember more wrecks are caused by panic than anything else
Just my $.02

 

Yep, I'm gonna slam you---------------- the cool drink of your choice right down in front of you!

'olhand has it exactly right; if the first time you ever experience a skid or slide is a surprise, you have been woefully unprepared for bad weather driving.


To the OP: I wrote this a couple years ago, I talk about the dynamics of a skid. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...enced-truckers-advice/52869-ice-ice-baby.html Buried in there is also a lesson on parking lot playing.

 

I don't care if the CDL school is in Miami, it should be mandatory for all graduates to be able to demonstrate they can properly chain inside and outside tires (singles)

 

I'd say they are full of it and should have nothing to do with the trucking industry.

 

I've noticed that some people have this one major issue in inclimate weather. "SLOW DOWN".

 

Have had to put drag chains on trailer to keep it from coming around due to high winds and ice on I80 in Wyoming once or twice. Hit a patch of black ice under snow in Ohio one winter where I had to clutch but was only going about 40 anyway due to conditions.