Stopping on on ramps during a snow storm

Both winter driving and winter parking take some extra effort and concern. If I have to park in the winter, I try to do it only on places cleared of snow and where I know I have something solid underneath me. Parking on a shoulder I don't know is an invitation to get stuck. Especially early in the winter, you can have snow on the ground, but the ground underneath is softened and not frozen. Another big risk you take on a shoulder is that the shoulder is usually angled for drainage, and if it is frozen and icy, your truck slips on the ice along the angle of the drainage, and can get stuck further off the road, or possibly worse. There have been trucks rolled because they spun the tires and slipped sideways on an icy shoulder.

For winter time driving, be very aware of where you are parking and if you have any doubts at all, don't park there.

 

carry a shovel
some ice salt
sand
I carry ramped 2X4's (4)

Wont get you out of all situations but you would be amazed how little it really was stuck sometimes.... I have help Manny and myself get out of trouble with the above equipment.....

 

to stop on ramps regardless of the weather. A lot of 4 wheelers are clueless and not paying attention. They can easily run into you, especially on off ramps because they are moving faster and they might not realize you're actually stopped before it's too late. Very dangerous situation to park on ramps.

 

It's bad. It can get very expensive

Winter driving conditions call for EXTRA caution, even when selecting a place to park. I've had to chain....just to park. Even though I rolled in without the chains

Your tires build up heat while at highway speeds. Then once you stop. Thay tend to melt snow and ice they are in contact with. If it's 4 inches thick, you are now sitting in a 4 inch hole, lined with ICE.

Sloped loading docks are another pain in the ***, you roll in heavy, no problems. Get empty, and can't move due to the grade and slick conditions.

100's of things can help you out.

Coffee grounds -- Kitty Litter -- Gallon of Bleach -- Rock salt -- Small folding shovel

Try to avoid parking in frozen lots that are slopped. You might wake up in the middle of the night with a big bump. When you or your neighbors truck decides to break loose and slide over a few feet. Nothing spookier than laying in your bunk, and having the truck slip a few feet.

 

We Canadians park on ramps all the time, but we park on the ramps leading ONTO the highway, not off of. I've never seen one wrecked or in trouble.

Of course, if we had more truck stops, we wouldn't have to do this but, in the Maritime Provinces, there's hardly any truck stops, there are no "rest stops", there are no "travel plazas", etc., etc., etc. so ramps are often your only option.

At least on the "on" ramp, cars are just accelerating so there's less likely a chance for someone to hit you.

I'd never do it in the USA or any large city, though. Cars are way more reckless and careless as soon as you leave the Maritimes. Still surprises me, actually, how many idiots out there zoom around in busy, busy, busy traffic...

 

I have a cousin who is an O/O. He got in a bad snowstorm and could not find parking. Stopped on a ramp and a In state trooper gave him a ticket.

 

In that circumstance, how do you handle it? Can you request that the trooper put in writing (with his name and badge number) that he
is requiring you to move in violation of DOT regulations relating to HOS?

Will this cover you if pulled over subsequently? Or will you just seem like a smarta** and giving attitude? How do you cover yourself?

BTW Tarps, I have always wanted to ask what you mean by your sig... care to expound?

 

legally park on ramps, whether you're out of hours or not. It 's the driver's problem to find a legal place to park. It's a bunch of b.s. in this country the way law enforcement could care less about us. There aren't enough rest area, truck stops, etc. as it is and they punish us even more when they know #### well that there aren't enough parking places. Bunch a sorry power happy goons . It's all about revenue. They don't give a #### if you're broke down in the middle a nowhere. If it's illegal to park there, you'll probably get ticketed.


p.s.... nice picture. thanks.

 

Alot of states, Indiana is one, you can't park on a ramp unless, in addition to getting stuck, you want a nice fine along with your other problems