Question from a wannabe...Winter best time to start?

You may not have noticed but there is a teeny-tiny bit more traffic out there now.

BTW, I didn't know driving schools even existed in 1964. I got my commercial (Chauffeurs) license in 1964 by writing a test.

 

That's his call and my opinion. I stand by my opinion. These companies months & months of training is just a cheap way to get teams in the trucks. Generally, people have more ability than they give themselves credit for.

 

Don't wait. Like said you gonna eventually run I to snow/ice. Nothing like being a ne driver. Get out there learn take your time listen and don't be afraid to ask. If you not comfortable in snow pull off safely and stop. 90% of drivers have what is called show chains. They are for show not use.

 

Who's talking about "months & months" of company training? I'm referring to developing some basic truck driving skills before having to acquire the additional skills of driving on snow & ice.

I grew up driving in snow and there is no place I consider to be more dangerous to drive in snowy/icy conditions than the southern U.S. where the majority of drivers have no clue as to how to handle winter conditions and the state's snow removal plan hinges on the caloric output of the sun.

As to "people have more ability than they give themselves credit for", one could just as easily say that people have far less ability than they give themselves credit for. It depends on the person, it depends on the situation.

 

I say learn to handle the equipment in the good weather before handling winter driving conditions..And already new driver plus winter conditions = bad combo. A few might make it, but from personal observation the majority of new drivers do not belong behind the wheel of a truck on a 75 degree and sunny weather day on a 6 lane highway in Florida.

 

You're safer in the truck than in the 4-wheeler because the truck is bigger. That becomes meaningless when you're involved in a collision with another truck.

There are two primary problems that you have to deal with in a truck in slippery conditions: (1) idiots who stop in front of you (no problem if it's a car, big problem if it's another truck) and (2) brake adjustments - if your brakes are not adjusted properly - automatic slack adjusters are not infallible - you have a good chance of losing control of the vehicle when you apply the brakes. Heck, even with perfectly adjusted brakes, the trailer tends to slide out due to the camber of the road and we haven't even touched the concept of weight distribution.

At any rate, the more time you have in the truck before you encounter the winter slop, the better you'll be able to handle it. Best of luck to you.

 

Mr. Outlaw organized a truck safety program, and with the help of North Carolina State College in Raleigh started North Carolina Truck Driver Training School in 1949.

 

You learn something new every day. Thanks.

 

Again that's a call Samin Tenn will have to make. R.E. West seems to be comfortable with him beginning in August & they own the equipment.