A few cold weather tips

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by flightwatch, Dec 5, 2013.

  1. JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

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    You do want to use an antigell if you are driving north, I always remind people that if the fuel is going to gell it would gell in the pump.
    You want to buy a box of granola bars, I keep an old peanut butter plastic bottle with field mix, nuts and fruit. Buy a set of large candles over 3 inches around, dollar stores sell them cheap.
    If you are not comfortable driving in winter conditions, park it, doing 20 MPH when others are doing 50 will get other people killed trying to avoid you.
    While driving everything has to be done at a slow steady pace, no twitching, nothing sudden. If someone tries to pass you, do not block them, let them go, you might learn something, watching them. If you do not know the road get on the CB and ask questions, there is no such thing as a stupid question, except the one you do not ask.
    The other day I watched a couple slam on their brakes, on a slippery road and skid into the ditch, I stopped to pull them out, I asked what he braked for, he said he did not think it was that slippery.
    Be sure you have chains and they are ready to use, not broken or twisted.
    Do your pre trip, check everything, if your truck is not in top shape do not go.
    The simple things are very important, be sure you have windshield washer fluid for winter conditions, trying to buy a winter grade washer fluid in southern states is near impossible. I add a cap full of Dawn dish soap to the jug before I pour it in. Clean you windshield wipers, they get covered in an oily film, and just smear it around.
    Be sure you have a winter front.
    I know many a trucker that when the road conditions are bad they park it, it is very hard to make money when you are averaging 20 MPH, or in chains, it is impossible to make money when the truck is in the body shop. You will then be asking would you like fries with that.
    Just a thought!
     
    O.Henry Thanks this.
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  3. flightwatch

    flightwatch Road Train Member

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    Somewhere in Texas
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    There were no road or speed restrictions, and 90% of drivers (4 wheelers and semis alike) were driving between 45 and 70 mph. My comment arose from a situation where a 20mph CRST truck was trying to pass a 15mph England truck. The ensuing mayhem of people having to hit their brakes and almost wrecking was the problem. A person driving 15mph while white knuckled and their rear end all puckered up has a better chance of overreacting (over correcting) and going into the ditch than somebody driving 55mph while being smooth and relaxed. So yes...if you are so freaked out that you cannot do better than 15mph on a major interstate while others are doing at least 30mph better, it's time to call it a day.

    I was doing between 55mph and 65mph. I have 4,000lbs in the box. At no point was I ever "out of control." If I had even once felt that it was unsafe to drive, I would have pulled over immediately. Nobody cares more for my safety and well being than I do.
     
    Steinbrenner and Leftnut Thank this.
  4. KeithT1967

    KeithT1967 Road Train Member

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    Springfield, Ohio
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    hmmmm, if you fuel in Atlanta and drive to Minn you better fuel before you run out. ;)
     
  5. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Feb 13, 2012
    Philadelphia Pa
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    It is your responsibility to control your truck regardless of the traffic in front of you. What if there was a traffic jam and they are going 0 mph. Your still responsible for not hitting them. If you want to go fast, that's fine, but if your in icy road conditions going 55 you are going to fast for conditions if you cant safely slow down when people are slow. Minimum speeds are for dry conditions only. As mentioned, if they get in an accident, its because you hit them. Plows go slow, are you going to hit them to?

    Different trucks have different tires, load weights, wight distribution and overall grip. Your rig might be able to go fast safely when others can't, but that doesn't mean you can drive out of control and have the right to hit the slower drivers.

    Yesterday i was in dense fog. I have great eye sign and was able to pick out the cars and trucks pretty far ahead when others could barely see them.Since I had good brakes, road conditions were good and I could see pretty far, I was driving pretty fast. Many others slowed way down because they were having trouble seeing as far. Im still responcible for avoiding the slower traffic even though i could see far enough. Im still responsible for stopping my truck within my viewing distance if someone is stopped. Even if you can control your truck going fast on ice, can yous top it within your view distance? If not, your going to fast.
     
  6. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    while anti-gel is a good idea. if your on o/o.

    it's probably unrealistic for company drivers.
     
  7. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Philadelphia Pa
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    Yep I do. I drive my own truck (not leased) and make a bleepload of money, so yea, i think I got it figured out.
     
  8. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Philadelphia Pa
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    When I was a company driver for tmc back int he day they gave us 2 cases of antigell and 2 bottle of 911 every time we came through a terminal.
     
  9. magoo68

    magoo68 Road Train Member

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    st malo mb canada
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    what works for me is never assume the vehicles around you know what they are doing. if possible avoid pack mentality and if stuck in a pack leave extra space i always hit 4ways if braking quick for a slow down on slick roads . ive driven a lot of bad roads and may be comfortable at 60mph but if traffic is doing 40 mph i do 40 as well or i park
     
    tinytim Thanks this.
  10. cadillacdude1975

    cadillacdude1975 Road Train Member

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    Chattanooga, TN
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    carry a couple of propane cylinders and a torch attachment to thaw frozen snow chains and frozen brakes.
     
    davidj79 Thanks this.
  11. wilfredbacon15

    wilfredbacon15 Light Load Member

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    Sep 29, 2013
    Manila, Philippines
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    Thanks for this tips, it really helps. :)
     
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