Slick roads 101

good thread

 

aint that the truth

https://www.facebook.com/truckfail/...8810174470604/927501417268146/?type=1&theater

 

TripleSix,
Good advice!

I drove all week on slick roads while the truck stops were packed.
I use pretty much the same method.

My drive tires are close to needing replaced and I still had no issues.

Everything slow and easy,
Starting,stopping and lane changes....feel the truck.

Sometimes that left lane is where to be.
I was amazed this week of all the cars and big trucks running along at 45 bumper to bumper in the right lane!

I cruise on by in the hammer lane blowing snow at about 60...

 

All good tips. Like the Smith System says, manage your space. I frequently find myself going slightly faster than the traffic to establish my own space cushion. Once I get away from everyone I try to keep significant distance from all.
Do not understand the crowd mentality under those conditions.

 

Good advice..if you don't feel safe..park the truck before the truck parks you..there are many different types of ice..new ice aka black ice one of the slickest..normally spots of it on road...as the ice gets harder such as where its below freezing for days or weeks the ice will be a little better to drive on..like ice in Canada...they will drive fast...where its icey and then snow on top...like grease..blowing snow like Wyoming..greasy..and now the best one..that frickin state that pours out calcium chloride out to melt the snow and ice..it freezes up about 10 degrees just like salt...but that salt has sand in it..calcium chloride has nothing except slick..how slick? Ever stand on the concrete off ramp and have the wind move your feet?best advice..PARK In a safe place..the heavier you are the better you are..but like I said if you don't feel comfortable driving on it..park it..call dispatcher or customer and let them know..if they give you any problem....ask them if they want that load at their dock.....or along the freeway..that gives them something to think about...best of luck and above all be safe..its your call as to what to do..

 

Subscribing.

 

Great post just afew thing to add one is to watch close for bridges and overpasses when comeing up on them try to let the truck roll though meaning let off the throttle and dang sure don't touch the breaks. When passing watch for straightways that you will be around them before any bend, incline, bridge or overpass.

Someone asked about Jakes I run mine all the time seems best with low or medium high can cause the truck to slowdown to fast for the trailer on a slight corner at a high RPM.

Cant say this enough if you dont feel comfortable PARK IT. Nothing worse than tense drivers the body when tense makes sharper movements and those quick jerks will put one in a ditch fast if not worse.

 

I have been driving a big truck for about 7 yrs now but don't considered myself a "very experienced" driver cause I don't think I have gone thru many experiences yet... And the first time I drove on snow in my life I was in the truck cause I was born and raised in Brasil, a tropical country, lived in GA most of my life in the USA and never "adventured" driving my vehicle under snow conditions...

So... I remember last winter I drove the big truck from middle of nowhere in Vermont (can't remember name of the little town) to Queensbury, NY... Will never forget... It was snowing in the evening, those country roads were covered with frozen packed snow and maybe some ice too... I was empty... There were some inclines but most of the trip was on level ground... that trip was supposed to take a little more than 2 yrs under normal conditions... But it took me almost 4 hrs to reach destination... I was soooooo freaking nervous... Going 40... 35 and sometimes 30 mph with my flashers on for over 2 hrs... A line of vehicles behind me and nobody tried to pass... I didn't give a crap about what they might be thinking... It was a narrow undivided road with no shoulder and the edge dropped some... I always thought one should keep RPMs low when driving on packed snow and ice covered surfaces... So, I tried to keep my RPMs not too high... but I did sense that if they dropped too low, I would lose some control... So, I tried to keep the speed and the rpms at a "comfort" level... As long as the truck was under control, that would be ok... And I kept the power divider engaged the whole time.
But sooooo many times I felt trailer pulling to the edge and I thought I would jackknife and roll over.... AWFUL, TERRIBLE feeling... I confess... I am a chicken when it comes to snow, ice and such...

THANK YOU Triple Six sooo very much for your thread... this kind of info is very valuable...

 

Tell me if this is wrong. Going through a corner you should slow before the corner and gently keep on the throttle all the way through. Someone told me if you coast through a corner the trailer could push the tractor and possibly jack knife you???

 

This cannot be said too many times. I never hesitate to use them for traction. Like the OP indicates, running around 40 with more RPM than usual is the key. I always follow with as much distance as possible - 40 to 60 seconds and if traffic is stopped on an incline or decline, I stop well before that so I can get back up to 40 before reaching the grade. In those cases, the rumble strips are paramount.

This is a great thread. Guys with little experience and no common sense, I'm glad to see them jammed into the TS - I feel safer without them trying to glide past me or running 5 to 10 and gumming up works before they slide off the road. Those wishing to legitimately learn how to drive on slick roads, this OP has laid the keys out very well.