When is the right time to shut down due to bad weather.

This is my 44th yr commercial driving No accidents and No Tickets 4 million miles. You just have to Relax and know your abilities. If your laid over in some snow area and near a big parking lot take your truck and trailer and get the feel of it on snow, how it handles, how it stops, what it feels like to have the screws kick out from under you. Learn how the trailer brake can straighten out a possible jack ( this move take time to learn and to much pull can get your rear in trouble real fast), Ice is a different story Black ice is a killer. Know your rig, Watch for the telltale signs such as ice on the mirrors or antennas, no Spray from your wheels and never use your jake on ice. Snow you can drive on just figure out is it windy, Heavy or light snow, Did it sleet before it snowed, if need be use what us old timers call the Rookie Rumble Strip where you drive on the rumble strip on the line... Going down a grade can be tricky if your not use to Mountain grades out west but you can get down them with common sense and go slow and pick the right gear. Do some of us old timers use the jake in snow yeah we do but we have done this for so long its like second nature. Once you get some winter miles under your belt you will understand more of what I have said. As for chains yeah I use to throw them but now ive gone with Snow Socks and ill use them anyday of the week so much easier than the old irons. Be safe and enjoy the Holidays... RW

 

my personal worst winter incident involved going thru the Eisenhower tunnel, was nothing on east side i came out of it and was snow everywhere, was first time i ever went thru it also

 

What are Snow Socks? I have not yet heard that term.

Our Company Policy is "if chains are required it's time to pull off and wait".

 

apparently this is them but i had never heard of them either

 

Honest question; do you guys really have that much of an issue when shutting down due to weather? I've never had a problem. Just call in with where I am and keep dispatch updated with my ETA. No fuss. No arguments. No attitude.

 

You never, ever want to find that you are in over your head... problem is... you don't have a crystal ball to see what's coming next. When you can see that the weather is worsening, be patient, take an exit and park it. You can always start back up after assessing the situation. Call dispatch and let them know you're parked for a few minutes and why. Many times they wil have info that you dont have about what's in front of you. I have had dispatchers tell me "hey its bad ahead of you, if your parked, stay put".

You will experience some very bad dispatchers in this business and some very, very good dispatchers. What you have to remember is that it IS your call. As mentioned, I would rather explain to my next employer why I got fired than why I wrecked the truck. If I don't like the conditions the truck ain't moving unless they send another driver... and I'm not bashful or apologetic when I tell em that either.

Fog is just as deadly as snow and ice. When you get into a really, really bad fog it's just time to get off the road, completely off the road into a truck stop or at least an on ramp or something. Get well out of the traffic lanes.

When things go bad out on the roads, they tend to go really bad, really fast. Major pile-ups happen every year in bad conditions. A lot of those effected did exactly what they were supposed to do and got clobbered by the guy who didn't. I will always error on the side of caution and park it early. If I see later that I pulled the trigger to soon, I'll call in and own up to it with an apology, but that's still better than the alternative.

 

My comment is directed at a "green" "newbie" "rookie" driver.

If the OP or people like him are nervous about driving a CMV in changing weather conditions. It's a recommendation like many who have posted. Park, or get off the road, before they end up in a ditch or worse.

Many new drivers are nervous their first couple of winters driving.

Being on the side of caution is better than being the cause of an accident.

 

Inclement weather is your friend. It will stop you when it's time. One way or another, it will stop you.

I remember being in where-the - #### -am-I-where-ever.

Cute little place.

Sunny skies. Whistling to the radio. Next thing I know? Blizzard. Can't see my truck hood. Roads are closing in front of me, and behind me.

Happens.

NOTE: Have a couple days worth of food and water in your truck. You just never know.

 

This is very good advice. I always carried food and water and an arctic sleeping bag... just in case.

A friend of mine was stopped on the interstate several years because of a bad wreck blocking the entire road. It ended up being a really bad snow storm and he sat there for like 2 or 3 days before the crews could get the wreck cleaned up and the roads opened up. He was lucky, he had plenty of fuel so he could idle and stay warm. He also had food and water. But the kicker was, there was lots of 4 wheelers waiting as well. They all started running out of fuel, very few had food and water. He and the other drivers wound up sharing their truck cabs with the 4 wheelers to keep them warm, sharing their food and water too. Point being, be prepared for bizarre situations. Carry LOTS of food and water and keep your tanks full...at least above half tank.

 

Here's what I've learned from both driving and flying; You KNOW when it's not safe most of the time. In the age of the real time traffic, weather etc...there's really no mystery as to what you're getting yourself into quite some time before you, well...get into it.

The days of "flying(driving)by the seat of your pants" is more exception than rule.

Having grown up in Wyoming and Wisconsin, I'm accustomed to snow/ice. Like many other things in life, it truly does take practice and repetition in order to become skilled at winter driving. It's a learned technique...while also requiring a "feel" for the road and meteorological conditions in real time. It's not as cut and dry as "If ____ then do ____". Sure, the basics are good, however there are so many variables(uphill, downhill, no hill etc...) that my advice to anyone driving any size car/truck in the winter is to follow your own best instincts, and don't drive beyond your ability. Be honest with yourself. You KNOW when you get that feeling of self preservation telling you to not go on. Follow it.

Remember; There are only 3 people in this world you MUST be wholly truthful and honest with no matter what. Your doctor; he/she will keep you alive.
Your attorney; he/she will keep you out of prison...and
Yourself. See the first two...

Oh...and always carry a pocketknife and beach towel!