How to load for slippery conditions

Yeah that's true too

 

I guess you just get a feel for it eventually . Like right turns At some point.... You just know.

Shifting gears too even.... At the beginning you have to think about it a good bit.

How long? Who knows.
It's like learning how to walk...Some just take longer than others.

 

If you'd been with me in the Dakotas last week, I promise you, you'd be ready to walk in a red-n-white bar with MLK and shout " WHO'S F NEXT?"

Snow, and ice are all about feel.

I wish you the very best of luck trying to get a shipment lightened because of road conditions.

I load in some of the harshest places in winter, Montana, Wyoming, Dakotas, Minnesota, etc., and what they all basically do is scale you in. They know you may be carrying 800 pounds or better of ice stuck to your truck. And you could wind up with even more, do typically you're loaded at 77,000.

When you're coming to a hill, better have a head of steam. Hill with banked curve, covered in packed ice and snow- head of steam, and the ability to drop a gear flawlessly to keep your RPM high. Then at the right moment get off the throttle to coast around, and make it past the summit without losing too much momentum.

The bridges in extreme conditions will have 3 to 5 inches of ice on the approaches. You get off throttle and roll over them, DO NOT have death grip on wheel, like holding your 'ol lady, firm but gentle.

DO NOT drive at like 35 or 40 MPH like a F stooge. Stop if you're not comfortable at 55 to 65.

You need to really be focused on what's down the road, cause you're not gonna stop, you need about 3 times the stopping distance.

Drive during the day, so you can see, and even though it's only 15 degrees, the sun will loosen the ice & snow.

It's all feel. Hope your tractor has a trailer brake.

Sometimes I lock the power divider, sometimes not.
Heavier is always better.

YOU MUST ALWAYS plan ahead at every step not to lose your momentum, AND have an escape in mind if you do.

 

If the tandems are light, they have the least traction. Where does that leave you?
A trailer sliding around, and pulling you with it.

 

I think a lot of it has to do with brake conditions also.

Last year i had a hard time stopping MT without jack knifing. Loaded was no problem.

This year. No problems stopping MT. New drums and brakes everywhere but drop axles.

Drives weigh around 19. Tandems weigh around 7.

 

Keep your fifth wheel greased.

 

I couldn’t believe how often this was overlooked.

 

If you don't feel comfortable at 55 to 65, just get behind a Werner driver and blame the 25mph on him.