Winter Driving ?

One place that I have found tricky is leaving an icy angled loading dock. Find that if I engage LOW gear, and just creep, I often have good results.
Sometimes the first couple of deliveries after fresh snow can be tricky as the driveways are not yet used, and its a guess as to where to back the trailer into... hopefully not the ditch!
Here in Alberta, empty trailers, with high winds on icy roads is a NASTY combination. Give me a loaded trailer any day in any conditions!

 

That all really depends on what you have on the trailer, if you have a trailer. If you have a load that is pretty heavy it handles rather well, but you still have to be vigilant due to ice.

My worst trip was during a wind storm just between two snow storms along I-94 in North Dakota. I had to go from Bismark to Fargo with an empty, then turn south to Souix Falls, SD to get it loaded. The east-bound leg of the trip was living heck. Gusts up to 50mph, with patches of glare ice most of the way, I think I averaged only 25mph.

Had to move though, There's really nothing between Bismark and Fargo. I left before it started, my plan was to beat the system there... I didn't lol.

Just remember, no matter how well you plan, things happen. Slow down to a safe speed, and get off the road if things get too hairy. You WILL see super truckers pass you by, or complain on the CB, or talk trash. Just ignore them, they have obviously forgotten what their first winter was like. Your decisions have to be based on what is comfortable for YOU and the other motoring public, not the other drivers, or the company.

 

I am a newb driver and this is my first winter driving experience in a big rig. I driver sterling day cabs with automatic 10 speeds and pull doubles, a 35 ft main and the pup i believe is 24ft and average 105k lbs. I am hauling beets right now but will haul sand and gravel in the summer. Last night i left one of our piles loaded and i got on the highway and pulled out to leave. I got to 6th gear and maxed out my RPM's to take a very slick snow packed hill. I was told that riding the govenor up a hill is the best way to take very slippery hills. Well i ended up loosing traction and eventually coming to a stop on the hill and had to have a huge loader tractor pull me the rest of the way up the hill. Am I using the correct method to climb slippery hills or is there a better method? I really hate to get stuck but with these autos I tend to get stuck on flat ground as they dont let you start out any higher then 2nd gear. But on ground i can rock it out but i couldnt do that on the hill last night.

Also...

I have driven a Peterbilt 387 with a single 53 foot trailer and a 13 speed manual and it seemed to have A LOT better traction and control. Is this because its only 1 trailer or could it be because its 25k lbs lighter?

This winter has been a very good learning experience. I've driven threw almost everything winter can throw at me.

Thanks for information!

 

The two trailers deffinatly makes it more difficult to climb hills but you want lower rpm to climb a hill not higher. You will always climb better at 1200-1400 rpm with your foot half off the throttle than at your limiter.

A manual is better to control where your rpm is. But if you have to make a downshift at that low rpm you will be jumping two gears if you are lucky or not make it and spin out.

 

I don't like autos for that reason. They're always trying to upshift when it's counter to what you want to do.

Try taking manual control if you can and pick one gear and stick with it.

I've seen guys floor the go pedal when they're spinning and that just makes things worse. You need to let off and let the tires regain that little bit of traction you can get then easeing into the throttle.

Sometimes nothing works at all and you're screwed. It happens.

 

go slow or dont go.

 

I am looking for advice on driving in winter I am going to be going to school as soon as I can get myself in a good financial situation and am going to try and plan it so I can be starting with a company as soon as winter is over so I can have as much time as possible on the road before I have to drive on snow and ice but I was wondering if anyone could help with some pointers on winter driving