Winter driving, how long does it take to feel comfortable?

If roads are crappy I much prefer to be out at night. I'm pretty comfortable with my own driving it's all the others that worry me. As others said there are many variables. Pure ice is not good. Fresh snow not so bad, hard packed snow turns to ice but isnt horrible. If you really aren't comfortable park it. If everyone else is doing 40 and you are doing 20 park it. That said everyone has there comfort zone, don't let others dictate how you drive but also don't be a danger to others by being far to scared. I may drive a little slower than some but faster than others. So far I've made it home every time.

 

the biggest winter scare I ever had wasn't on the freeway, it was turning left at a light across a 4 way intersection. In Ohio, completely flat, no grade, from a dead stop accelerated to maybe 3 mph in 1st gear, shifted to to 3rd to idle through the rest of the turn. At 45 degrees (pointed at the light pole) the truck stopped turning and started heading toward the light pole. I was idling forward in 3rd, 79k lbs, road completely flat. 1 foot from the curb, the steer caught dry concrete and started turning again.

Somebody put butter on top of that ice, the truck started sliding sideways like an air hockey puck, usually there is some traction, this nonsense started floating.

 

prepare thyself...

 

When you start feeling comfortable is when you find yourself in a pickle. I started steering and gearing in the 80's, still not comfortable. Always use caution and good common horse sense and you'll be ok.

 

Just graduated CDL School here in NY. I'll be taking it easy for sure! Wish me luck boys.

 

Never. You take each storm as a unique problem against the load delivery, safety first over everything. Even dispatch. Appointments will always be rescheduled. There is nothing outside of all out war that is worth taking on a ferocious storm.

 

7 Mountains Grade US 322 state college. Snow storm. 3 feet of powder.

1994 freightliner conventional 500 Detriot rockwell 9 24.5 drives tires. I remember coming up to summit where we spin out at 1450 or failed to maintain forward at 1350. SO there I was at 1400 telling trainer we need to get off this hill because its breaking traction on that light powder that deep.

No jakes 10 mph all the way down. Talk about wriggling.

By far my biggest storm would be Georgetown Utah. Southbound before there was 100 miles for 3 inches. pffth. Then 1 foot. Then two of wet. Big flakes. Still climbing.

I hung in there thinking Vegas is dry, desert, no snow etc. That was a prize fairly won. I had many others but eh... every storm is different.

Be safe.

 

If you're smart, you won't. At least I don't......if I do I find myself getting comfortable. Which is one step up from complacent/lazy. Which is when I usually do something dumb. I'd prefer the little bit of unease that keeps me focused.