any advice for winter driving

If you see a vehicle off the road in front of you...there might be ice.

 

A few years ago there was an elderly trainer named Charlie out with a new driver. It was the beginning of winter as as the trainee drove Charlie was imparting his years of winter driving experience on him. That night it was dark and Charlie told the trainee there are a number of ways to tell the road conditions in the winter when it is dark. If the road is white it is snow covered, if it is a dull grey it is dry. Do you see how our lights are causing the posts and signs to mirror off the road right now. They call this black ice SO SLOW THE #### DOWN. even on ice you can still drive, slow down, dont make any sudden steering or accelerator movements and you will be ok.

 

Boldface above will serve you well. As in, "There are old truckers and bold truckers, but no old bold truckers".

 

If your driving like a granny, keep it that way until you get more experienced and you will be fine, do what you have to do to keep the shinny side up and the dirty side down....

 

Maintain momentum when driving on snow covered roadways, especially on a grade. Do not accelerate or brake sharply...be as smooth as you can with every input be it steering, power, braking or changing gears.

Above all.... SLOW THE BLUE BLAZING BLEEP DOWN!!!! It doesn't matter what your dispatcher said, what your wife said, or what your elogs say. If you feel that you're out of your depth, park ( and please, park well off travelled roadways ).

 

I have many years before I can be called an experienced driver, but the best advice I can give… SLOW DOWN. 99% of all vehicles in ditches, walls, upside down, etc are caused by too much speed. Learn to watch the tires/road of other vehicles. If the road is wet, but you don't see any road spray, you are on ice… If the road is white, snow. I much prefer snow over ice, and most will agree. Take your time, slow down, and you will arrive safely every time (pending the actions of other drivers). Don't under estimate the power of wind, and it's ability to move your truck around on slick roads!

 

Just slow down, no load of Gummy Bears is worth your life or the lives of all involved if you get sideways into someone else! I don't go if it is to much for me to handle. I just call dispatch and let them know that this load will be late and that I'm stopping, I will let you know when I am ready to roll again.

 

Trucker Rule#31-It's a Hell of a lot easier to speed up than it is to slow down. Run it cool!