Dealing with old man winter, a primer on winter driving.

Not only will snow build up on the back of your trailer and cover your lights, it will build up underneath. This can put you overweight if you were close to start out with. More importantly though, when you clean off your lights check your air hoses underneath and clean them off before they start dragging on the ground.

Avoid doing anything too quickly, especially if light or empty. That means increased following distance of course.

Respect the snowplows and watch for them. They don't move very fast and even though they are usually pretty easy to see from a distance you can come up on the really quickly.

 

Agree on the headlights.. Also using your mirrors can help you orient yourself on the road as can the rumble strip..

 

I have a question and you may have already covered it, but I missed it. In heavy fog, I will turn my 4 ways on; is this a good idea in heavy snow? If I'm running in the granny lane, going less than the posted speed limit, should I turn my 4 ways on if I feel I'm going fast enough for the road conditions? We all know that there are those who feel someone is going too slow or being overly cautious.

 

6 of one half a dozen of the other. It really depends on the conditions, and well who you talk to. Me if I slow down more than 15 under the limit I will turn on my 4 ways. I feel as though that is a pretty good rule of thumb.

 

Just turn them off once you get someone behind you, no need for them then.

 

Re headlights in snow, this is where fog lights (the amber ones especially) work real well, but best if they're wired separate so you can shut the headlights off. Not the high powered driving lights now, never ever brights.

The thing with 4ways in whiteout/ heavy snow is that they do tend to have a strobe effect, the new type would be even worse.

All in all, the main thing is just use your head and don't let yourself tighten up. You'll be fine.

 

This will be my first winter as a truck driver. As a kid I remember trucks driving by my house having a diesel gelling problem. Is this still a problem?

 

Only in really cold conditions will fuel gel, fuel conditioner will solve this.

I have heard, but never experienced it first hand, that the scales here in Canada will allow a percentage of your GVW for snow and ice buildup. May be 10% from what I heard.

 

Yep - exactly.. They're distracting at night for the driver behind you..

 

I always run power service in the winter, I have never had a fuel gel issue.

Also I discovered if you get on some ice and sink in a little because your drives didnt cool enough dumping a little power service infront of your tires will help you get moving.