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

Its WINTER so dress for it , carry WINTER clothes and boots.

So often you see drivers heading to California and they dress like its summer , or in Florida heading to Canada and ask if they have winter clothes get a DUMB look and a reply of Not going to get out of the truck much no need for them


Carry a box of CANDLES , be surprised how warm a cab can be with 2 candles burning when your stuck in a snow drift and not a lot of fuel

 

THEY DON'T MOVE OVER EITHER

 

Stand up to your dispatcher! Yea...if you don't think it is safe, don't do it!

It's easy to tell you to drive in bad conditions when he or she is sitting at a desk all cozy and safe.

You are the captain of your ship!

 

This is even more of a problem now, The new Ultra Low low sulfur diesel and especially Biodiesel is really bad for cold weather as far a gelling/waxing. This past winter I took the truck home, and the temp got down to 5 degrees on me one night when it was only forecast to be 12-15. Of course the truck was plugged it, but I watched my see-through fuel filter wax with white crystals and plug halfway up before the truck warmed up.

If you leave the truck idling you will have no problem with untreated fuel gelling unless it stays extremely cold, say below -15F. I would say today if it is forecast to get below 10F and you will leave your truck sit shut off for a while, by all means, treat your fuel with anti-gel. It is also important not to over-treat with ant-igel, as this can have the opposite effect by making the fuel too thin. Straight #1 diesel or Arctic Diesel is better than anti-gel in my opinion.

Reefers and APU generators are another story. They do not run hot enough or circulate fuel quick enough to keep your tanks warm. In addition their fuel lines are much tinier and can ice easier than the mains on the truck. Even if you work for one of these idiot outfits that won't reimburse you for fuel treatment, I would rather be out 20-40 bucks and write it off on my taxes than horse around unscrewing fuel filters and trying to re-prime a truck when its 40 below zero. Or worse risk freezing to death or ruining a load of fresh produce.

Also, when adding anti-gel, add it to your tanks before fueling your truck to let it mix properly. If you add antigel without adding fuel, wiggle the truck back and forth after fueling to force it to mix. Also, idle for at least 10 minutes after treating or re-fueling (reefers and APU's too), this will assure that the treated fuel is allowed to pass through all the filters, injectors, and supply and return lines.

 

Another area to take note of is the airlines and pigtail on your catwalk area (area behind the sleeper) If your drive through freezing rain or extremely heavy wet snow they will hang down and drag on the frame rails or worse totally break. Can't count the number of idiots I see going down the road during the summer dragging worn out lines on the frame. Be sure the springs and hangers are in decent shape as well.

Ditto for the lines in front of your trailer tandems.

 

Some more food for thought, if you leave a big truck or any diesel sit for extended periods of time in extreme cold, well below zero weather, start the truck and fast idle no matter what for an hour or so once a day. I've seen #1 and #2 diesel totally separate, and the #2 turn to goo, inside the tank on a farm tractor in 40 below zero weather (and that's WITHOUT the wind chill)

 

it may have already been asked and answered before, but what is that alcohol or 'fluid' truckers put in their air-lines to keep them from freezing up? or if not 'keep them from freezing', helps to eliminate water in the line?

 

Thanks for all this useful information. I hope to be starting with Werner soon and will be running the western region. I spent the first 36 years of my life living in NJ. I now live here in Texas and haven't had to drive in it for the past 5 years.

Another thing to have in your truck is a broom to remove the snow from your truck. Also, bring a bag and a can ( spray type ) of ice melt with ya too.