Up here in Michigan when the ROADS get bad...they get bad in a real quick hurry.
As long as the ROAD crew is out salting and pushing snow around it's not bad at all.
YOU learn patience with this type of driving real quick.
SLOW down and be prepared to make sudden stops with 4x4's thinking they can still drive 70mph and soon learn that's not the case.![]()
Is Winter Driving Hard
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by crazyclown101, Aug 3, 2007.
Page 2 of 2
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
I won't lie, it can be stressfull. Listen to your common sense. Always bring a winter jacket with you, warm gloves, peanutbutter & crackers, water...you never know when you just might hit a large animal that could knock out your radiator, which would mean no heat inside while waiting for help to arrive. Go slow and be carefull. Don't be in a hurry, remain calm.
Don't mind those cowboys that blow past you in the hammer lane. Those hot rods may be in the ditch when you catch up to them, or even worse, cause a wreck and hurt somone. You'll do just fine.
Not a bad idea to strap a shovel to the back of your tractor in the event you get stuck in an outdoor dock, I have.
You also could carry a bag of sand or ice melt to put around your tires if you get stuck. You will learn survival tactics of your own. Last of all, always be sure to keep your fuel tanks at least half full, and keep your washer fluid topped off. You'll want to use that stuff sparingly, you'll need it.JustSonny Thanks this. -
all these guys have really good advise dont use the cruize.don't leave your engine brake on.if you use it just feather it.i am still a rookie this is my third winter with turnpikes but i found if you notice your tach/rpm guage spike a little it may be a little slippery may want to back off a little.if you see a lot of 4 wheelers in the ditch mostly pickups back off.my first year i would just follow a set of pikes that just passed me.notice the truckers on the opposite side of the highyway are they going slow?if you are going real slow put on your 4 way's like some truckers said you may want to pull over good luck.in real bad weather there is no room at the rest stops at least not in my route.oh yea don't rely on the sanding trucks to help all i ever see them do is clear the shoulder{canada]just remember when it get's really really bad they will shut the highway down.
JustSonny Thanks this. -
-
My first year as a OTR driver my hands would hurt at the end of the day from white knuckling it. Finally I realized my semi wouldn't fall off the road and actually was pretty stable. I used to wish I was back in my car in bad weather ( 1st year) but now prefer my semi on bad roads. 3 million miles in one makes you fairly comfortable in them.
You'll have to excuse me since I am one of those "cowboys" that will blow past you. There is VAST differences in peoples skill/ driving ability. I grew up in Northern Mi (no I don't mean Saginaw, I'm talking North) so this is what I learned to drive on. There have been quite a few people that scoff at this point as though it doesn't mean anything, I beg to differ. People that aren't used to winter driving tend to drive with there "eyes" as though they'll see themselves skidding first. You will feel it in your butt long before you see any evidence.
The key to driving safely in winter is SMOOTH.
Accelerate smoothly, brake gently/smoothly (which means you have to be watching far ahead) , STEER smoothly. You should see the idiots that are on slippery roads jerk the steering wheel making the truck rapidly move. They could drive 25 mph and still crash.
Be calm and you'll be fine.
Dale
PS: By the way, there are major differences in equipment as well. Just because one truck can negotiate a road at 50mph safely doesn't mean every truck can. The next guy might crash at 35 mph on the same road with the same skills.
Tires, suspension, wheelbase, etc. all play a part.Last edited: Nov 30, 2009
JustSonny Thanks this. -
1. Is Winter Driving Hard
No, I do not drive in ICE & SNOW Long! 2. whats It Like Driving In The Winter?
STAY WARM
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 2 of 2