Snow Question - Ticket for Snow/Ice Buildup on trailers?

in NH it falls under 265.79b negligent driving and first offense is $250-$500

 

Most trucks can plug in for winter weather.

Why can't they make trailer manufacturers put a heating element (heat tape) on top of the trailer similar to some northern house roofs for ice dams. It could even be mounted inside and still be effective. They could plug in while loading or anytime you plug the truck up, plug your trailer up. Too much of an expense probably.

 

I have been thinking about this for the past year. My guess is the manufactures will be forced into it within the next couple years and there will also be retrofit kits on the market for older trailers.

 

Clean water and feathers from live birds only.

Which is why many chicken and turkey haulers used to leave one bird on a trailer after dropping at the the slaughterhouse.

 

U r into something big Condo I think thats a great idea.

 

It wouldbe powered by the truck when u hook up to a trailer thats been sittin cold there would be a mandatory 20 min defrost time so ice thins out I mean thats how i would do it. It could save a life. There will be whining but weather like that dont come everyday so it would jist need to get done.

 

Hmmmm....how would that work on temp control or certain hazmat loads?

 

That would draw too much hydro/energy to be effective. A simple rear window defroster in a car draws 25 amps so could you imagine the draw for a roof that's 53' long and 8' wide. It would be prohibitive!

Let's be real here, the problem is very seldom the snow that accumulates when parked in a lot or over night @ a truck stop. An inch or two of snow is gone before you get up to speed on a city street unless it is wet/heavy snow. The problem is the snow that PILES up at the rear of the trailer from sitting at a dock while the wind is blowing over the building and it deposits the snow right there. Couple that with snow falling on the roof of the trailer while the dock doors are open for loading/unloading and the snow that lands on the roof melt and then freezes and turns to ice.

 

I've only seen one place do this, and I've been to many many steel mills.

 

Some of you guys are getting confused between OSHA construction standards vs. general industry. For years there have been debates about interpretation; and there was a rolling stock and commercial vehicle exemption for years relative to the walking/working surface standard; and OSHA deferred to the FMSCA regs as long as the rolling stock was not inside a building. I am not sure what the exact status of this standard is right now and have not read a letter of interpretation for a couple years. All I can say is we routinely do things that do not neatly fit the letter of some regs; such as tarping high loads etc. You CAN work safely even though it may be foreign to some people to have to clean off trailers; in some climates it is neccesary!!