Winter Driving ?

I would suggest becoming glued to episodes of Ice Road Truckers. I have vast experience with a 4 wheeler in winter weather, but none in a big truck - so I'll be in a learning curve this coming winter.

Many of the principles are similar....

• No sudden moves or panic braking
• Look far ahead and anticipate/plan
• Keep equip in top condition
• Let weather, road conditions and safety dictate your speed

 

My advice is don't if you can get away with it. Thats just me I find it hard enough to drive my regular truck in snow and Ice, not so much because of the conditions it's the other idiots out there that bother me.

In a tractor trailer nope they can have it unless it's an absoulute and I mean a absoulute have too.

 

This is a concern I have as well. I am just starting to get to the point where I am comfortable behind a tractor-trailer, and the last thing I want is to lose control on an ice-covered road (especially when traveling the Deerfoot during rush hour).

 

Be gentle. About sums it up.

Leave yourself lots of room to slow down. If accelerating, shifting or turning be slow about it. If you can, turn your jakes off, or at least down. You can use them on snow, even ice, IF you know your truck well, until then they will prolly get you into trouble.

When parking for the night do NOT set your trailer brakes if you just ran through slush/snow/ice and the temps get close to freezing. Otherwise, you might find some nice locked-up brakes when you wake up. Tractor isn't an issue because they usually have to the power to break the brakes loose if frozen. Also, once you do start moving, pump your brakes a bit. Ice/snow can accumulate between the shoes and drums meaning you will have NO stopping power until you clear it out. This can also be useful if you've been running through snow/slush (or even standing water) for a while just to make sure they are clear. Just be careful not to give the brakes TOO much pressure. Remember, gentle.

Also, remember you the weight you have on the trailer has a big impact on how much traction you get, especially in the snow/ice. Adjust accordingly if you are loaded light or mt/bobtail.

Overall, if you doubt your skills, best bet is to find somewhere to hole up. But you can do fine on snow if you take it easy. I've had a few wheel-spins but never left my lane. Worst thing that happened was my front end pushed one time turning from one street to another in Horsham, PA near Philly. Was just going a bit too fast for the turn on snow. Let got my brakes, straightened the wheels out a bit, and was able to make the turn fine.

 

Gentle and careful and do not use your cruise control when the roads have potential for being slick. Hit a patch of black ice with the cruise on and things get exciting at a rapid pace.

 

Here is what I always taught my students.

Turn off the jakes
Stay off the breaks
Lock in the diffs
And slow the heck down.

Turn off the jakes, They will cause you to spin out or jack knife.

Stay off the breaks, If you must use them be REALLY easy and start to slow down way before you need to.

Lock in the diffs, Even if you don't need them It is better to have them and not need them. Then to need them and not have them.

Slow the heck down, Speed is not your friend in bad weather.

 

drive a little slower...

and contrary to the ace on ice road truckers... do not use your jake going down hill on ice...

that brakes the drive axle only and it slides... stepping on the brake, brakes all of the axels and you can always not step on it quite as hard if it starts to lock or else it may have anti-lock

driving mt is worse than loaded...

pay attention but don't sweat it...

 

My best advise for winter driving.....

If your scared, nervous, or worried.... Get off the road. Your only a accident waiting to happen.

 

My wife and I pretty much grew up in Florida and started driving big rigs together in the winter for a company based out of Washington State... needless to say we were both extremely nervous.. The drivers in these posts have all offered good advise. Last winter I got to see what happens when you hit the brakes on ice when a car wrecked in front of me and while trying to slow I watched my trailer try to pass me... not a fun sight... luckily I was able to accelerate and straighten it back out before it was too late but thank god noone was in the other lane when my trailer decided it wanted to be over there.

I made friends with another driver that had been driving for almost 20 years. I called him many a time asking for advise when I got nervous not knowing wether or not I should shut down. Always error on the side of caution. If you dont feel you can navigate the roads safely, shut it down.