Winter's comin', what's the best area if I want to stay busy?

If you are willing to go north and play in the snow, you will be able to run.

There are lots of truckers that once the snow starts flyin, they get cold feet and want to run south. Being willing to run in the snowy white north will keep you loaded and moving. Just dont take loads that final in the Dakotas, western nebraska or eastern montana. Trying to get out of there in the winter can be really #### hard.

Allthough I know swift does have several hauls out of the area.

 

thanks, i had this concern, not that i dont want to drive in snow, but it becomes stressful and fatiguing.

 

Snow aint nothing to be scared of, it is something to be respected.

Winter driving is a skill just like backing up your trailer, learn it right and you will be able to truck all winter long with out issue. Think it is time for a winter driving tips thread.

 

You can stay reasonably busy running the east coast any time of year. My brother in law has been an OTR owner op for 36 yrs. he runs mid west all year long. He does kind of a triangle, South Dakota to Pa. down to St. Louis area then back up to South Dakota. He lives in Michigan. Although he says Dakota winters can be a real pain at times.
Just a note on winter driving. Don't run up against the governor on slick roads. Run just above a lug, that way if your drives let loose you will be able to hear it through the exhaust and it will give you time to get off the throttle. You may have been taught that already, but I just thought I would throw it out there.

 

keeping your RPM ---UP-- prevents torque from breaking tires loose......

 

Something else you might want to try before the winter is Chaining up. Alot of guys will say that if you have to chain, its time to pullover, and for the most part I agree. But there will be times when your half way up the hill and loose traction, you have to throw iron. Doing it now, on the next month will treach you how to do it with out being cold and wet, and will also show you what conditions your chains are in. I hope you realizde that in many parts of the country you already need to be carring chains already, and almost every state has a diffrent requirement. Will you use bungee cords on your chains, I do. 2 to a wheel, do you have them on your truck, are your chains serviceable? Just a few thoughts that I hope will help someone this winter.

Safe miles, Good health.......
Larry

 

What is the swift developmental team by the way? Is that like another probation phase after the mentor phase? They keep you closer to home I'm guessing. How long does that last?

 

If you are interested I wrote a primer on winter driving today.