9 Winter Driving Tips for Truckers

There are no secrets when it comes to winterthat the roads are safer than they actually are.Tip #
driving. If there's ice on the road, it's dangerous. The6 Watch for warning signs.If there are four-wheelers
big truck flying past you at 55 mph when everyonespun out in the median or shoulder, the roads are
else is crawling along at 15 or 20 mph doesn't havebad. If you start seeing big trucks spun out, it's time
the inside track on the winter roadways. You're liableto get off the roadway.Tip # 7 There's no load
to see him in the median a few miles up the road.Ifworth your life.If you are on dangerous roadways,
you're driving on ice, you won't know it until youyour best bet is to find a safe spot to wait it out.
need to stop. It doesn't matter if you're in a sedan, aLet your logbook gain some hours. If you can't find a
4-wheel drive or a big rig: brakes are the greatspot in a truck stop, park on a ramp or anywhere
equalizer.Tip #1 Ice on your windshield means ice onout of the way. Try not to park on an incline. You're
the road.The ice doesn't have to be packed up onliable to get yourself stuck.Tip # 8 Carry supplies.In
the roadway to be dangerous- a thin sheet of icethe unfortunate event that you end up stuck, spun
can develop quickly into a thick problem.Tip # 2 Keepout, wrecked, or just sitting in a backup, be sure you
an eye on the temperature.Water freezes at 32have necessities with you. Keep extra blankets,
degrees. The roadways tend to be slightly warmercanned food (and a can opener if needed), and
than the air temp, but once you're down that low inwater. Be sure you keep your diesel tanks full so you
temperature, you need to be wary.Tip # 3 Look forwon't run out.Tip # 9 Treat your diesel.Diesel gels
spray coming up from other vehicles.If spray iswhen it gets really cold. If your diesel gels, your truck
coming off the tires, it's likely that the roads are wetwon't run. If you are facing winter weather
(as opposed to ice covered), but keep in mind that aconditions, you need to put an anti-gel additive in
short stretch of road with ice on it can be just asyour tanks (put it in BEFORE you fuel so it mixes).
dangerous as a ice-packed roadway.Tip # 4 Talk toIt's a good idea to stock up ahead of time and/or
people.Make sure your CB radio is on and talk to thebuy at a Wal-Mart rather than expecting the truck
drivers around you. If you are a new driver, try tostop to have it in stock. They tend to run out right
find a seasoned driver who isn't talking a lot of bigwhen you need it-every one else already bought
talk. We're all a little nervous out there if we reallytheirs from is the only comprehensive online resource
know what we're dealing with. You want to find afor over 1100 truck weigh stations and scales as well
seasoned driver with a healthy respect for physics toas state DOT weight regulations and policies.
help talk you through it.Tip # 5 Don't follow tooKnowledge of the varying policies and the ability to
close.Traffic tends to bunch up on bad roads-themanage or avoid most weigh stations can save
natural inclination is to follow other drivers. Stay awaytruckers thousands of dollars in ticket fines. For
from four-wheelers. Often they are under the illusionfurther information, contact Michael Farrell at 646.257.