| There are no secrets when it comes to winter | | | | they actually are.Tip # 6 Watch for warning |
| driving. If there's ice on the road, it's | | | | signs.If there are four-wheelers spun out in |
| dangerous. The big truck flying past you at | | | | the median or shoulder, the roads are bad. If |
| 55 mph when everyone else is crawling along | | | | you start seeing big trucks spun out, it's |
| at 15 or 20 mph doesn't have the inside track | | | | time to get off the roadway.Tip # 7 There's |
| on the winter roadways. You're liable to see | | | | no load worth your life.If you are on |
| him in the median a few miles up the road.If | | | | dangerous roadways, your best bet is to find |
| you're driving on ice, you won't know it | | | | a safe spot to wait it out. Let your logbook |
| until you need to stop. It doesn't matter if | | | | gain some hours. If you can't find a spot in |
| you're in a sedan, a 4-wheel drive or a big | | | | a truck stop, park on a ramp or anywhere out |
| rig: brakes are the great equalizer.Tip #1 | | | | of the way. Try not to park on an incline. |
| Ice on your windshield means ice on the | | | | You're liable to get yourself stuck.Tip # 8 |
| road.The ice doesn't have to be packed up on | | | | Carry supplies.In the unfortunate event that |
| the roadway to be dangerous- a thin sheet of | | | | you end up stuck, spun out, wrecked, or just |
| ice can develop quickly into a thick | | | | sitting in a backup, be sure you have |
| problem.Tip # 2 Keep an eye on the | | | | necessities with you. Keep extra blankets, |
| temperature.Water freezes at 32 degrees. The | | | | canned food (and a can opener if needed), and |
| roadways tend to be slightly warmer than the | | | | water. Be sure you keep your diesel tanks |
| air temp, but once you're down that low in | | | | full so you won't run out.Tip # 9 Treat your |
| temperature, you need to be wary.Tip # 3 Look | | | | diesel.Diesel gels when it gets really cold. |
| for spray coming up from other vehicles.If | | | | If your diesel gels, your truck won't run. If |
| spray is coming off the tires, it's likely | | | | you are facing winter weather conditions, you |
| that the roads are wet (as opposed to ice | | | | need to put an anti-gel additive in your |
| covered), but keep in mind that a short | | | | tanks (put it in BEFORE you fuel so it |
| stretch of road with ice on it can be just as | | | | mixes). It's a good idea to stock up ahead of |
| dangerous as a ice-packed roadway.Tip # 4 | | | | time and/or buy at a Wal-Mart rather than |
| Talk to people.Make sure your CB radio is on | | | | expecting the truck stop to have it in stock. |
| and talk to the drivers around you. If you | | | | They tend to run out right when you need |
| are a new driver, try to find a seasoned | | | | it-every one else already bought theirs from |
| driver who isn't talking a lot of big talk. | | | | is the only comprehensive online resource for |
| We're all a little nervous out there if we | | | | over 1100 truck weigh stations and scales as |
| really know what we're dealing with. You want | | | | well as state DOT weight regulations and |
| to find a seasoned driver with a healthy | | | | policies. Knowledge of the varying policies |
| respect for physics to help talk you through | | | | and the ability to manage or avoid most weigh |
| it.Tip # 5 Don't follow too close.Traffic | | | | stations can save truckers thousands of |
| tends to bunch up on bad roads-the natural | | | | dollars in ticket fines. For further |
| inclination is to follow other drivers. Stay | | | | information, contact Michael Farrell at |
| away from four-wheelers. Often they are under | | | | 646.257. |
| the illusion that the roads are safer than | | | | |