Adjust your speed to the existing conditions. Do not overtake or pass other
vehicles unless you have to. Slow down. Select a safe speed. Maintain a safe
following distance. Watch far enough ahead to flow with the traffic. This will help
you avoid the need to change speeds.
Take curves and turns at slower speeds. Brake before curves. Be in the right
gear before you enter a curve. Speed up slightly in the curve.
As the temperature warms up, ice melts and becomes more slippery. Slow down
even more. Avoid driving beside other vehicles. Keep out of the pack. Leave
yourself room for emergencies.
Keep a longer following distance. When traffic looks congested ahead, hang
back. Stop if needed and wait for things to clear up.
Plan ahead for stops to avoid panic stopping.
Pump your brakes.
Use engine oil periodically as a fifth wheel lube in cold weather.
If parts are very stiff from cold grease or snow, using diesel fuel conditioner will
loosen the parts up so that they will work freely.
A small propane torch works well for thawing out relay valves, etc.
Putting airline antifreeze into supply lines will work also.
The air line antifreeze helps to prevent freeze ups.
Some new trailers advise not to use additives with their filtering systems.
If you are in an emergency type situation, you should use the air line antifreeze anyway.
It is recommended that the following items
be kept in your vehicle during the winter months:
An
ice scraper and brush
Flares/reflectors
Blanket
or sleeping bag
First
aid kit
Shovel
Sand,
gravel, kitty litter( Kitty litter works the best )
Ice
scraper, snow brush
Flashlight
with extra batteries
Matches
/ lighter, candle
Food
-- nonperishable items
Booster
cables
Tire
chains
High Wind:
Be alert for high winds on bridges and overpasses and when driving
next to another truck that may be blocking the wind.
Keep both hands on the steering wheel to help maintain control.
Watch for others who may be trying to pass. A strong wind may cause a collision.
Always
pull off the road and take shelter immediately during a tornado warning
or in a hurricane.
Rain:
People do not realize just how dangerous this can be. They tend to drive to fast. When you are
driving a truck look in your mirror next time it rains and watch just how much water spray you
generate from your tires. Enough to blind the driver behind you. Also, remember what you were
taught, that you can hydroplane even at 35 mph, so please do yourself and the others a favor, and
drive at a safe speed in the rain.
There
have been many trucks jackknifed because they were going to fast and
needed
to make a
sudden
stop. You will slide even quicker, when you have a light load.
Also
when passing another vehicle make sure you have enough room to return
back
into the lane.
There
have been many trucks that come into the lane too soon, and cause the
other
vehicle to go off
the
road. Water spray is what causes you, the driver to misjudge your
distance,
and
you may be the next one to cause an accident if you aren't paying
attention
when passing.
Also,
watch for those curves, especially in the rain!
Ice:
This is very dangerous!
1. Increase your following distance.
2. Slow down! No load is worth your life or the life of someone else.
3. Tire chains help with traction , they do not prevent you from sliding. You can and will
still slide with tire chains.
4. Some states require you to pull over and put chains on before continuing
down their highways. If the state says you need the tire chains
on to continue your trip then it's best to just find the nearest
truck stop and wait till it is safer to go on.
Traction:
To establish traction and avoid skids, start out slowly. If your wheels start spinning,
let up on the accelerator until your vehicle moves forward. Continue to drive at
a steady pace. Accelerate upon approaching a hill. This will provide additional momentum
that will help you climb the hill. With a front wheel drive vehicle,
you are being pulled through the snow. On an uphill slope, the weight of the vehicle shifts
slightly to the rear wheels. There will be less weight over the wheels which provide power
and increase the tendency to slip. You can overcome this by maintaining a steady speed.
If you
get
stuck:
1.Shovel
the snow from in front and back of all four wheels, and from under the
vehicle.
2.Spread
some sand or kitty litter in front and in back of your driving
wheels
(or
use traction mats if you have them).
3.If
the snow is not deep, turn the front wheels back and forth to push snow
away from the tires. Try to ease out without
spinning
the wheels. Spinning causes
tires to heat up, thus digging
you into a
deeper
rut.
4.Try
rocking the vehicle out of the rut by shifting between forward and
reverse
gears. Be sure to check your owner's
manual
for warnings on rocking.
If
you are stuck and the road ahead is not clear, it is blowing and
drifting
snow, and there
is no shelter in sight, you are stranded.
Should
you become
stranded in a snowstorm, do not
leave your vehicle unless
there
is shelter in sight.
You
are much more likely to be found by rescue and highway
crews
if you stay with your vehicle. Use your winter emergency items.
5.Check the exhaust periodically to make sure it is free of snow, especially if the motor is idling.
6.
Avoid running the engine more than a few minutes at any given time,
and
always keep a window slightly open when the engine
is
running.
7.
Several layers of thin clothing will keep you warmer than one heavy
layer.
Wrap up in a blanket or sleeping bag. To keep the
warmest,
cover your head,
neck, hands, and feet as well as
the body.
8.
Be patient! Don't panic! Highway Dept. maintenance crews will be
working
to clear
snow from the highways and to look
for
stranded motorists.
The Class A Truckstop
( Women in Trucking ) ( Trucker Slang ) ( More Trucker Slang ) ( Pre-Trip Study Guide )
( Banner & Misc. ) ( National 10-Codes ) ( National Highway Conditions ) ( Truck Pic Gallery )
( Trucking on the Radio ) The Truckers Place Chapel )( History Page ) ( Awake at the Wheel )
( Links Pages ) ( Drunk Driving Info. ) ( Height,Weight, & Length Reg. ) ( Info on jackknives)
( Web rings) ( HOME ) ( Awards )( Tire Chain Info )( Theft Prevention )
( Alphabetical State Trucking Associations) ( U.S. State Speed Limits )
( HAZMAT Placard Chart ) ( Do's & Don'ts of an Owner/Operator ) ( Site Map )
( Trucking Stats and Q&A ) ( Rail Road Safety ) ( KidsZone )
( Local Info - Milwaukee ) ( FCC Rules ) ( Fuel Tax 4 each State ) ( Weather Tips )
