Winter driving advice ?
Posted by lemme-emi@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 33 comments
I’m a newish driver (6 months) this will be my first winter driving.
What advice can yall give for driving safe in the snow and ice? Drive slow, don’t drive when chains are required, etc ?
I grew up in Florida then spent about 7 years in North Carolina, so my snow-driving experience is minimal.
Thanks !!
TruckinTuba@reddit
If chains are required, I throw the iron and go. We have certain customers that require chains to get into its not all that bad, will usually only use the 7mm set of tripples, but if the ice is bad I'll break out the 8s
Normal-Pie7610@reddit
Driving during snow is like old people fucking; the faster they go, the more likely someone will die.
mynamep1@reddit
Slowing down is for doorknob licking door swingers.
Normal-Pie7610@reddit
You do you. I get paid by the hour so I'll cruise behind the snowplows and count my money.
mynamep1@reddit
It’s a bigfoot v log video. Check it out if you want a good laugh.
Odd_Studio2870@reddit
Apply a little pressure to the brakes to put some heat on them before fully applying, it makes them less stabby. Be careful on exit and entrance ramps. Be extremely careful on poorly cleared parking lots (customers and truck stops). If you are a nervous wreck, park it.
Jimlee1471@reddit
Hello fellow Floridian.
Never had a winter accident in over 16 years and I follow one simple concept:
in rainy or wintry conditions, everything you do should be slow and smooth. That including steering, lane changes, acceleration/deceleration, braking - everything. Avoid doing anything which can potentially cause a sudden change in speed or direction. Doesn't mean don't do it at all - just don't do it too suddenly.
The reason should be pretty obvious: you already had to drive pretty carefully just to allow your tires to obtain traction on that slick surface in the first place. Jake brakes, sudden veering, hard or sudden braking - these are things which can suddenly change that already sketchy grip you've got on the road surface, sometimes even causing you to completely lose traction.
Keep it slow and smooth and it's highly likely you won't end up in a ditch.
MostlyUseful@reddit
One tip, when you see trucks running close together at what seems to be a faster speed than you are running, stay as far away from them as you can. Chances are higher that if one of them goes ooopsie, all of them will be involved. For that reason keep exceptional following distance. Since this is your introductory time to winter weather, if you’re in Wyoming, just park. That’s not a state to learn winter driving. You want to be slow and steady, don’t change lanes or shift on a bridge, slow down early, remember to breathe, and always remember that a safely parked driver has tomorrow to deliver the load instead of dumping it all over the highway. There’s no shame in recognizing your limits and parking. You’ll get the feel for it as you go, no need to push yourself. Do not set trailer brakes when parking, keep your fuel tanks at least half full at all times (never below half tanks), and be prepared with food, blankets and what have you in case you get shut down for a day or more.
ImaginaryCatDreams@reddit
Wyoming can be a great place to learn. Their winter driving app is so good I wish the other states would adopt it. It makes some States look like a total joke
As Long as You follow the wind advisories and there's no major storms coming through i-80 is actually a pretty good run across Wyoming it's almost all above 5,000 ft so while you're going to be in snow and ice a long way you're not going to be up and down huge grades for the most part
If you do wind up in Mountain States it's highly recommended you operate daylight hours. As soon as you feel you can see enough to move safely get going in the morning. I tried to shut down no later than sundown
Thewildhighroller@reddit
Drive south till Spanish is the main language return sometime in future when snow is gone
thebugman40@reddit
give yourself more room than you think you need.
Remarkable-Mix8937@reddit
Don’t let the company or dispatchers pressure you to drive. All they care about is the load. If you lose control and wreck, they’ll waste no time firing you. Doesn’t matter if it wasn’t your fault.
UncleTrucker1123@reddit
Make sure to have extra food and water on hand in case of road closures or emergencies
Actively monitor weather and road conditions with NOAA weather and 511 apps
Keep an extra blanket or two on hand
An extra battery pack to charge your phone in case your truck dies
Plenty of warm clothing
Shoe spikes for extra traction while walking
Snow melt
Snow brush and ice scraper
Anti gel diesel fluid
Make sure all fluids are consistently topped off, and pressure in tires and treads are maintained
Chain up to get out of a situation, never to get into one; and if possible avoid it altogether by shutting down and waiting it out or finding a route that has better and safer conditions
If waiting for roads to reopen, don’t hit the ground running the second they do. Wait for at least an hour since everyone else will be going in a rush themselves, and that increases the likelihood of an accident happening and the roads closing again, and waiting that out at a truckstop with bathroom is better then somewhere on the highway
Slow down and always have your lights on for better visibility while driving
Have a bucket, trash bags, and butt wipes just in case you do get stuck somewhere there’s no bathrooms and nature comes calling with an urgent message.
theBotKilla@reddit
Safety first and there are too many new drivers ignores that. When you feel uncomfortable, just pull over and wait until the weather gets better.
InvestigatorBroad114@reddit
GO DAMN SLOW no speed is safe in snow/ice conditions
No_Inflation7432@reddit
Slow and more slow. Space and more space.
BlueHerringBeaver@reddit
This is particular to secondary roads and rural areas… but don’t be afraid to own the road. Shoulders and the slush on the edge can look deceiving. Hugging the shoulder trying to be courteous to other drivers could easily put you in the ditch or rolled over. You don’t have to run other people off the road, but don’t wreck yourself trying to be nice to them either.
shadowmib@reddit
Keep it short. Basically just slow down and if you don't think it's safe, go park somewhere and two conditions are better.
GhostOfTruckersPast@reddit
And yeah, I watch for those “cruise missles” all day long lol.
qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit
If you don’t feel safe, shut it down. Now, this may seem like you’re “risking your job” but know this: if they fire you Trucker Justice Center will represent you on a contingency basis with nothing owed up front.
Knowing and having used them previously gave me a ton of confidence in being able to shut down.
Don’t let them pull the “we have other drivers that drive in these conditions” BS either. The legal standard is what would a reasonable driver with equivalent experience have done in your situation.
GhostOfTruckersPast@reddit
Funny, this is literally what transpired this morning. I just wasn’t gunna let them put some other person at risk. But luckily I have had some experience driving in these conditions over the years,( but yes same as op this is my first 6 months in a CMV).
qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit
First winter? You could get away with telling them you shit yourself in fear at the sight of seeing a snowflake and decided to pull over.
10 years in the industry and I call it a day when it first starts sticking. Being in the south, I ain’t worried about my driving skills, I have driven in plenty of NE snows. It’s the other dumbasses that think you can go 100mph in wet snow to get home before everything closes that I’m worried about.
Diablo_Bolt@reddit
If you’re not comfortable park
Leave trailer brakes pushed in unless absolutely necessary to avoid freezing.
When snow or ice are possible make sure your steering and throttle control are smooth
Stay off your phone ( duh )
Plan around driving slower than normal when trip planning so leave with a little extra time if possible.
Don’t go below half a tank on either diesel or def and keep all of your fluids topped off and double check tire psi’s
If your batteries need changing do it now rather than waking up to a truck that’s literally freezing.
Keep anti gel diesel solution on hand in case it’s needed
Lastly and most importantly pay attention to the weather and plan accordingly.
dank_tre@reddit
Best short list so far, I’d add—
Start slowing way before you need to & just get in the habit on not using your brakes unless absolutely necessary
You’ll still use your brakes a lot—but just be super mindful. As a semi driver, there’s plenty of other reasons to limit brake use for slowing, but in winter you just should be super mindful
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Leave an obscene amount of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Slow and steady. No quick lane changes on snow covered roads and for gods sake, give plows plenty of space!
CMDR-L@reddit
Assume the person in front of you will stop abruptly. That's it. People are a much bigger threat than the road itself. Maybe you could ride snow at 55 safely loaded up, but you can't stop on it, so adjust. Also, if you are empty, be extra cautious because you dont have weight to keep traction
SignificantSteve44@reddit
His take your time and drive slow, and leave plenty of stopping distance. Posts like this make me very happy I grew up in Minnesota. Driving in the snow comes natural to me and it's a huge advantage to have when in this career
StrawBunyan@reddit
I just don’t try to speed up, slow down, or turn and everything is fine 🤣🤣🤣
Different_Zone_8999@reddit
If you ever park in a frozen truck lot, be careful of your trailer's swing when you pull out. It can lose traction and might hit the trailer on your blind side.
narvilokison@reddit
Keep your braking in a straight line and not around curves when you can avoid it. Dress/pack for the breakdown.
OkEvening87@reddit
Slow it down as much as you need to to feel comfortable while being safe and leave lots of following distance. Park up if you don’t feel comfortable and watch out for slick surfaces (steps and catwalk)
If you’re a flatbedder wear your hardhat and watch for sheets of ice coming off your tarps or the roofs of warehouses/ work locations
Day-Dream1@reddit
Take your time, leave plenty of space and if it's really bad out don't drive. In the end you are the captain of the rig. The objective is to make it home to your loved ones in one piece. No pay cheque or load time is worth your life.
Milk_MAN1963@reddit
Ive been driving in Michigan since 1978. My advice is just do the best you can until you get some experience. It's hard but just worry about yourself and don't worry about anyone else