Essential Winter Trucking Safety Tips
With winter finally upon us, fewer hours of daylight, rainy days, and for some people, snow is dropping down to blanket our homes, roads, and cities. It does make for a pretty sight, however, these harsher weather conditions can cause driving some trouble while on the roads. Whether it be due to the lack of traction and visibility, an error on another driver’s part, or anything in between, winter seems a time of year in which we should all be extra careful when we’re driving, especially commercial truck drivers.
Truck Driver Academy teaches our students about the proper precautions to take while driving a semi in snow, how to best position yourself while driving a truck on ice, as well as other important winter weather driving tips for truckers. However, we wanted to also share our knowledge regarding winter driving tips for truck drivers with you and we wish you luck on these winter roads!
Driving Semi In Snow
When you’re driving a semi-truck in snow, it can be very stressful and chaotic. Icy, wet, and snowy roads can cause a car to have delayed reaction times, taking longer to break than usual. The roads can be slippery and seeing it properly through a storm offers its own challenges as well. So what can you do to stay safe while driving a truck on ice and snow?
More than anything, you have to be aware of your surroundings and vehicle positioning in relation to other objects. This doesn’t limit itself to just road signs and other cars, but also to pedestrians and buildings – all of which may be experienced their own challenges due to the bad weather. As a rule of thumb, when driving semi in snow or icy roads, remember that the wet road can cause a decrease in tire traction. That said, if you see a lot of red brake lights going off in front of you, start slowing down as soon as possible to give yourself extra time to brake. Another helpful safe winter driving tip for truckers is to keep a safe distance from the cars in front and around you. This will give you even more time to slow down, make any turns, or come to a stop. This extra space will inevitably help you avoid hitting others and help others avoid hitting you if any sliding should occur.
Important Winter Weather Driving Tips For Truckers
It is recommended that all vehicles on the road reduce their speed by 10 to 15 miles in poor weather conditions. Additionally, even though you may be driving slow, try to maintain a consistent, smooth pace, avoiding any sudden braking, sharp turns, or drastic acceleration. You should be in complete control of your vehicle at all times.
Perhaps one of the most important of our winter driving tips for truck drivers is to get a vehicle inspection before the temperature drops. Make sure your car is in working order and check everything from the windshield wipers and oil level to your tires pressure and lights. While you’re on the road, it is also best not to let your gas tank drop below a quarter, in case there is a road hazard that leaves you stranded and you don’t have time to make it to a gas station. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road in the snow.
On that note, having a few safety precaution items in your car could make you much more safe and comfortable if you do have any sort of breakdown. These can include extra snacks and water, a warm blanket, a working cell phone, and even a few flares. It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared!
At the end of the day, if you’re unsure how to react in a hazardous road condition, just trust your judgment and do what feels safe and right. With your proper training from a CDL course, your instincts will probably be the safest choice.