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While some drivers relish winter driving, most drivers prefer to drive in anything but snow and ice. It can feel like a hazard is around every corner waiting to sneak up on you. Accidents are not only more likely, but they can also be more dangerous.
Not only that, but the icy cold temperatures require different tools and practices to follow to keep yourself and your truck running in tip-top shape.
When it comes to winter driving, you have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Preparing yourself ahead of time for any hazards you may experience is the best way to prevent accidents and mishaps on the road.
Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) was founded in 1955 and one of the principles it was founded on was safety. As our founder, Harold used to say, “There is no load so hot that it won’t cool off in the ditch.” No load is so important that you should risk your life hauling it.
In this article, you’ll receive a collection of tips and tricks from driver managers, the ATS safety team and ATS drivers to help you navigate winter weather.
9 Tools to Assist with Winter Trucking
Unless you’re strictly moving freight in southern states that get minimal (if any) snow, you’re going to want to carry some extra tools in your truck to make the job a little less uncomfortable. Many drivers from the south don’t realize just how cold it gets in the midwest so they don’t know what to keep in their trucks. These items will help you out.
1. Two Pairs of Gloves
Keep at least two pairs of gloves in your truck at all times. You can be outside tarping and securing your loads in the elements for a long time; be sure you protect your hands from frostbite.
Snowmobiling gloves tend to work really well, allowing mobility while keeping your digits warm. When one pair is wet, set it by the heater in your truck to dry and use the spare pair.
Consider keeping a few packs of hand warmers in your truck. They can really help when you’re out in the cold.
2. Extra Warm Clothing
Layers are your friend when the temperatures drop. Either that or invest in some cold-weather thermal gear. Coveralls are a great option as well. You can get insulated and waterproof coveralls that keep you warm in the elements.
Make sure you have plenty of this cold-weather gear. When one set of clothing gets wet and cold, you’ll have spare options.
Keep a couple of blankets in your truck too.
3. A Good Pair of Boots
If you have to climb up and down from trailers, you want to make sure you have boots with a good grip to prevent slippage. Trailers can get slippery and dangerous. Falling off a trailer isn’t uncommon, even without the ice, and it can lead to a bad injury.
If you can, purchase ice grips or ice cleats. They fit over your shoe and provide extra traction when walking across slippery surfaces. They’ll go a long way in preventing falls.
4. Ladder
A ladder always makes tarping and securing easier, but it’s especially essential in the winter. There will be far fewer attempts at trying to climb over the load to reach something, which increases your chances of slipping.
5. Ice Scraper and Snow Shovel
It probably goes without saying that you should have an ice scraper in your truck to keep your windshield clean, but you may not have thought about keeping a snow shovel in your truck as well.
6. Propane Torch
A propane torch can help you if you need to thaw frozen parts of your truck, like valves.
7. Candles
Always keep a couple of candles for heat and a flashlight or two in your truck in case of emergencies.
8. Extra Food
If you happen to get stuck on the side of the road or at a truck stop due to bad weather, be sure you have plenty of food to get you through as you wait to move again.
Keep plenty of water and non-perishables stocked up to last for a few days. Think a box of crackers, peanut butter and bread, granola bars and things you can quickly microwave like single-serve macaroni and cheese cups.
9. Extra Equipment
Extra equipment and parts, including everything from windshield wipers and fuel filters to de-icer and airline antifreeze, should be in your truck all winter long. You never know what’s going to happen and it’s better to be prepared.
5 Winter Truck Maintenance Tips
To keep your truck running optimally and your equipment (including yourself) working with you, not against you, you have to take a few extra steps.
Tip #1: Fuel Daily with Treated Fuel
It’s absolutely crucial that you fuel with winterized fuel to prevent fuel gelling. Fuel gelling occurs when the wax in diesel fuel crystalizes and stops the flow to the engine or clogs fuel lines and/or filters. If this happens, you’re going to be in a world of hurt. You’ll have to wait on the side of the road to be towed to a shop for a heat treatment.
In addition to putting a winterized fuel blend in your tanks, you can also add anti-gelling additives for extra protection.
It also helps to keep a bottle or two of Diesel 911 (which can help reverse the effects of fuel gelling) in your truck.
You should also fuel daily or at the very least avoid letting your tanks get below half full. If you happen to get stuck because of a snowstorm, you’ll need plenty of fuel.
Tip #2: Set Your Trailer Brakes
There are a few tricks you can use to try to prevent your brakes from freezing up or to unfreeze them if they get stuck. Some drivers ride their brakes a bit as they’re parking to try to get wet slush off them. Some drivers use rubbing alcohol in their air brake system to prevent brake lines from freezing. Others don’t set their brakes if they’re wet.
If your brakes do freeze, you can hammer above and below the brake drum to try to unfreeze them. You may need to get back in your truck and rock back and forth or drive forward and backward to get the brakes to release.
Tip #3: Get Out of The Elements
Stay out of the elements if you can. If you’re a flatbed driver, secure and tarp inside a sheltered area whenever possible.
Tip #4: Use De-Icer on Your (Flatbed) Trailer
With a few extra tools, you can take care of snow and ice on your flatbed trailer with a shovel. Pour de-icer or rubbing alcohol on your trailer, wait for the ice to turn to slush and then scrape it off with a shovel or broom. You should always carry a few extra bottles of de-icer with you.
Similarly, you can scatter cat litter near your wheels to prevent spinning if your truck is stuck on ice.
Tip #5: Warm Your Tarps
If you’re a flatbed driver, tarping in the winter can be a nightmare. The tarps can freeze in position. Though rare, some customers have tarp warmers. If they don’t, when you go home, bring your tarps inside to let them thaw. It’ll make them easier to work with.
4 Safe Driving Tips for Truck Drivers
These safe driving tips will help you stay safe in the winter elements. You should always err on the side of caution.
Tip #1: Slow Down
For starters, you need to monitor your speed on the road. When it’s snowy and icy, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) advises drivers to reduce their speed by 50 percent.
Your carrier may have additional rules about lowering your speed depending on wind speeds and visibility.
Your tires struggle to maintain traction with the road when you drive too fast for the conditions. If you end up in a skid, don’t slam on your brakes or jerk the wheel. Engage the clutch if you’re driving a manual. Put the transmission in neutral if you’re driving an automatic. Always turn gently into the skid.
It’s better to be late than to end up in the ditch because you were driving too fast.
Tip #2: Increase Your Following Distance
In favorable conditions, you should maintain a six-second following distance. Your following distance should increase when the weather is poor. When you increase your following distance, you increase your stopping distance. This is crucial in the winter when wet, icy or snowy road surfaces make it difficult to slow down and your truck requires more distance to come to a stop.
Tip #3: Check Road Conditions
You should always check the temperature and road conditions before you set out for the day. It should be part of your trip plan and something you do every time you stop for a break or to fuel.
Know what conditions you’re driving into. The weather in your current area might be fine, but 100 or 200 miles down the road could be a different story. You might check the weather at the beginning of the day and see that it’s fine, but by the time you’re closer to your destination, it could be a totally different story. That’s why it’s important to keep checking the weather throughout the day.
It’s also a good idea to keep in mind how well the roads are maintained in the areas you’re driving through. Do they salt and sand the roads there? Do they take care of overpasses and bridges
It’s better to get ahead of it and stop your truck before you get into a bad weather situation rather than end up right in the middle of it.
SafeTravelUSA and 511 are helpful tools. SafeTravelUSA shows you what road conditions look like in real-time across the country. There are both photos and videos. You can call 511 to get up-to-date traveler information. It’s also a great idea to use other drivers as a reference point. When you see them at truck stops, don’t hesitate to talk to them about road conditions.
Tip #4: Shut It Down
If you feel uncomfortable on the road, you should shut it down. You should never feel like you’re risking your life in poor weather conditions. Never be afraid to park it and deliver late; no load is worth your life.
Talk to your dispatcher. They want you to do the safest thing.
That being said, be prepared for delays in the winter. You may have to shut down from time to time; it’s a normal part of winter driving. When you pull up to a parking spot, just make sure you position your truck so you'll easily be able to pull out. A lot of drivers back into parking spots.
Then, let the plows do their job. If you happen to be stuck for a few days, be sure you walk around the truck to make sure everything’s working properly and you get some fresh air.
Stay Safe On the Road
Winter driving brings about a whole new set of hazards to navigate on the road. With the right preparation and tools at your disposal, you can prevent serious and even fatal accidents. You can also work more efficiently with a little preparation.
Prepare yourself, know what you’re driving into and take the extra time required to operate as safely as possible. These tips will help you prevent costly breakdowns.
Is there anything we missed? We’d love to hear from you.