The Keystruckers

To be prepared for winter, there are a few items you should have in your truck at all times.

Recomended items include, a warm winter coat, a hat or toboggan, extra pair of shoes, woolen shirts/socks, boots and gloves.

 It is also a good idea to have extra water and food, along with a couple of cans of sterno for heat.  A bag of kitty litter will come in handy to put under the tires for traction in a tight spot. You should also have a heavy-duty flashlight with extra batteries, tire chains if required by the jurisdiction  you are in, a good set of windshield wipers, a clean dash so the defroster will work properly,  and above all else, a good head on your shoulders.

In winter conditions you will need to increase your following distance and reduce your speed to your comfort level.  If your comfort level is 25 mph, then go 25 mph. Don’t let the super-trucker on your butt intimidate you to go any faster.

  If  you do not feel comfortable driving, then find the closest spot to safely pull over.  A good driver knows when it’s too bad to drive.  It’s better to be parked safely on a ramp or exit than to be upside down in the median. 

Watch the temperature and act accordingly.  If the temp is below freezing and the road has not been treated then it’s best to stop.  Remember..snow go slow but ice no dice.  Watch for ice forming on your mirrors and spray coming off of the road on your or someone else’s tires.  If you don’t see any spray that means the road is probably iced over and it’s time to stop.  Also, when you do stop or slow down in winter conditions, never use your jake brake to do so.  This only slows down your tractor and leaves the trailer moving forward.  The trailer might push your tractor out of line and make you jack-knife and lose control.  Remember, if you get in a situation where you lose traction on your drive tires going up a grade, let off the throttle a little and engage the traction lock to make all the drive tires reach for traction instead of just one side of the drives.  When crossing a bridge or slick spot, reduce your engines rpm’s by about 50-100.  This will keep you from spinning your tires and getting out of alignment. 

If you have pulled over and are safely parked, don’t lie to yourself by saying it’s not that bad.  Some drivers will do this to get down the road to a truck stop where there is a shower, hot food or other temptations and never make it.  Just wait it out until the road gets plowed and treated and you feel comfortable to continue. 

If you are a veteran of the road, don’t get too confident and think you can drive in any condition.  “Ice no Dice” is a motto to live by.  There is no reason to be driving on a frozen roadway.  You might be the best driver in the world, but when that four wheeler comes across the medium toward you there isn’t much that you can do.  Always think about the other guy and his abilities and how much you trust him/her not to lose control and hit you.  Luck can only take you so far down the road, so consider if the money or the load is worth a life.  If you take yourself off of the road in icy conditions you will feel better that you are not a target for another motorist to hit and injure you or him/her.  Remember, 65% of the drivers on the road are not qualified to drive on an interstate highway.  Toss in some ice and snow and that number probably goes up to 85%.  Increase your chances of not being involved in an accident by parking that rig till the road conditions become passable.

In closing, when in doubt, pull over and park.  Stay safe, prepared and warm this winter season.

 Jim