Truck Driving in the Winter Months
Winter is right around the corner, are you prepared for the winter dangers that trucks face on the road during the winter months? The job of a truck driver becomes increasingly more dangerous, here are a few tips to follow to stay safe on the road this winter.
Slow down: Be patient and avoid unexpected acceleration, braking, and unwarranted lane changes. A truck driver’s vehicle is much larger and harder to stop. Any unexpected turn or braking could cause a collision, especially when high-speed winds are involved and create various wind pressures under and around your rig. Give yourself extra time to drive and be patient while keeping an eye on all vehicles driving around you.
Tire chains: In case of snow, have your truck tire chains at hand and be sure they are the right size before you depart. Don’t forget to bring along bungees, cam lock t-handles, warm gloves, a pad to kneel on and a flashlight. Failure to accommodate to local weather and road conditions lead to trucking accidents during the winter months.
Improperly loading your truck: When a load is improperly loaded cargo shifts, cargo is imbalanced and can either fall out of the back of trucks or it can cause the truck to topple over or swerve. This is most likely to happen when on a slick or icy road, your cargo is the last thing you want to worry about when you’re struggling to drive your truck.
Before you depart, here are a few things to check:
- Ignition system
- Fuel system
- Belts
- Fluid levels
- Brakes
- Exhaust system
- Wiper blades and windshield washer fluid.
- Snow tires
- Tire tread and pressure.
- Defroster
- Cooling system
- Battery
- Lights
- Antifreeze
If you begin to skid on icy roads, follow these steps:
- Quickly take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral.
- Next, turn your steering wheel in the direction you want your rig to go.
- Before the rear wheels stop skidding, shift to drive and gently press the accelerator.
- Remember; do not slam on your brakes.
Icy roads, heavy rainfall, and careless drivers make freight drivers prone to more accidents. These accidents during the winter months are bound to happen, but you can help prevent them by following the tips above. Don’t wait until the winter months to begin planning, start today by following our winter safety tips for truck drivers.
