It’s that time of year again. With temperatures dropping snow and ice is soon to follow. What do you need to know about snow and your haul?
Plan Ahead
If there is a chance of snow, plan ahead as much as possible. This forethought could save you time and aggravation later on down the line. Plan alternative routes for things like parking and fueling. The Federal Highway Administration’s DOT website can connect to the state’s road cameras and traffic reports so you can see troublesome areas before you get to them.
This also means packing extra emergency supplies. At the very least you should have extra cold weather clothing, blankets, food, water, a shovel, rock salt and/or kitty litter, a lighter and a candle, and a backup tool kit (which should include a hammer & putty knife). All of these things can help out if you find yourself in a bad situation.
Keep up to Date
Use services like the National Weather Service’s website to stay up to date on changing weather and road conditions. You can also use your CB or cell phone to stay in contact so you know what’s coming up ahead. Using these in conjunction with the aforementioned DOT website can help give you a clear picture of what lays ahead.
Pre-Check Inspection
While you’re probably doing this anyway, with winter weather conditions a pre-check inspection is even more important. Make sure that you:
- Check that brake and tail lights are visible and fully functioning.
- Have drained air tanks of moisture.
- Ensure your defrost and heat are working properly.
- Check that mirrors are in the correct positions and free of dirt and grime.
- Have checked that wipers are in working order and you have extra fluid just in case.
Safety is our number one priority. Please reach out with any questions or concerns!
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Remember speed limits are for ideal driving conditions. If there is snow or a chance of black ice, slow down. Rate of speed is a huge factor in collisions as well. If you are driving faster than road conditions allow, you increase your risk of an accident. Slowing down everything like steering and braking will help you keep traction and get to your destination much safer.
A useful tip when driving on packed snow is to keep an eye on the color of your tread marks. Black means your wheels are getting hot. Aim for it to be white in color which means your tires are cooler and giving you more traction. Also watch how much spray is coming from other tires on the road. If the spray is decreasing, black ice could be forming and adjust accordingly.
Keep an Eye on RPMs
Watch your RPMs when going uphill. Do as much as you can to keep them down and prevent torque. Too much torque can cause you to spin out.
Follow With Caution
Be sure to leave plenty of distance between you and other cars. A good general rule is at least a quarter of a mile in between you and the next vehicle. This will give you time to react if someone suddenly brakes or skids out. If something sudden does happen be careful not to jerk your steering wheel if you have to go around them. With this in mind:
Try to Avoid Packs
You’ve probably noticed that traffic tends to move in clusters of vehicles. If you’re worried about the following distance or not having enough stopping time, try to avoid these clusters altogether. You can do this by allowing them to safely pass you. Staying in the breaks between packs will give you more time to react.
Avoid Stopping on the Shoulder
With snowy conditions, roads and markings become less visible. The big risk here is a car mistaking the shoulder for a lane and crashing into you. So if you don’t have to pull onto the shoulder, don’t risk it.
Keep Lights Clean
Yes, you did this on the pre-check inspection but it bears repeating. Snow and ice have a nasty way of accumulating on lights. Unfortunately, this means keeping them clear becomes much harder and a lot more necessary. These lights make it much easier for other cars to see you so they are vital in a storm. The same goes for your windshield, keep it clean so you can clearly see. If it is too cold to clean your windshield, turn your defroster on for a few minutes to warm up the glass.
Use Caution When Following
When visibility is low, tail lights can be a helpful tool to see other cars. Just make sure you aren’t just following them blindly though. Keep as much of an eye as possible on surrounding conditions. Failure to do so could cause you to follow another car right off the road.
Keep Your Tanks Full
Try not to fall below half-full. A fuller tank adds weight. More weight helps with better traction in snow. Plus a fueling stop is a great place to check your lights.
Safety is our number one priority. Please reach out with any questions or concerns!
Use Chains
If you start to see vehicles coming off the mountains covered in snow pull over and put your chains on. Some states even require them by law so pay close attention to where you are at. If you’ve never used chains before try to practice in nicer weather so you are familiar with them before they are a necessity. If you haven’t, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Park with Caution
Park strategically, you don’t want your tires to melt and refreeze in the snow. If your tires are too warm you can cool them off by rolling 20 or 30 feet back and forth a couple of times. You probably don’t want to set trailer brakes due to the risk of freezing. In any case be sure to bring a shovel, rock salt, or kitty litter in case you end up stuck somewhere.
Test Your Brakes
It doesn’t hurt to carefully test your brakes when no one is behind you. Get your speed down to 15 mph at most and then slightly push your brakes to see if your tires respond with some traction. Since you are in motion, locking may cause you to pick up speed. To help keep your brakes from freezing gently hold them a few times an hour. This will help prevent freezing
Don’t be a Hero
But the most important thing here is; if it’s unsafe, it’s unsafe. Even experienced drivers can be taken down by conditions if they are bad enough. No delivery is worth risking your safety over.
As always be safe out there and don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone at: (909) 746-0370 or by email at: recruiting@scetrans.com
