Refresher:
Been doing this for 2 months now with my hubby. I'm a newbie driver, he has 30+ years O/O T/T.
He is new to Expediting, straight truck.
He also was once the first responder Snowplow/Sander, for a city of 200,000. Clearing streets, hiways and interstate roads.
I will not bore you with how great I think he is, by showing patience with me out here.
However, I want to share what I think may help a few, not everyone but maybe a few newbies like me.
DRIVING IN WINTER CONDITIONS.
Here are a few things he has taught me, remember, he has driven cross country and was a plow driver.
When pulling up to an intersection, do not follow the normal tire tracks of others. Put your tires between them for better traction.
Black ice. I could write a book as to how it forms (many different ways) but, he says some of the first places it will form, is in the slow lane of an interstate, where most vehicles follow the same track. I will state why this is. There is more moisture in the air at night and it looks for the warmest place on the pavement to form ice. That is because it is caused by the heat of the tires warming the pavement. Example (he showed me) We had run 2 hours straght in 15 degree weather at night, on a dry road. When we stopped for fuel and the truck sat on snow, he showed me the small puddles of water forming under each tire. I had no idea tires would become so warm in such cold weather.
To avoid driving on this, stagger your tires between the usual path others travel.
He also showed me that the fast lane is better to travel in (when possible), as most times, that lane never becomes ice.
Due to lack of travel use.
Other places to look for black ice are, overpass's, underpass's and any shaded area.
There are natural crowns built into each lane of the hiway, for drainage.
The slow lane slopes towards the shoulder, while the fast lane slopes towards the midian. When possible, the best part of the road to travel on in winter storm conditions, is to keep towards the top of each lanes crown.
The perfect place to place youre tires, is to have the drivers side in the middle of the fast lane and the passenger side in the middle of the slow lane, spliting the white lines dividing the two. The tires will also be on driest pavement and not where the black ice has formed where the others normally travel.
The truck will not tilt to either side, it will be leval.
Remember, do not do this unless you have a clear view of traffic behind you and keep checking.
Hew said most vehicles that end up in the ditch, when there is wind involved with a winter storm, is because a cross wind has caught them tilting in the direction the wind is blowing.
If you need to park on a ramp, never park on the off ramp park on the on ramp. Vehcles coming off are more likely to lose control, than those entering.
If you see brake lights coming on, no matter how far ahead, start slowing down and keep a great distance between you and those braking.
It is giving you a warning something is happening ahead.
We have seen way to many multi car accidents, due to one car thinking they nedd to pull over on a dime to help the other motorist.
Carry a small sqegee (spelling) to reach out and wipe off those side mirrors in a storm.
Trust me, they work.
In a snow (not ice) storm, stay, when you can, in the lane that has the less travel on it. Loose snow will have more traction than packed snow.
I could write a short story on working the brakes and throttle in different conditions (and maybe I will someday)
I just wanted to give some tips for now.
I'm sure most already know this stuff but if one newbie got anything from it, it was worth printing.
I know I did.
Kathy
Been doing this for 2 months now with my hubby. I'm a newbie driver, he has 30+ years O/O T/T.
He is new to Expediting, straight truck.
He also was once the first responder Snowplow/Sander, for a city of 200,000. Clearing streets, hiways and interstate roads.
I will not bore you with how great I think he is, by showing patience with me out here.
However, I want to share what I think may help a few, not everyone but maybe a few newbies like me.
DRIVING IN WINTER CONDITIONS.
Here are a few things he has taught me, remember, he has driven cross country and was a plow driver.
When pulling up to an intersection, do not follow the normal tire tracks of others. Put your tires between them for better traction.
Black ice. I could write a book as to how it forms (many different ways) but, he says some of the first places it will form, is in the slow lane of an interstate, where most vehicles follow the same track. I will state why this is. There is more moisture in the air at night and it looks for the warmest place on the pavement to form ice. That is because it is caused by the heat of the tires warming the pavement. Example (he showed me) We had run 2 hours straght in 15 degree weather at night, on a dry road. When we stopped for fuel and the truck sat on snow, he showed me the small puddles of water forming under each tire. I had no idea tires would become so warm in such cold weather.
To avoid driving on this, stagger your tires between the usual path others travel.
He also showed me that the fast lane is better to travel in (when possible), as most times, that lane never becomes ice.
Due to lack of travel use.
Other places to look for black ice are, overpass's, underpass's and any shaded area.
There are natural crowns built into each lane of the hiway, for drainage.
The slow lane slopes towards the shoulder, while the fast lane slopes towards the midian. When possible, the best part of the road to travel on in winter storm conditions, is to keep towards the top of each lanes crown.
The perfect place to place youre tires, is to have the drivers side in the middle of the fast lane and the passenger side in the middle of the slow lane, spliting the white lines dividing the two. The tires will also be on driest pavement and not where the black ice has formed where the others normally travel.
The truck will not tilt to either side, it will be leval.
Remember, do not do this unless you have a clear view of traffic behind you and keep checking.
Hew said most vehicles that end up in the ditch, when there is wind involved with a winter storm, is because a cross wind has caught them tilting in the direction the wind is blowing.
If you need to park on a ramp, never park on the off ramp park on the on ramp. Vehcles coming off are more likely to lose control, than those entering.
If you see brake lights coming on, no matter how far ahead, start slowing down and keep a great distance between you and those braking.
It is giving you a warning something is happening ahead.
We have seen way to many multi car accidents, due to one car thinking they nedd to pull over on a dime to help the other motorist.
Carry a small sqegee (spelling) to reach out and wipe off those side mirrors in a storm.
Trust me, they work.
In a snow (not ice) storm, stay, when you can, in the lane that has the less travel on it. Loose snow will have more traction than packed snow.
I could write a short story on working the brakes and throttle in different conditions (and maybe I will someday)
I just wanted to give some tips for now.
I'm sure most already know this stuff but if one newbie got anything from it, it was worth printing.
I know I did.
Kathy
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