The winter season is here! Furthermore, you will undoubtedly run into various winter weather conditions while operating a commercial vehicle. Almost all truck drivers will concur that driving a large vehicle during the wintertime is exceedingly risky for a variety of reasons.
For instance, hauling in the snow is more difficult because vision and steering control are both hindered. A specific set of abilities, knowledge, and experience are necessary to operate a truck in the snow. This is because semi-truck accidents are much more likely to occur in the winter (insurance on semi truck).
Truck drivers must travel because they have delivery deadlines to meet, thus none of these circumstances can deter them. To make navigating winter weather conditions safer, you must take proactive measures to reduce the risk of an accident.
Continue reading for our top winter weather driving tips for truckers.
Winter Driving Safety Tips for Truckers
Although it can be hazardous and difficult, traveling from your starting point to your drop-off site can be done safely. You can drive carefully on icy and snow-covered roads by following the advice provided below. Let’s begin.
Maintain Your Truck
One of the main reasons for costly and dangerous winter truck rollovers is improper truck maintenance, which is frequently disregarded. Truck performance can be negatively impacted by cold weather, which can lead to accidents.
Because of this, it’s critical to take the required precautions to avoid malfunctions and mishaps. You’ll be more productive and secure if your truck is well-maintained. You still have time to begin prepping your trucks for subfreezing conditions and slippery roadways!
Brake Safely
Braking on dry pavement differs greatly from braking on slick and snowy roads. This is because tires don’t get as much traction on snowy or icy roads as they do on dry pavement.
To prevent abrupt breaking, you must reduce your speed and keep a safe following distance. Regrettably, sudden braking enhances your vehicle’s likelihood of slipping and sliding since there’s reduced traction. Therefore, you must exercise caution because the combination of snowfall and cold weather produces slick and icy roads.
Lower Your Speed and Increase Your Following Distance
Speeding is the primary cause of truck crashes during the winter. Big rigs can be challenging to drive in the snow due to a lack of traction between the tires and the road. As a result, braking or making a quick maneuver will require more time. You can gain more control of your truck and have a quicker response time by traveling at a slower speed.
Also, due to the reduced grip of your tires in the snow, you must maintain a safe following distance between your truck and the vehicle in front of you. You might not have enough time to stop your truck completely if you’re traveling too close to other cars.
Bottom Line
With this knowledge and some helpful advice, you may travel this winter reducing the chance of an accident or other mishap. As you’re aware, there’s no guarantee because the road is an uncertain place. However, with the aforementioned advice, you may reduce your risks and keep your vehicle up and running longer.
Additionally, you must obtain sufficient insurance coverage if you wish to fully safeguard your business from costly losses. Need insurance on your dump truck (insurance for dump truck)? We can help with that. Looking into hot shot truck insurance? We’ve got that as well. Give us a call or fill out our online quote form to receive three competitive quotes from some of the nation’s top carriers.
