Winter Driving
“…signs to watch for when driving through icy or snow bound conditions.”
We stepped into the world of trucking with no winter driving experience whatsoever. It didn’t help that we went through our training in the spring either, so our tires never hit snow. It took nearly a year before there was snow under our feet for our knowledge and skills to get put to the test. We've compiled the most important snow driving tips, along with the photos we took while inching through a blizzard in North Dakota.
Watch the Temperatures
Fluctuating temperatures just above and below freezing lead to roads icing over rapidly, this is the time to turn off your cruise control. Keep your eyes on the temperature gauge so you’ll know when to adjust your speed.
Winter storm, North Dakota, October, 2018
Bridges Freeze First
Due to the cold surrounding areas of bridges, winds will cause them to ice over rapidly. The best practice when passing over a bridge is to let off the gas and let the truck roll until you have crossed over safely.
Snow VS Freezing Rain
Freezing rain will occur when temperatures are near or just below freezing. This is when you should start to be more cautious of your surroundings and fast changing road conditions. Expect ice and snow along your path and decrease your speed.
Don’t Crowd the Plows
Snow plows average below highway speeds (-55 mph) so watch out for those flashing lights and be cautious when passing. Plowing heavily snow covered roads will lead to large amounts of snow being thrown into the surrounding lanes, which can blind you when passing and/or cause you to lose control. Either wait until they finish the section or another lane opens for you to pass freely.
Freshly Plowed Roads
Plowed roads can be a blessing and a curse. Though fresh plowing seems like it will give you a safer roadway, you will hit snow-pack. During the plowing process, they are also compressing the snow below them, leaving behind sheets of ice and snow-pack. Be cautious in these conditions as they can be just as slippery. Fresh powder can bring you better traction but lessen visibility of the roadway and any obstacles they may be hiding.
Driving through Snow
Do not drive through previous tracks from other vehicles. The snow in the tire tracks will be compressed, leading to slippery conditions. It’s always best to stay in the “fresh powder” to maintain traction. Watch for spray behind the tires of passing vehicles, so you can identify if roads have been treated.
Snow Storm in North Dakota, October, 2018 (Vehicle off the shoulder on opposing lanes)
Chain Laws
Be sure to look over your route for any chain laws in effect, especially if you'll be crossing over long mountain streches. Some US highways have permanent chain laws throughtout the winter season, so stay diligent and preplan your route. The general trucker consensus is - if you have to throw chains, it’s probably not worth driving through. *Regardless if chain laws are in effect, chains must be carried throughout winter months in the majority of our western states.
Use De-Icer Windshield Washer
Ice will build up quickly on your windshield during an active snow storm. Make sure to add alcohol to your windshield washer fluid, or keep it simple and buy the de-icer windshield washer fluid in the surrounding winter months to keep you prepared. Always keep an extra bottle on hand also.
Don’t Make Sudden Changes
In icy, slippery, and/or snow covered conditions - you should do everything with ease and patience. Change lanes slowly so you don’t cause your truck to lose traction and slide. Brake lightly, and utilize the stab braking method so you don’t lock up your wheels. Accelerate with ease and let the truck roll when passing other vehicles to help maintain traction. This will help you lessen the chance of a self inflicted spin out.
Police averting traffic from exit ramp spin off, North Dakota, October 2018
Driving with the Public
There are 2 (seemingly popular) means of driving through snow storms, either by maximizing your distance with other vehicles or within a “chain” of other cars/trucks. They both have their pros and cons and neither is right or wrong. Maintaining excessive distance in front and behind you; keeps you away from others, along with their errors and bad judgement. People tend to overcorrect, and can be the reason you end up in a wreck if you're too close or cannot come to a full stop in time to avoid it. On the other hand, driving in a “chain” can be somewhat of a safety barrier, warning you of ice up ahead. This method can also increase your chances of being involved in a pile up. So make sure to keep your following distance regardless of which method you choose. With both choices in mind, remain in the right lane if not passing, turn on your four way flashers if operating below the minimum speed limits, and take it slow. Mother nature will always win if you take her for granted.
Jackknifed tractor-trailer in the median, Interstate 94, North Dakota, October, 2018
Better to be safe, than sorry.
If you are not comfortable driving through any mixture of winter conditions; it’s better to shut it down and let your company know the current road conditions are unsafe. It’s okay to some feel pressure, it comes with the job… but keep in mind, no load is worth your life. You will get there, when you get there.
Remain in Your Vehicle
If you, or another vehicle around you is caught in a wipe out, please REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE. If others around you start to lose control, your vehicle will offer you a form of protection. If you see an incident happen, please leave it to the professionals - a quick 911 call will keep everyone safe. Lastly, if road conditions have worsened beyond your comfort or driving abilities, keep driving until you can exit the highway safely. Stopping along the shoulders, especially in inclement weather, can make you an unnecessary road hazard and puts your life in danger.
Tanker slid into the median, Interstate 94, North Dakota, October, 2018
“Keep in mind, no load is worth your life. ”
Please note, information found on this page is for entertainment purposes only. Any action taken upon the methods described and information on this website is strictly at your own risk.
Over the Road Training
“…in an 80’ sleeper there’s limited room for 3 people.”
When it comes time for you to pack your stuff and hit the road, it’s going to be nice to have a list of recommendations for your basic needs. When we first came out over the road, we had no clue if we would be able to stop at restrooms, let alone a store. We didn’t know how much truck stops sold either, but we quickly learned how expensive it would be if we tried to rely on truck stops for our basic needs.
In our situation, there were 3 people in a truck; both of us, and our trainer. Thankfully, he was a small guy and packed light. Regardless, in an 80’ sleeper there’s limited room for 3 people and their luggage.
You shouldn’t have any issues stopping at local stores and supermarkets for your shopping, so don’t pack too heavy.
Packing recommendations:
Small soft sided duffel bag (easy for fitting into corners or small shelves)
10 shirts/5 pants for up to 10 days of use (additional light jacket/windbreaker for fast changing weather)
Shower bag - waterproof - to hold clean clothes and cleansers for your shower
Shower supplies - shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
Baby wipes (for a quick wipe down in an emergency)
Pair of shower shoes
Twin set of sheets and pillow
Bluetooth headset (for hands-free music and phone calls)
Car chargers for cell phone/headset
Laundry bag and travel sized bottle of detergent
Pocket sized notebook for quick note taking
Good luck in your training and in your travels!
What to Expect in Trucking School
“We watched countless students quit while on the yard…”
Trucking schools range from a few weeks to a few months. Considering you will (and should) go through additional training when you get hired on with a company, I would recommend either ends of the sprectrum. The school we attended was only concerned with getting a license in our hands and focused solely on passing the CDL paper and final road test. We started with a school local to us in Atlanta, and it was a mere 3 weeks long. We watched countless students quit while on the yard and one was disqualified immediately after failing to follow instructions that would have prevented him from mowing down the schools fence with the back of the trailer.
Georgia 2018/2019 CDL Drivers Manual
Our first week was learning the CDL Manual from the Georgia DDS (almost verbatim) since we had to have permits to legally be in the drivers seat of a CMV. By the end of the week, we were Georgia CMV textbook fact spitting zombies. To be exact, we started studying Monday and tested for our permits on Friday so it was a quick turnaround and nonstop studying. The following 2 weeks were practicing yard and road skills. The “road skills” covered (at most) a 20 mile radius, from school and back, with a small section of interstate driving. We had to show efficiency in our turning, shifting, acceleration, deceleration (down shifting), stopping (without stalling), and scanning intersections and railroad tracks before crossing. The yard skills covered were straight backing, off set, parallel parking, and the all-but-famous, alley dock. We were put on a scheduled rotation, so everyday you would get practice on each skill, keeping everyone fresh for test day. By week 2, we could focus on which skills we felt we needed the most practice on. Our instructors ranged in experience from 9 months (not kidding) to one with 4 million miles under his belt. That should tell you which one we talked to more.
The lot we practiced on back in 2015.
Come test day, our class had 6 of us testing out. We met with a handful of DMV employees and started first thing in the morning. The way our school had set it up with the DMV, one of the instructors from the school drove us out to the test site, and luckily, was able to show us the ‘test drive’ route and point out the common errors made by past students. First came the knowledge test which was a fancy way of saying pre-trip that included the air break test, then yard skills, and finally, the test drive. A few immediate disqualification examples were; stalling upon stopping, hitting a curb, not scanning an intersection before passing through it, or not being able to recite a sign you just passed. Fortunately for us, we both passed on our first test attempt and were the only ones to walk away that morning with our full Class A CDLs!
On our last day of school we were bombarded by company recruiters. Which gave us more company sponsored pens, hats, recyable bags, and rulers than we could use in a lifetime. Little did they know that we had already chosen a company to venture with and had been prehired during our initial training; so we knew exactly where we were headed next and had already had a bus ticket booked for orientation! It’s important to have an idea of what company you’d like to join in the industry so you can go fresh out of school and be ready for your orientation after your handed that shiny new CDL!
What got you interested in Trucking?
“We don’t even remember…”
“For the money, and for the glory... but mostly for the money.”
The million dollar question we’re asked anytime someone sees “two kids” in their twenties stepping out of a truck. I could tell you it was our dream… that we knew since we were kids that we wanted to drive a big truck… but then you would mention what a coincidence it was that we met each other. Well, sorry to burst your bubble but that would be a lie. Honestly, we don’t even remember the conversation that truly initiated it. Though we do remember just wanting something promising and consistent. We had relocated to Atlanta from Miami, and we ended up working dead end jobs for months before considering a complete career overhaul.
View of the truck parking area at Petro Truck Stop in Bordentown, New Jersey.
Trucking was brought up lightly in conversation some time before, and at that point, it came up again. Except this time we were genuinely ready to take the dive. Unfortunately for us, the internet held little to no information, only company review sites filled with complaints. We had no one in the industry to turn to, no family or friends that were in trucking. So then we thought, “What better way to find some real information than from the drivers themselves?” At that point in time, we had a close family member that happened to be working at a local truck stop and she was able to confirm hearing the same complaints on a daily basis. That intrigued us to drive over to the truck stop and question as many drivers as we could. We walked all over the truck stop, watching what the drivers would do, stopping people of different breeds, and asking them general advice and tips to getting started. I sought advice from a personal level, “What would you tell me if I was your daughter?” to try and get the most genuine answers possible from the drivers we came across. We got advice on both ends of the spectrum, “Stay away.” and “Do something else.” to “I wish I came out here sooner.” and “I got a PhD in Law but trucking turned out to be my passion.” When asked about income averages, drivers didn’t shy away to show us their paychecks and talk about their worst lows and highest highs. After taking all of it in, we started to look into trucking companies and training options. When we found that we could train together over the road, we were pretty much sold. We immediately saw the potential benefits of the industry. So our little trip to the truck stop worked quite well, and the information we obtained convinced us that we shouldn’t waste anymore time.