Winter Driving
Topic 23890 | Page 1
The first and most important thing when it comes to winter driving is awareness and know your limits. You have to stay on your toes when the snow starts to fly and be more vigilant to what's going on around you. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and radar and head warnings posted by DOT on electronic signs and such. Turn on your CB, ask other drivers what they left behind them. A driver who just came through where you're headed is one of the best ways to get up to date information.
As far as tires, I've posted a couple photos of open shoulder vs closed. Many companies choose closed shoulder designs because they offer better fuel economy. The downfall is that in the snow or mud, they don't shed the material like an open shoulder design will and won't perform as well. Super wides are honestly a matter of opinion. Some people love them, some don't but with any tire, tread depth is important. A worn tire, while potentially still legal, will not perform as well as a tire with a deeper lug so keep an eye on your tires and don't run them down to drag slicks. Above all else, take your time and don't let someone on the radio drive your truck for you. If they're in that much of a hurry, they can go around and you can hit them on the radio to see if they're ok when they park it in a ditch.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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I have a new job driving from Montana to Colorado and back. I know the basics and have experienced winter driving in trucks for 2 years. I'm looking for some advice for driving on ice and snow with my current set up. Running down with super singles and an empty 48' trailer. 15-25k lb load on the way back. Any tips, hints, or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Happy Thanksgiving
Super Singles:
A single, wide wheel substituted for a tandem (two wheel) assembly. The main benefit of a super single is a reduction in weight and lower rolling resistance which provide better fuel economy. The disadvantage is the lack of tire redundancy (or a 'backup tire' in case of a blowout) from which tandem wheels benefit. A tire blowout is more dangerous with a super single and can not be driven on.