Skid Pad Training

Hello all, I'm planning on running out of PA so I'm be driving in some rough winter conditions. I've heard that winter driving is no joke, so I'm thinking that I should attend a CDL program with skid pad training. Any thought? Thanks for the help.

I'm not sure there are very many programs that offer it. I was super lucky back in the day that I was able to get a full day of skid pad training one time. Talk about a blast! Cruise along at like 25 mph, start around a curve, and pull the trailer brakes!

Lots of fun.

If you can't find a way into some skid pad training you can always practice on the road. I used to take advantage of every open snow-covered parking lot I could find, especially late at night, to learn more about making that thing handle in the snow. It's amazing how much you can figure out just by playing around with it like that.

A word of caution though. Parking lots famously have obstacles scattered about like curbs and light poles. It's imperative you don't hit anything trying to learn how to keep from hitting things.

Or, you could do what I did the other day and get skid off ramp training. God I love Wyoming... Not.

Roehl sent me to Fox Valley Tech in Appleton, WI for my cdl training. They do skid pad there at least in the winter months for sure. But Brett, the told us never to pull the trailer brakes during a skid. You were taught to do that?

But Brett, the told us never to pull the trailer brakes during a skid. You were taught to do that?

We were doing that to make it start sliding on the pad. We were causing a trailer jackknife so we could learn how to handle it.

Oh, okay. They had us do it once just to see what would happen, but mostly it was going around the circle at different speeds to see the affect of a slight sowed increase. The had us do the training in old cops cars first and then we took out the trucks. It was a good time!

If you can't find a way into some skid pad training you can always practice on the road. I used to take advantage of every open snow-covered parking lot I could find, especially late at night, to learn more about making that thing handle in the snow. It's amazing how much you can figure out just by playing around with it like that.

Oh, that's right. Now I remember......this training technique was in your book. Thanks Brett!

I went to school at Fox Valley Technical in Appleton, WI - as Hrynn mentioned, they do have a skid pad there. It runs year round. The blacktop area is super seal-coated, and they drench it with an agricultural irrigation sprayer. We practiced with flatbeds. It was fun in the controlled setting, but also a sobering thing indeed to experience that flatbed whipping around. It happens really fast.

I did my winter driving seminar on I-68 through West Virginia during a snow storm. That was NOT fun. But...slow and steady with a little puckering and I made it. Also, please remember, you are the captain of the ship. If you don't feel comfortable running during a storm, park it and let DOT clear the roads. My company sends out alerts...and the last line is usually....if you don't feel safe, pull over and park at a safe location.