Winter Driving Tips: Safety Third

For truck drivers, winter driving can present some serious challenges. Driving in snowy and icy conditions is a hazard for any driver, but doubly so for professional truck drivers. It requires skill, confidence, and awareness that only a safety conscious professional can take command of the road in any driving condition. If you pay attention to and drive with a safety focus, serious mistakes and consequences can be avoided, this goes for regular drivers as well. Here are some of the most important winter driving tips.

Visibility

Visibility is a mainstay of driving as a professional truck driver.

1. Make sure your Truck is visible, that means clearing off lights, reflective tape, are clear of snow and ice.
2. Make sure you can see, that means removes snow and ice, from windows, and mirrors.
3. Pay attention to brake lights, and make sure your truck lights are functioning properly.
4. Pay attention to road conditions that affect visibility. Drive at a speed at which you can clearly see vehicles ahead and behind you.

Road Conditions

Keep your focus on the road and monitor road conditions, drive according to what the road conditions can allow.

1. Use caution on entrance and exit ramps if they are icy or snow-covered sharp turns could result in jackknifing or running off the ramp.
2. Use caution while driving over bridges. Bridges can be icy, as they become ice covered first.
3. Engine breaking could cause trucks to lose traction in winter conditions, consider turning it off when conditions worsen.
4. Monitor your speed, drive in a manner that maintains proper traction. You may want to avoid using cruise control. A general rule of thumb is, if your wipers are on your cruise control should be off.
5. Monitor wind conditions, empty trailers are the most dangerous when it is windy.

Defensive Driving

Defensive driving is driving safely by being mindful of road conditions and potential issues. While normal drivers drive almost idiotically sometimes, it is up to you as a professional driver to protect yourself, your truck and your load. While driving in the winter it is important to not to lose your cool when drivers cut you off or do idiotic things.

1. Accelerate and decelerate in a gradual manner, pulling a trailer is crucial it has traction to avoid jackknifing.
2. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, while it is recommended to have at least 7-8 seconds behind vehicles under normal conditions, it is best to increase that in the winter by double if possible.
3. Try to avoid driving over packed down snow, it may be icier than it appears.
4. Slow down, it is better to get there in one piece than risk your life, other peoples, lives, and truck and trailer to save a few minutes. 

Safety Third

So, if you are like me, you may be a fan of Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs. He talks about safety third, but there really isn’t a list of importance when it comes to trucking, although some that don’t drive seem to think there is such a thing. Being a professional trucker means safety is always on the mind and being considered. It is built into a trucker’s character, and every professional out there. By saying safety third, it really means it is always there, but in the background of being a professional. You have a job to do, a load to deliver, a mission, or goal, all these generally are important considerations, safety third is delivering on that, it is part of what it means to be a professional trucker. It is taking personal responsibility to doing the job in a professional manner. So, this winter remember safety third. 

BLOOM SERVICES, INC

Here at Bloom, we provide Freightliner Cascadias on our Rental and Lease-Purchase Program. They come equipped with powerful inverters, fridges, and an HVAC system that doesn’t require the truck to idle. The Freightliner is one of the most fuel-efficient trucks on the road. If you have a Class A CDL and want to long-haul, Bloom Services is hiring OTR truckers. Our drivers take home $3,000 + a week after all expenses.