With November just around the corner, winter is well on its way. This means dangerous driving conditions for truck drivers everywhere. At Integrity Factoring, we care about our clients. That’s why we’d like to provide you with some critical winter safety truck driving tips, whether you are new to the industry or have years of experience on the road.
Top Winter Safety Truck Driving Tips
Pre-Trip Inspection
First, and foremost, before you head out on the road, it’s essential to start with a pre-trip inspection. While this is true for all hauls, it’s especially important for winter road conditions. A pre-trip inspection should always include tires, wiper blades, fluids, and lights. If any of these things aren’t working properly, they can become a much bigger problem during winter weather.
For example, you wouldn’t want to deal with a tire going out on a snow-covered road, or other drivers around you not being able to see your lights due to dirt and grim. It’s also just as important to make sure you have the necessary amount of fuel you need to get where you are going. The more fuel you have in your truck, the less condensation builds up in your tank.
Proper Gear
Once you’ve finished with your pre-trip inspection, it’s essential to pack the following items for a worst case scenario:
- Appropriate Clothing
- Flashlight
- Blanket
- Food & water
- Bags Of Sand
- Washer fluid
- Windshield Scraper
- Jumper cables
- Tire chains
- Reflective Vest
- Bungees
- Cam Lock T-handles
- Kneeling Pad
- Emergency Flares
Trip Planning
Next, it’s time to plan your trip. When you are in the process of determining your route, it’s important to take note of all available truck stops and weather patterns. This will allow you to choose the safest route possible. If you typically make the same route, take note of any changes you’ve experienced in the past due to bad weather.
Watch Your Speed
When you are out on the road, it’s important to watch your speed. No matter where you are going, or how fast you need to get there, nothing is more important than your life and others. By watching your speed, you will have more time to react if something unpredictable happens. You’ll also want to watch your spacing and keep a reasonable following distance between you and other vehicles.
Brake & Accelerate Lightly
Winter weather conditions can spell life or death situations. That’s why you should never stop or accelerate at high speeds. This is especially important when you are dealing with black ice on the road. To help you keep an eye out for black ice, take notice of any sudden stop of normal tire spray from the vehicles in front of you. Furthermore, obey all signs, especially in the mountains, to ensure your best possible safety.
Drive Defensively
As professional truckers, you are probably pretty confident about driving in bad weather. However, it’s important to remember that you can’t control other drivers out on the road. While this is true, you can, however, control how you drive around them. Keep your distance with a heightened sense of awareness in the event you need to react quickly.
Stay In Your Truck
Last, but not least, if you find yourself stranded, stay in your truck. Grab your coat and a blanket to keep warm. You’ll also want to make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of ice and snow and to keep a window cracked for ventilation. Also, you should make sure to run your engine for 10-15 minutes every hour.
If you find yourself in bad weather conditions, it’s okay to get off the road. Just use your best judgment because your life is the most precious thing your hauling.
Integrity Factoring
At Integrity Factoring, we understand that the most important aspect of truck driving is safety. It takes a concentrated effort along with well-planned execution to avoid accidents and other dangerous winter situations behind the wheel. That’s why it’s important to follow the important safety tips mentioned above to keep yourself, your truck, and your fellow motorists out of harm’s way.
Integrity Factoring is a leading provider of factoring services in the trucking industry. We provide invoice factoring services and access to immediate cash. This ensures trucking companies can meet payroll, manage equipment, and take on new opportunities for growth. For more information about the services we provide, contact us at 1.866.834.2746.
