Old man winter is not far away. And if you are a truck driver, this can lead to a lot of headaches on the roads. Truckers are dependent upon punctuality and safety. Throwing ice, snow, and mechanical problems into the mix does a lot to complicate things. Let’s look at many of the issues that truckers face in greater detail below.
Clogged Fuel Filters
If you are a trucker, you are familiar with one of the most common problems that truckers experience in any cold weather, frozen diesel filters. It is so easy for the diesel to gel and turn into sludge when it gets cold enough outside. Many truckers leave their trucks idling for long periods of time to take advantage of the cabin heater and the flow of fuel to keep the filter unclogged.
The problem is that the southern states don’t treat their diesel fuel with winter additives to prevent gelling. If you are dropping off a load down south and have to refuel before you come up north, you have to know what types of additives work in your fuel system. In addition, you should always have a few spare filters on hand and a plug-in heater to wrap around your fuel filter to thaw it out in a pinch.
Icy Roads
The icy roads are one of the hardest obstacles for truckers who are trying to make precise turns and navigate over steep incline and declines. Although quality tires and proper maintenance make a huge difference in how well your vehicle will handle on snow and ice, there is a limit to the marvels of any engineering. The only thing that truckers can do is take it slow and steady as they plot along. They should also presume that bridges are covered with ice because they are so close to bodies of water.
Black ice is one of the worst problems for truckers. Black ice is so thin that is virtually invisible on the roads and is often at a temperature that makes it super slick on top. Many people have died in car accidents by zipping into intersections that were unknowingly coated with black ice. For truckers, the biggest danger of ice is jackknifing. If they brake during turns, they always run the risk of jackknifing and spinning out of control. Then, about the only thing that they’ll be doing is looking for new tipper trailers for sale as they wait for rescue.
Traffic Clusters
When the inclement weather hits, it is only natural for drivers to wind up clustered together. This is because there will always be one driver who is taking it a lot slower than the others. And the other impatient drivers have no choice other than to follow behind at a slow pace. If they keep too much distance, they risk being passed. Drivers also cluster together because it is easier to follow vehicles in the dark if you are trailing behind their taillights.
As a truck driver, you have no choice other than to keep safe following distances. If you drive too close to other vehicles, you are taking much larger risks because your truck has so much inertia on slippery roads. You can literally glide along like a hockey puck if the weather is severe enough.
Conclusion
Truck drivers don’t have to fear winter weather. However, if they are impatient or imprudent, the bills will follow. Staying safe this winter by pacing yourself with other big rigs and relying on your comrades when you experience emergency problems is the best advice. Even wolves have trouble making it alone in the winter. It takes a pack and strong drivers to make hard journeys in a big rig.
