I saw a few snowflakes today. I am honestly surprised that I did not see a bunch of people running to the store to buy bread and milk! What is it with snow storms that makes everyone want to buy bread and milk anyway? What recipe calls for just bread and milk? Okay, sorry I went off on a little tangent there. But seriously, since I saw the snowflakes today I thought “Wow, how many people are going to be driving like idiots because they saw a snowflake?” What better time to discuss that! That I thought maybe we could share ideas and tips for staying safe during snow/ice/sleet.

I had the wonderful experience last year, as we rode in the big truck, of experiencing snow in Michigan. The roads completely covered to the point where you couldn’t see them at all. I was scared because it was the first time I had been in a situation like that, everyone else was chatting up storm like it was no big deal.
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Somewhere near Coldwater, Michigan earlier this year!

Seeing the slide offs worried me but then I saw why big trucks were sliding off. When you have a road that is covered with snow and untreated, why do you want to drive like an amateur? Do you not realize that not taking some kind of precaution is going to end up in a very bad result?

So where does one start with winter driving? I did a search, again, and had to laugh at one article that addressed what to do if you started to skid in a big truck: “1.  Pray 2.  Scream.” Of course after that it says “Just kidding!” Very cute.

I would have to say distance and speed are huge factors in winter driving as it is in any wet weather. You do not want to follow someone to close should they happen to hydroplane (rainy weather), slide, or fishtail.  You definitely do not want to be the first one at the scene of the accident. Next would definitely have to be knowing when to drive and not when to drive. To many super truckers out there take a deadly chance of getting the load there to impress someone or for greed when road conditions are treacherous. To me, no load is worth a life. I have said that many times to drivers, brokers, dispatchers, and heads of companies

The usual every day driving safety factors always come into play. Such as making sure you have enough windshield wiper fluid (salt), making sure your windows are clean, checking all fluids, proper air pressure in your tires, etc. Since winter is here be sure to keep an eye on your fuel so it will not gel up either. Now I have heard unconfirmed rumors that using too much of the anti-gel (additives) can cause injectors to go bad. I am not sure if that is true or not. I might have to do a little research into that thought.  Some things to watch for: black ice, frozen windshield wipers, and frozen air lines. Both can lead to your truck being somewhere you do not want it to be.

It is always good to have some extra supplies on hand. I remember last year seeing on the news where trucks were stuck on the highways because of snow storms. So make sure you have extra food, water, blankets, clothes, gloves, and even a candle and lighter that could provide heat when you need it. If you drive in places where you know it’s going to be snowy/icy out, be sure to have those extra supplies on hand and it might not be a bad idea to have an ice scraper, portable snow shovel, and a little kitty liter or sand.  Why kitty litter and/or sand you ask? It works wonders for traction when put under tires. Of course you could just carry a little bag of salt with you to melt away snow as well.

So in short, keep a watch on the weather, keep your head on straight, and most of all, be careful out there drivers. Watch out for the other drivers as they may not be watching out for you!