Two things about winter we can’t escape are snow/ice and things that slide on them. Since society has to get from A to B every day, we drive various vehicles. None are safe from sliding-on snow/ice accidents.
Big rig trucks frighten drivers of smaller vehicles. They’re so big they block our view, they’re noisy, and we’re not entirely sure we’re seen in the big guy’s mirrors. That vulnerability frightens drivers of smaller cars, especially in snow/ice.
What does the trucking industry do to big rig trucks to avoid needing a truck accident attorney on snowy winter days? How are the trucks prepared for travel in icy conditions?
Are Big Rig Trucks Equipped For Winter?
Technically, no. No passenger car or commercial truck is. Winter is about more than just snow and ice. It’s about black ice, which can form when no moisture is available. It’s about freezing temperatures and sleety ice chips. It’s about speeding, blissfully un-trained drivers from balmy-weather states moving into crushing snow-storm states and the sometimes resulting need for a truck accident attorney.
Preparing for winter involves putting snow tires and chains on the tractor’s axles. The weight of the load in the trailer will prevent sliding. An empty trailer wouldn’t be on a truck, so that the tractor would dead-head from the delivery back to the trucking company.
What Other Preparations Do Big Rig Drivers Perform To Make Their Rigs Safer In Winter Conditions?
Information
Any military hero knows that he who has the information wins the war. Truckers listen to weather reports from both the radio and CB radios. These give the drivers information from a local standpoint.
Truckers know when the roads have been cleared and sanded. They know which lanes are slower, so they have to tread carefully. They also learn how long conditions will be like this, so they can plan routes that won’t need a truck accident attorney.
Fuel
Unless people drive a car requiring diesel fuel, they don’t understand winter’s effect on it. When the temperature drops, diesel fuel turns into jelly. A tow truck driver tows the car into the shop, pours in an additive that turns the fuel back into liquid, and the driver can then go to work.
It’s a bit different for a big rig. If a big rig driver decides to take a load through an icy winter landscape, he knows the need for these additives. He’ll have several containers of de-gelling additives and won’t hesitate to pour them in and continue his delivery.
Protection
Winter is no time to mess around unprotected. Big rig drivers know the clothing layers they need, the undergarments, boots, hats, gloves, and face protection they need if they’re caught in circumstances beyond their control. These, along with water supplies for hydration, food, batteries, candles or another heat source, make up every big rig driver’s emergency stash.
Final Thoughts
Equipping a big rig truck for winter consists of securing good tires and chains on the tractor. Other winter prep deals with how the driver is trained to drive in icy conditions. Experienced truck drivers understand the need for slow, careful driving to avoid requiring a truck accident attorney.
