Last week parts of California received several feet of snow, and dozens of truckers became stranded along highways. With winter still bearing down in many areas, we decided to ask veteran truckers for their best advice to rookie drivers who are experiencing their first winter on 18 wheels.
Here’s what they had to say!
“Slow down! If you slide on ice and damage anything or anyone they will say it’s your fault for not driving to conditions—and they will be right.”
“When you park for the night in freezing temps keep your trailer brakes released, if they get wet from snow or anything they will freeze together as they cool down. Simply setting only your tractor brakes will help prevent this.”
“Get some good boots. $60 at Walmart for a pair of water-resistant boots with good treading is a great deal when they can literally save your life. I’m an Arizona boy so I wasn’t really ready for the serious winter conditions up north like in Montana and the Dakotas.”
“Buy Merino wool hiking socks. They’re warm, and even if they DO get wet, they still protect you from the cold, unlike cotton socks.”
“To add to this, good merino wool in medium to heavyweight base layers can make a cold night cozy, even bumping up to 260+ weight for extreme colds.”
“Learn how to chain now. You don’t wanna be learning how to do it on the side of the road out in the cold.”
“They also make spikes you can slip on your boots for icy conditions. I’d suggest them to anybody who hasn’t been walking on ice for decades like us Northerners. A slip on the ice can turn deadly for anyone so walk slowly and keep your legs under you. Long strides don’t work on ice.”
“Get a good set of waterproof gloves and a waterproof outer layer to keep snow from melting on you. There is nothing worse than being cold and wet. ”
“Seriously, shut down if you’re uncomfortable. No load or job is worth the consequences. There’s no shame. I’ve been driving in the midwest for 11 years and I still take days off when the roads are bad.”
“If you’re working in below-freezing conditions, get back in the truck every so often to warm up, especially your feet and hands.”
“Be careful when you shower. Going out into -30°F when you’re still wet can give you hypothermia very quickly or give you a cold very easily. ”
“Don’t forget to buy a bib (insulated overalls). That’s the greatest thing ever invented! I bought 2 one to get dirty and the other to wear out.”
“Make sure you look at the weather, not just before driving, but also before sleeping! Several years ago I got stuck in a rest area in N Dakota for 2 days because I didn’t realize there was a blizzard coming through. ”
“Two words: Penguin. Shuffle.”
“Get the ABC airline anti-freeze. Dump it in the red line before you hook a trailer. Saves a lot of time messing around when everything’s locked up.”
“Do not fill up your DEF all the way, it expands a lot when it freezes.”
“Ice cleats are like $15 on Amazon”
“Regular sheep wool is actually better than Merino, and way cheaper. It’s itchy, but that doesn’t matter if you dress in layers, which you should be doing if you need wool in the first place.”
“Winter fuel is a thing. Florida fuel won’t play nice in Manitoba. Keep some anti-gel just in case.”
“Keep kitty litter in the truck.”
“Tug tests aren’t 100% when the lock jaws are full of salt. Visually inspect.”
