Thanks to navigation systems, truckers can find their way around new areas pretty easily. From cities to towns, massive shipping yards to small docks, our trusty trucker GPS and Google Earth help us get around and look like a professional.
What’s a trucker to do when the terrain becomes a challenge? It’s not often that we end up in thick mud or dangerously loose gravel, but it can happen in certain niche trucking jobs. What’s more likely to change a driver’s day are such things as snow, narrow roads, switchbacks, and steep grades.
Weather
Rain, snow, sleet, fog, wind, you name it and the weather can impact the day of a truck driver. The clearest, straightest road that you may have navigated hundreds of times becomes a completely different world when severe weather strikes. Snow and sleet make surfaces slick and will require a longer response time for braking and accelerating. Heavy rain, snow, and fog limit visibility causing the potential risk for collisions, while high winds on flat lands pose a risk of blow-overs. We’ve all seen social media memes of “trucks laying down for a nap,” but it was surely less than relaxing for the drivers that had no control over their rig. When in doubt, get off the road and let your dispatch know that conditions are too risky to continue safely.
Surface
Drivers know that interstates and industrial parks are just part of their experience. If you’re like me, you’ve discovered some beautiful back-country roads and some are gravel, dirt, or loose stone, thanks to LTL shipments. One thing is certain, these roads are less than ideal. To keep it simple, just slow down. Loose surfaces and excessive speed will cause your trailer to lose traction and sway out of control, potentially causing an accident, rollover, and harm to any other drivers.
Grade
It’s easy to succumb to the desire to let your truck coast down an incline. While there are times for this, coupled with rain, snow, and other challenging weather, doing so may result in tragedy. Unexpected ice, other accidents, and curves in the road will impact your ability to navigate the grade. In winter weather conditions, drivers may need to chain up as well. Some states and Canadian provinces require chains in certain terrain, especially mountainous regions. Take the time to chain up.
When climbing grades, ensure you can maintain the right amount of speed and traction. On slicker roads, it’s difficult to resume driving if you’ve already slowed or stopped unnecessarily. Maintain a safe and consistent speed whether you are going up or downhill to ensure you—and the traffic around you—keep moving.
Switchbacks
A switchback is a sharp bend on the road in which the route you are traveling turns 180 degrees and is usually associated with hills or mountainous terrain. In a passenger vehicle, these turns require little more than slowing down to accommodate the turn. In a transport truck, however, your trailer tracks differently than your tractor. When maneuvering around a switchback remember to position yourself with the maximum space to allow your trailer to make it safely around the bend. Keep in mind, there may also be oncoming traffic which may require you to wait or move slower than desired.
Before You Head Out
Life on the road means preparing for the unexpected. Planning ahead will provide you with a greater sense of calm if you find yourself bound by weather or road conditions. No matter the weather, terrain, or conditions, take your time, stay safe, and remember these few tips:
- Keep the fuel tank filled off to prevent water condensation.
- Keeping the tank filled also helps ensure you can run your truck for heating as needed
- Keep fuel treatment fluid and spare fuel filters.
- Pack a heavy jacket, warm and durable footwear, a warm hat, and gloves.
- Have emergency food and water with you to last for at least 2 to 3 days.
- Keep emergency contact numbers to inform your authorities immediately if anything happens to you or the vehicle.
