Question:
What is it like driving in a bad snow storm? I hear that colorado is REALLY REALLY bad? So what do you do can you pull over if it gets to bad or do they just want you to put on the chains and keep going? My father in-law use to live in Canada and I told him that I'm going to be going in and out of there pretty soon with my new truck driving job and he told me that in the winter I can't turn it off because the oil will freeze. Is that true? Whats it like in -20 degree weather and driving in Canada snow? Looking forward to it. Thanks all!
Drive Safe and Smooth
----Thumper (Newbie)

Answer:
Driving in a snowstorm will definatly pucker ya. Wait till Billy Bigrig passes ya at 60mph at night and you`re doing 30. Total whiteout. Have had it so bad in Montana that i had to bump the rumble strip now and again to just find the road. Ya get so tired being so tight that ya finnaly have to just pull over and wait it out. My hands have hurt from holding onto the steering wheel so hard. Just tell dispatch it is unsafe, listen to them bit@h, and them mention the safty department. Don`t know much about Canada, never drove there in the winter, but you won`t want to turn off your rig anyway, something about heat in the cab that ya kinda get used to. Had to ducttape cardboard to the front on my truck to get the water in the radiator warm enough to get some heat.Frozen windsheilds are fun too!.
fishman

Answer:
Canadian winters are fun, it is very cold in BC/Alberta and the "interstate" (lol) is more like a beaten up state highway. They usually keep the roads clear but watch out for black ice and sometimes you have to stop and break the ice off your grill as it is extremely cold in the higher elevations. As far as oil freezing, why would you shut your truck off if it is that cold anyway?
Who are you going to be driving for?
...there's nothing in this world worth a solitary dime, except old dogs and children, and watermelon wine..

Answer:
It is cold everywhere in winter in Canada.
As the saying goes, "We have six months of snow and six months of crappy snowmobiling."
First things first Nitestalker is the fuel.
Make sure if you have coastal #2 diesel on board to add conditioner. It is a special kind that has anti-gel in it. If you dont your deisel will look like jelly in the tank. Next it the air system. Make sure your air systems is water and watervapor free. If you are unsure, then add air line antifreeze. This is not engine antifreeze. Next make sure your engine antifreeze is up to par. 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is good. Never use 100% straight antifreeze. The engine oil will not freeze up like a popsicle but it does get very thick if you shut down the engine at -40. -40 is the same in C or F. Next is the survival gear. At all times (given that you live in CA) carry proper winter clothes. This means a GOOD winter jacket. Insulated boots. Insulated gloves. A stash of snickers candy bars. (Needed for energy if you need to hike from an abandoned vehicle). A cellphone. (Even if it is a pay and go. Just use it for emergencies) A toque. (Winter hat that covers head down past the ears.) I am not trying to scare you hear. You could be in trouble at sometime and may very well need all of the listed items.
Even if you dont come up to Canada you ned to carry these items. The prairies (MT, ND, SD, WY, NE, IA) down there are mighty cold at times to.
Have a safe winter.
BUMP!
Randy Travis - What was that?
Patrick Swayze - A Mazda.
From the movie Black Dog
Answer:
Keep plenty of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol with you during the winter. I buy [6] 32oz bottles from Wal-Mart to always keep in the truck. (I keep that much even in the summer, I'll explain later).
Window washer fluid will freeze, even the anti-freeze type freezes on the windshield and the plastic lines and washer nipples freeze up. Dump a bottle or two in the washer reservoir with the washer anti-freeze and flush some of it through "right away", before you head into real cold weather. (hit the windshield washer button the dash).
The alcohol keeps the washer system from freezing up while your driving. The "alcohol melts ice on contact" thus keeps ice off the windshield and wiper blades.
You can wash your windows with straight alcohol, you'll need to buy a good quality small plastic sprayer, one that seals the sprayer head closed. This keeps the alcohol from evaporating out of the sprayer.
This alcohol sprayer will come in handy for deicing anything.
You can pour it down the air lines, dump some in your fuel tanks. (I prefer to use Howes fuel treatment to the alcohol)
If you accidentally leave your trailer brakes on and they freeze, spraying alcohol on the brakes and drums helps.
Why do I keep alcohol with me all year around?
Nothing cleans windows as well as pure alcohol. It removes road film, nicotine residue and everything else. Also, those micro fiber wash cloths work great on windows too, as well as the inside of the truck.
You can clean the inside of your truck with it. You can clean your body with it. I use it in conjunction with Pampers Baby Wipes.
Keep "Heater Meals" with you. You can buy these at many truck stops.
http://www.heatermeals.com/
Think they are expensive?? Remember, Hunger is painfull!!
Keep water with you, min 1 gal.
Buy good quality winter wear. (It's no time to look fashionable in cowboy boots when it's 25+ below zero).
Your truck may go kaput on you in the middle of nowhere!! Be prepared. Keep insulated underwear and heavy blankets and/or a good sleeping bag or both. You can sleep in your jacket, boots, etc. Trust me, been there, done that! Try sleeping when it's 5 below "inside" your truck!!
I have a 12 volt coffee maker. You can make dried soup with it. Put the dried soup in the decanter, pour the water into the water well. Now you have hot soup. You can buy a heating prong at Truck Stops. This plugs into the cigarette lighter. It will heat soup in a can, water in a can, etc.
I keep mittens with me as well as gloves. Mittens will keep your hands and fingers warmer than gloves. If it's real cold, you can put the mittens over the gloves.
As far as the driving part? Go slow, you'll learn and yes, your knuckles will turn white, you'll hold on to that steering so hard, your fingers will go numb.
I forgot. Don't forget insulated socks! They came in handy just as sleeping booties alone.
I also have my own air hose for airing tires up. Most Truck Stops in the winter have the air shut off or it's frozen up, or they just don't have an air hose.
I have a cloth covered 50 foot hose. It stays more flexible in cold weather than the plastic ones. Plastic can crack and break in real cold weather. I've had mine going on 13 years and it's still going strong.
You'll need a glad hand, plumbers tape, and a good quailty air chuck, one with the screw threads on the inside of the air chuck. This way. the threads lock onto the valve stem and you can sit in your warm truck while the tire is filling with air. It helps to engage the high idle while airing the tires.
Damn this thread is going to long over time!!
Have an extra truck ignition key hidden somewhere on the outside of the truck. One of those magnetic key holders works well. I mount it facing up on the bottom of one of the truck rails. That way, it's not hanging. Some drivers keep their's in the motor compartment with a string tried for easy removal. Others use a small plastic container with a cap on it, then fasten the container with electrical ties.
Years ago, I accidently locked myself out of my truck at one of my customers for an unload in the morning. Almost in the middle of nowhere. I was in my stocking feet, I just needed something in the side box real quick. Yup!! It was cold!!! Luckily there was a 24/7 convenience store just up the road. Yup!! Walking in there late at night in shorts and socks raised some eyebrows!! I called a 24 hour locksmith and $50.00 later I was back in my truck.
[This message was edited by dak1 on September 24, 2003 at 19:28.]

Answer:
Excellent advise everyone! Good job!
Remember this, only YOU are in control of that truck. If you don't feel safe, then no one around you is safe!
If the conditions are such that you are unsure of your abilities, then please park. And also remember, the other idiot just thinks he's bullet-proof!
Allow no one to force you to drive when you are not sure, other drivers, cb's, dispatchers, etc. I don't want to be killed by YOUR error!
One final tip, a heavily loaded truck is much more stable on slippery roads, hence, the driver still going may be loaded heavier than you ....
And never encourage anyone else to "come on, we can do it", he may be less skilled than you!
The BEST of us discuss issues.
MOST of us discuss things.
The WORST of us discuss other people.
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Answer:
i think i wont drive this winter...lol
it's easy no jake,touch youre brake's once
and a while to keep them warm,park it for black
ice wait for the plow's to pass..for salt
never use the hand brake's.......
and like me youre gonna like it when it snow's,
it smoothens the ride....lol
are you not entertained
*
Answer:
I began a post on this important subject years ago. I'll go back in time and see if I can resurrect it from the past......


Answer:
Good post dak1, good stuff to know!
What I like about the winter is driving along I-80, after it's had a winter storm and been shut down for a day or so. You'll always see some "Billy BigRigger" about 250-300 yards off of the highway, way out in the pasture, and think "Dammit boy! How fast were you going?"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This space for rent. Call George @ 202-456-1414 for details.

Answer:
The new thread is "Newbie Winter Driving Again".


Answer:
I am from Canada... Rouyn-Noranda area in north-western Quebec.
Keep in mind that the majority of accidents happen during clear conditions... clear skies & dry roads. Why is that? Because vehicle operators are relaxed and enjoying the ride.
Black ice under a layer of snow is difficult to deal with since you cannot see it. Freezing rain is the next worst.
What is it like? Both scary and thrilling at the same time. Keep your rig under control, don't be afraid of going slow. Don't let anyone push you.
If nothing else remember one thing, you are the captain of the "ship" so to speak. Don't let dispatch or appointment times push you around. When conditions get bad and you no longer feel safe find a safe spot to pull it over. Alongside the interstate is NOT safe. Keep in mind there will be other drivers thinking the same thing, those spots in rest areas/truck stops/etc are going to fill up quickly so don't delay too long with your decision.
Outside temperature gauge. If you truck isn't equipped with one, get one. Last November I was driving from New York up to Montreal in bad winter conditions. When I started out the temperature was hovering around 40 degrees. At about the time the temperature was getting down to 32 degrees and lower I started to see the cars skidding and off into the ditch... I also saw several trucks jackknifed into the median. The temperature gauge gave me a heads-up it was getting cooler and that the road surface would be getting slicker and as I saw the temperature go down I adjusted my driving accordingly. I didn't become another statistic despite the conditions.
Carry sand and a shovel with you. You can and will get stuck in a shipper or receiver's docking area with only a few inches of snow on the ground. They may not have sand, but if you carry some sprinkling some of it under your drives can get you moving.
Keep your RPMs down. Why? Less torque going to the drives means less of a chance of them spinning out.
Engine brake... jake. Don't use it on slick roads, adjust your driving such that you won't feel the need to use it.
When you stop leave your trailer brakes released otherwise they may freeze up and you'll find yourself under the trailer trying to free them up.
Take it slow on the turns. Once going in a straight direction all that weight behind you will want to keep going in that direction despite you turning the steers in another direction. Keep in mind there are 18 wheels on the ground and only 2 of them provide direction control... the rest want to keep going straight.
Brake very carefully in slick conditions. Keep an eye on your mirrors during braking... if you see the trailer starting to come around release the brakes immediately otherwise you'll be into a jackknife and won't be able to recover.
Keep a close watch on the weather conditions through the reports available to you. Watch the conditions for the area you are in as well as the area you are headed to... also keep track of the long range forecast. Keep the weather reports in mind when considering your trip plan.
Operate the rig very carefully if you are bobtail, empty or lightly loaded. In any case, on slick surfaces don't make sudden applications of the brake or steering corrections... do everything very smoothly. Look as far down the road as you can to anticipate what may happen. See brake lights... might be time to back off a bit.
There are a lot of things to know, most of it is common sense. You'll get a lot of good advice by asking questions.
Happy & safe trails!

Answer:
My bad...
Keep RPMs high to keep torque down.

Answer:
I forgot to add this as well.
Every year I dummy down and do this. I know about it but sometimes forget.
When your going to park your rig on ice/snow, move the tires over the snow to cool the tires down. When you park, give the tires several minutes to cool and move the rig back and forth a few inches.
Tires get hot running on the highway, even in very cold temps. If you just park on snow, the hot tires will melt the snow and then freeze your tires in ice.
You may not be able to move the rig at all, because the tires are now freezen in.
By moving the rig back and forth before you finalize your parking, the tires won't freeze in on you.
Trust me, it doesn't take long for tires to freeze into the snow. All it takes is 15 minutes to 1/2 hr. Been there done that. I had to be towed out off an icy parking spot. I forgot to do the above. I was empty, the tractor wheels just spun. The trailer tires were in the ice deep from sitting overnight.
I also got stuck in MT, I ate lunch, came back to my rig, Guess what?? Dummy me again!! I had to disconnect my tractor and back under the trailer sideways to pull the trailer sideway to break the tires free.
It's easy to forget, your in a hurry, your hungry, tiered, etc.
Another thing, freezing brake drums, even on the tractor. Before you park, ride the brakes a bit to burn off all the water on the inside of the drums.

Answer:
Thank you all for the great info. I'll get the alcohol and all the winter wear. I'll probably print out this page, thank you all. The company that I'm going with goes into Canada and all 48 states. I just got hired on with CR England and I'm very excited. I'm taking there school here in cali and I leave next month. Looking forward to it. I've wanted to drive all my life and now I finally get to do it. I wanted to go with England for a year now and I'm old enough to do it. I'm trying to get all you expert drivers out there knowledge of winter driving because I start next month and winter is coming up so I need winter advice. Thank you all and I'll keep you all posted. Anymore advice on winter driving would be much help and I thank you all for all the GREAT INFO..
Drive Safe and Smooth
----Thumper

Answer:
Er... unless your plans are written in stone do yourself a favour and use the TruckNet search function to find posts on CR England and how well they treat their drivers.
In the last year or so I've read plenty about them here... most of it not good.