Orlando, Fla.—It is no secret that the Holiday Season is the time of the year when merchants, stores, supermarkets and everyone in the distribution and supply chain depends most on the reliability of trucking services.

We also make an emphasis on saving lives as the #1 priority when you need to be on the road during risky or dangerous winter weather conditions.

Following a few safety tips may help you cope with these unexpected situations, and in many cases, prevent them.

First things first -Slow down 

At fault accidents are mostly due to excessive speed. Driving at the speed limit could sometimes be too fast for snow covered or icy road conditions. Take your time to drive safely. Speeding takes lives. 

Keep a safe buffer zone around your truck 

Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of your truck, and beside your truck, when possible.

Avoid traveling as a pack

Find a safe way to get away from the pack and travel alone maximizing the distance between your truck, and all other vehicles surrounding you. If the leader of the pack makes an error, you will too. Trucks can leave the road, and yours could follow the lead vehicle off the road.

Low visibility

When the snow is heavy visibility is low. If you are able to see the tail lights of the vehicle in front of you, most likely, you are too close.

A nervous truck driver can be just as dangerous as a careless driver 

When you are too concerned about the weather conditions it is better  to stop and park for a while. Have your delivery appointment rescheduled. Remember this is a matter of saving lives first.

Your truck’s warm tires can turn that snow you parked on into a patch of ice in a short time. Throwing kitty litter under your tires is a good and environmentally safe way to get that little bit of extra traction needed.

Defrosting your windshield to clean it 

Turn your defroster on high for a minute to help warm the glass. Now, the fluid can freeze on your window, but a possible solution is to put a few ounces of brake line antifreeze into the washer fluid to help prevent this.

The importance of your tail-lights

Every time you stop after driving in snow, look at your taillights and license plate and keep them clean. Also, clear the lights off of snow and ice, which builds up in foul weather. LED lights accumulate lots of snow and crud. It is important to keep everything clean to make sure others can see you.

Don’t stop on the shoulder of the road 

When driving in y ‘blinding snow’, other vehicles won’t be able to identify your exact position and may slam into the back of your rig.

Braking 

Avoid overusing your foot brake, unless the entire unit is absolutely ‘straight’ on the road. When you over brake when the entire unit isn’t straight the trailer can slide and spin you out of your position. Remember, the truck slows down, and the trailer does not. This is especially true, when the trailer is empty.

Use your checklist 

Before you leave, make sure  that the defroster and heater are working properly, as you would in any normal trip, but especially when driving in winter conditions. Check wipers, wiper motor, lights, esp. brake and tail lights. Be sure washer fluid is topped up, drain moisture from the air tanks, all brakes are set up. Be certain windows and mirrors are completely clean before departure.

Never leave without topped up fuel tanks

The  extra weight over the drive tires provides much needed traction. Good quality lug tires, with the proper tire pressure, are essential for good traction for the best safe winter driving.

Insurance

Make sure to review and have a clear understanding of your insurance coverage before you leave, in case any issues arise on your trip that you may need it.

If you have questions about insurance coverage or need a free quote,  please contact us at Orlando Truck Insurance (407) 203-7085.

Hector Perez, Producer

Email Hector
Call 407-203-7085