With hurricanes and tornadoes touching down in the southeast part of the United States, truckers cannot help but worry about driving in future torrential weather. The cold weather is on the way, which for Michigan means heavy snow, low temperatures, and fast winds. As a Flint Michigan semi-truck tire repair expert, I am going to remind our heroes of the road some useful tips to have in mind when driving in bad weather.
The Threats of Bad Weather & How to Handle Them
No one likes driving in bad weather. It turns quick routine trips into slow and sometimes scary travels. The most obvious threat is the reduction of traction. Traction is drastically reduced during bad weather due to a film of debris on the road such as excess water, snow, or ice. It is important to increase stopping distances and speed when driving in these conditions. Your semi-truck rig is more prone to kicking out on you when traction is low. Avoid utilizing your lead foot. With a reduction in traction, braking or accelerating too fast can cause your tires to slip up and cause a loss of control. Keep this in mind when changing speeds. Bad weather can impede visibility as well. Intense fog, rain, or snow can make it very difficult to see the road or bystanders in front of you. Before you head out, inspect your headlights and taillights to allow for the best visibility to be achieved and allow other vehicles to be able to see you. Be mindful of your route. Certain areas like sharp turns or bridges can become especially treacherous when the weather is poor. Be sure to practice extreme caution when approaching these areas of the road. Lastly, take everything slowly. Your controller will not be upset with you if you are late for a meetup time or have to pull off due to bad weather. Safety is a top concern for companies. Controllers would rather you be late than making the news for your rig being on its side.
Other Factors That Affect Driving in Bad Weather
There are other factors that can affect how your rig drives in bad weather. The weight of your load is a big one. Heavier loads are a lot more prone to having troubles on the road due to weight distribution. It is important for your hub to recognize that and for you to take it into consideration when driving in bad weather. Other vehicles and pedestrians are a concern as well. Vehicles can become a lot harder to see in bad weather and tend to encroach on the road due to poor visibility. Be mindful of this depending on your routes. If the route is busy, be extra vigilant due to the more possibilities of vehicles impeding into your lane.
