Winter is the most dangerous time for America’s truck drivers. Snow, ice, wind, and rapidly changing temperatures make life on the road stressful during the winter months. Although truckers can’t control every aspect of what winter brings to the job, they can take steps to make hauls safe for everyone.

Here are 4 tips for truck drivers during the winter season:

1. Inspect your truck (tires, battery, windshield wipers, fluids, lights, food and water, blankets and clothes, tools)
2. Slow down and create extra space
3. Always keep a winter prep kit
4. Monitor weather conditions

Read more about these winter truck driving tips.

1. Inspect Your Truck

Regular truck inspections are an essential part of truck safety year-round. Thorough truck inspections before, during, and after hauls in winter are vital. Even the smallest overlooked details can create unsafe driving conditions -even for the most experienced truckers.

– Tires

Tires are literally where the rubber meets the road. Maintaining recommended tire pressure should be first on your truck inspection list. Close attention should be paid to tire wear and tread depth. Uneven tire wear and low tread depth can cause blowouts or affect tire grip. A truck driver should also check the record of the last tire balance service.

– Battery

Regularly checking for sufficient battery power ensures your rig is less likely to have you stranded between truck stops or in a remote location. Experienced truckers carry a battery charging system for the off chance the battery goes. Keeping a set of jumper cables on board is also a good idea.

– Wipers

Most truck drivers are safe drivers. Keeping an eye on other vehicles is hard enough without dirty and streaky windows. Clean and glare-free windows start with fresh and effective windshield wipers.

*EXTRA WINTER TRUCK DRIVING TIPS: 1) Stash a new set of wipers on board, so you never have to move around trying to get a better view of what’s in front of your truck. 2) Be sure to check how well your defrosters are working.

– Fluids

One way to keep your truck running smoothly is to top off fluids regularly. It’s good practice to keep your trip breakdown-free and important for keeping your truck running longer. Oil, power steering, transmission, brake antifreeze-coolant, and windshield wiper fluid need constant attention. Experienced truckers check them at least every 2,000 miles.

– Lights

Visually inspecting all rig lights for issues is one of the best ways to stay safe on the open road. Fully functioning turning signals and other indicators mean you are communicating with other vehicles. It’s always safer when cars and trucks know what your next move will be.

– Food and Water

Experienced truckers know there’s a chance weather conditions, or an accident can shut down a section of the road. On the odd chance of getting stranded for hours on a major highway, a well-stocked stash of food and water takes the stress out of waiting it out. Put together some healthy snacks and water bottles, just in case.

– Blankets and Clothes

Keeping enough blankets and warm clothes handy can keep a stranded situation from going from bad to worse. Frostbite is a major concern for those times heaters, batteries, or the need to walk long distances come up. Warm socks, hats, gloves, and a sleeping bag are recommended.

– Tools

Most truckers are skilled at fixing things, which means having a solid set of tools for every job is essential. Truck drivers should keep at least the following onboard: rags, duct tape, flashlight, WD40, lighter, zip ties, adjustable wrench, screwdrivers, knife, vice grips, hammer, fuses, gloves, and safety glasses.  Many truck drivers will carry additional items like tire and tread depth gauges, belts and hoses, and wire cutters.

2. Slow Down and Create Extra Space

One of the safest actions any truck driver can take in the winter is slowing down. Reducing speeds is generally considered the biggest factor in reducing accidents. By increasing reaction times, trucks and other vehicles can take evasive action.  Most people operating cars are unaware of how time and space are needed for trucks to stop. Creating more space between vehicles significantly decreases the chance of an accident.

3. Always Keep a Winter Prep Kit

Every rig should have a well-stocked prep kit. All seasons call for an emergency kit, and winter requires a few more items. In addition to a first aid kit, a winter prep kit should include the following: de-icer, shovel, bags of sand or ice, hand warmers, batteries, flares, and jumper cables. Some truck drivers also carry extra medication (within expiration dates).

4. Monitor Weather Conditions

Thankfully, keeping track of changing weather patterns is easier than ever. Every truck driver needs a weather app on their smartphone. The Weather Channel, Intellicast HD, Storm Shield, Weather Underground, or AccuWeather will provide up-to-the-minute weather conditions.

Weather conditions threatening truck driver safety the most are fog, heavy rain (in bursts), high winds, icy bridges, and black ice. Use your weather app and your CB radio to monitor what may affect your trip.

People Also Ask

Is trucking hard in winter?

Yes, trucking can be challenging in winter due to hazardous road conditions such as snow, ice, and reduced visibility. Winter weather can make driving more difficult and dangerous, requiring truck drivers to be extra cautious, adjust their driving speed, and be prepared for unexpected situations. Winter driving also demands greater skill and experience to handle potential issues like skidding, jackknifing, or getting stuck in snow.

How do truckers sleep in their truck in winter?

Truckers typically sleep in the sleeper cab of their truck during winter. To stay warm, they may use specialized equipment such as bunk heaters, which run off the truck’s fuel and provide heat without idling the engine. Many also use heavy-duty sleeping bags, thermal blankets, or extra layers of clothing to stay warm. Some trucks are equipped with auxiliary power units (APUs) that can provide heat and power without running the main engine, helping to keep the sleeper cab comfortable in cold weather.

What do truck drivers do when it snows?

When it snows, truck drivers take several precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road:

• Drive cautiously: They reduce their speed, increase following distance, and drive with extra caution to avoid accidents.
• Monitor weather and road conditions: Truckers frequently check weather reports and road conditions to plan their routes and avoid the worst areas.
• Chain up: In some regions, particularly in mountainous areas, truck drivers are required to use tire chains to improve traction on snow-covered roads.
• Take breaks or stop if necessary: If conditions become too dangerous, truck drivers may pull over at a rest stop or safe location and wait until the weather improves. Safety is a top priority, and sometimes waiting out a storm is the best option.

Conclusion

Above all else, safety is the biggest responsibility for today’s truck drivers. It’s both easier and harder to maintain safety on the open road. Distracted and impatient drivers can make for stressful hauls. So, it’s on every trucker to ensure the equipment and systems on their truck are working properly. Use these winter truck driving tips, find some of your own hacks, and be safe out there.

For more about driving for Barr-Nunn Transportation, read our FAQ.

Interested in driving for Barr-Nunn Transportation? Search Truck Driving Positions or Apply Now!

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There’s a reason the demand for truck drivers is at an all-time high. To be successful today, a trucker needs the right combination of driving skills, experience, and personality traits. The expectations of the transportation industry are reaching new levels. So too, are the expectations of what carriers are looking for in truck drivers. Here are the 7 qualities of great truck drivers today:

1. Safety First

Safety is the ultimate priority of every truck driver, regardless of which carrier employs them. The job demands a watchful eye on preventing potentially dangerous situations. Successful truck drivers know how to keep themselves, the truck, loads, and other vehicles safe.

Safety all starts with the truck driver and how he or she takes care of themselves. The road demands truckers get the required amount of rest combined with a healthy diet. Obeying speed limits, wearing a seat belt, and maintaining proper distance between vehicles are actions successful truck drivers do every run. Because road conditions are major safety factors, staying on top of changing weather conditions with weather apps is paramount. Successful truckers know where the rig’s blind spots are and avoid cell phone use.

2. Committed to Communication

Like most jobs, communication is the key to success. A truck driver’s ability to keep the team members up to date on what’s happening on the road separates the professionals from the rest. If a load is not picked up or delivered on time, a professional truck driver communicates immediately. Keeping dispatchers in the loop is vital to a successful career in the transportation industry. Truck drivers also interact with customers, clients, lot security officers, and a host of people when delivering loads. Great drivers understand how a driver who communicates with those around them reflects on the carrier.

Good truck drivers also realize it’s important to communicate with family and friends. Life on the road is a wonderful career choice. Staying in touch with loved ones is an important factor in a truck driver’s quality of life.

3. Does the Right Thing

One of the big draws to life on the road, is truckers are often left alone to do the job. Professional truck drivers do the right thing when no one is looking. Honesty is a key component to a successful truck driving career. Always be truthful.  It’s easy to say you’re safe on the road. It’s another thing to make sure safety checks are complete before the truck is moving again. Doing the right thing also includes displaying courtesy. Great truck drivers help other drivers or motorists in need, even if that means a delay in load delivery time.

4. Comfortable with Change

The one thing constant in the transportation industry is change. All aspects of the job change regularly. The area changing the most is technology and equipment. From smartphone apps for traffic, weather, and rest areas – to the introduction of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), truckers are being asked to roll with the changes faster than ever before. Add new laws and DOT regulations, new company procedures, the successful professional truck drivers, accept and adapt to the transportation industry changes.

5. Respectful

Truck drivers operating on the highest level, respect the industry that pays them. Pros understanding everyone in transportation has a job to do to keep the machine turning. Established truckers have a desire to work together to complete on-time and safe deliveries. Respecting the industry includes treating everyone in the system with kindness and appreciation. Although truckers are often alone, it takes a team for them to receive a paycheck. Dispatchers, Maintenance Techs, HR/Payroll, Lumpers, Receivers, and Terminal Managers play important roles in becoming a great truck driver.

6. Positive Attitude

Driving a truck for a living is often challenging. Every day isn’t the greatest day to be a trucker. Bad weather, equipment issues, a slow off-load, or something happening at home can all affect a truck driver’s mood. The best truck drivers spread positivity, even when it’s easier to be grumpy, mean, or mean-spirited. Maintain optimism about situations and interactions on the road for long-term success.

7. Details Focused

In many ways, a truck driving career is part art and part science. One of the most sought-after traits of today’s truckers is understanding job requirements and procedures at a high level. Being a truck driver is a lot like being an air traffic controller. A million little things need to go right to deliver a load on time and safely.

Among other things, great truck drivers must navigate DOT Hours of service, satellite communications from load acceptance to delivery, accident reporting and procedures, on-time pick-up or delivery delay communication, equipment knowledge, and troubleshooting – not to mention dealing with traffic situations on America’s busiest roads. Truckers who have mastered the details are operating at the highest level.

Conclusion

Truck drivers looking for a career in the transportation industry know the wheel time delivers the skills and experience. It’s the intangible qualities and emotional intelligence that are the keys to long-term success as a trucker. If you have the 7 qualities of a great truck driver, Barr-Nunn Transportation is interested in talking to you about open driver positions.

Search Truck Driving Positions or Apply Now!

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For the first time in nearly 15 years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) updated rules regulating truck driver hours of service. FMCSA stated its goal is to provide truck drivers will more flexibility in managing time on duty. The government agency calls the latest shift to modernize regulations while attempting to keep America’s roadways safe. 3.5 million truck drivers (census.com) are involved in approx. 500,000 truck driving-related accidents each year (mcaleerlaw.com). The federal government is trying to balance the efficient distribution of products to stores and saving lives. There are four service hour changes impacting truck drivers that went into effect on September 29, 2020.

Short-Haul Exception

Previously, truck drivers using the short-haul exception were not allowed on-duty for more than 12 hours or able drive beyond a 100 air-mile radius, or 115 miles. If those limits were exceeded, the exception would end, and drivers were required to complete a record of duty status (RODS) and take a 30-minute break. Additionally, if a driver exceeded short-haul exception limits for more than eight days in any consecutive 30-day period, an electronic logging device (ELD) is required.

The new rule extends truck driver workdays from 12 to 14 hours and increases the distance restriction from 100 air miles to 150 air miles. The updated Short-Haul Exemption is intended to add flexibility and allow more drivers to fall under the short-haul exception.

Adverse Driving Conditions

Under the old provision, drivers could activate the adverse driving conditions provision to extend their drive time for up to two hours but couldn’t extend on-duty time. Because the adverse driving conditions provision needed to be known by the dispatcher before a run started, it was hard to use and not widely adopted.

The new rule addresses adverse driving conditions not known to the dispatcher or driver before a required break. The driving window is extended for up to two hours. The update is intended to provide drivers with the ability to wait out weather-related conditions and not drive through them. FMCSA advises drivers to indicate the adverse driving conditions on approved electronic logging devices.

30-Minute Rest Break

The old 30-minute break rule required drivers to take a break of 30 consecutive minutes after driving for 8 hours.

The new rule allows the rest break to be fulfilled through 30 minutes of on-duty and nondriving time. A trucker can take the break while completing tasks like getting fuel or securing a load.

Sleeper Berth Provision

The previous rules allowed an 8/2 split, with the two hours counting against a driver’s 14-hour limit.

The new rule modifies the sleeper berth exception allowing drivers to take the 10 hours off-duty in two periods, granted one off-duty period (in or out of the sleeper berth) is at least two hours long, and the off-duty period includes at least seven consecutive hours spent in the sleeper berth. Neither off-duty period will count against the maximum 14-hour driving window.

What Service Hours Changes Mean for Truck Drivers

Depending on the company you work for and the types of truck driving you do, the Hours of Service changes will affect you differently. Some truck drivers welcome the new changes, while others are skeptical the changes will make much of an impact. Either way, as a truck driver, it’s your responsibility to adhere to the new regulations or face penalties. We’ve found the biggest impact for our truck drivers is the 30-minute rest break changes. Drivers seem to feel it allows for more flexibility in fulfilling the requirement.

What Truck Drivers Should Do Now

For additional information about Hour of Service changes that took effect on Sept. 29. 2020 visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website or contact your company’s compliance department.

For more about driving for Barr-Nunn Transportation, read our FAQ.

Interested in driving for Barr-Nunn Transportation? Search Truck Driving Positions or Apply Now!

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