When To Know When To Shut Down And How?

So in light of recent events I need advice on this. The night before I had my accident I got stuck in some nasty weather where I couldnt see two inches in front of me. I made it through Deadmans pass going like 5mph with my flashers on and got the last parking spot at a truck stop. Even if I wanted to shutdown when I got to the fog I couldn't I was in a interstate so I had to keep going. The next day I hit the ice trying to start up too early. I found out I should of waited a little later in the day but I didn't know better. I'm new.

With all these variables how do you anticipate bad conditions until you hit them? I don't see what I could of changed. Once I hit the ice it was total loss of staring and try as I might I couldn't see that coming and I couldn't anticipate it. Maybe if I had a thermometer. I was going about 15mph so I wasn't speeding.

If you have a smartphone or can access wifi most state DOT's will have road cams you can watch. If you don't, ask another trucker, most folks have got some kind of access to one. My trainer's having to do all the checking for road conditions so far since I don't have a smartphone, but if you're traveling in weatherprone regions (we're in the southwest right now, but in the northwest...) it should be part of your trip planning is checking conditions along your route.

You're probably smarter than you give yourself credit for. Thus, you do things you think the experts would do instead of what you'd normally do.

Use your logic and when all else fails, wait. Fog is moisture. If it's getting real cold, what do you think will happen to that moisture? You already know, but you're afraid you'll be late, so you try to start early to make up time. Hmm.

If you can call your dispatch, do it. If it's too late, sit and call them in the morning. NO LOAD IS WORTH YOUR LIFE. As tough as your company may be with you, it is still your license and your life.

Good luck.

Here is my rule of thumb, if I think my life, or others life's will be in danger of my operating in the conditions I am in if my truck is in danger. Or if there are more than 2 problems I shut down. Prolems are snow+ice+wind I am sitting, snow+mountains+night I am sitting. Dose that make sense? Remeber it's always better to be sitting at a truck stop or terminal wishing you were driving. Then being on the road and the contions being so bad are wishing you are at a truck stop or terminal. Hope that helps

I like your "2 problem" rule!

Visibility is always at the top of my list, if I can't see you, you can't see me. The fog this last week has been horrible in the Midwest, even over into PA and new jersey making drive time a tough choice but once it starts to lift, I'll head out. In regards to winter weather, again visibility but generally, snow I'll go, ice no dice.

I agree on visibility. There was an accident on I 10 near Baton Rouge that involved six trucks and a four wheeler. Apparently it was foggy and the four wheeler stopped on the highway, caused a chain reaction. Several trucks rolled, one burned. Two injured. Seems like all the big chain reaction accidents have fog somewhere in the mix.

Doesn't help when you drive into it and don't see it coming. It's not safe to just park anywhere.

Doesn't help when you drive into it and don't see it coming. It's not safe to just park anywhere.

Yeah. If you can't see, you pull over and stop. Simple.

I know a lot of people think they will be OK in limited visibility, but it only takes one stopped car in the fog to ruin your day.

Doesn't help when you drive into it and don't see it coming. It's not safe to just park anywhere.

Yeah. If you can't see, you pull over and stop. Simple.

I know a lot of people think they will be OK in limited visibility, but it only takes one stopped car in the fog to ruin your day.

Errol- Would you pull over on shoulder?

I think I would slow way down, drive for 30 min or longer until I find off ramp. I'm afraid me driving 10 mph on Interstate that I could be the originator of the accident.