Winter Weather And Snow Or Ice

Always funny for me how Denver can have a tremendous snow fall in the morning and near complete melt by late afternoon...

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Looking for thoughts and pointers on Winter driving.

Having spent many years living in the north east and in Colorado I have experience driving four wheels in snow. I am cautious but comfortable there...

In the truck I am just beginning this adventure and I find myself very cautious. I am sometimes wondering if too much so... With more experience I will hopefully gain tge right balance, though I expect I’ll tend to fall toward the overly cautious side.

In driving snow covered roads in Oregon, fresh snow and packed snow, I droped my speed way down. I have had the experience of observing other trucks driving at or very near the speed limit. In at least one instance I pulled over to let a truck pass... I was nearly unable to return to the road without installing chains. The fresh powder was just thick enough.

Any pointers you experienced winter drivers can provide is greatly appreciated.

I felt the same way when I started, let the others fly by you, you can wave when you pass them while they are in a ditch.

Slow and steady

Slow and steady above all else. I don't like being trapped in a pack of trucks so I'm usually driving slower to preserve the space I need to react, even if I would be more comfortable driving faster.

Don't be afraid to shut down though. I've already driven through messes a few times that in hindsight I /really/ did not need to, and it's just not worth it. It's not worth the time it takes, or the stress it induces.

I forgot to mention of you feel unsafe park, your company nd customer would rather reschedule than wreck a truck and freight.

Also leave plenty of room all around you, steer and break gently go not to slide.

Basically everything you do in a car just ttaken up two or three levels

All good advice. Growing up in Wisconsin and driving in winter conditions ever since I was 16, it can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you drive every winter in it, but only in a car or small truck. So it's easy to be over confident and think it's the same in your big truck with that big trailer behind you. Be very cautious and slow. Don't keep on the accelerator over bridges. Be more vigilant to look as far ahead as possible and slow up for curves and other situations coming up. If you are impeding traffic, get off, park and wait for conditions to get better.