Troopers Force Truckers To Climb On Top Of Trailers During Snow Removal Enforcement Blitz.

I think the problem with cleaning snow off the roofs of trailers at rest areas (and how about weigh stations) is getting to them! If the trailer is already covered driving that far may not be viable. The stuff could come off and cause a problem long before it got to the cleaning station.

Unfortunately (for lots of reasons) I managed to fall off the truck before being asked to haul a trailer with a roof full of snow to know if (and if so how) they handle it at the Target DC. What I do believe is they have the room and the equipment to clean and move the stuff once scraped off a trailer.

Good to see you back on the road Grumpy.

I thought that’s why the potholes never get fixed, to get that snow off

My trainer has me hitting as many as possible last night to try to get it off.

Thanks.

I’m driving so much I have no time for anything. We drive, eat, sleep, then repeat.

Monday I drove 185 miles to his house, got in the truck and drove 586 miles. My day went from 5 AM to midnight.

Most days are around 300 miles, mostly due to waiting to load or unload. Glad I will be hourly. Lol

I go to Wisconsin next weekend to test out. Hopefully I pass and get my own truck. I am having issues suddenly shifting from 3rd to 4th to 5th. No idea why, was never really an issue before.

Other than that I have been doing well. Some stupid decisions like parking a drop trailer facing the wrong way, but nothing insurmountable. Just causing more work for myself. But I learn from every mistake.

In a month of driving, I never saw a DOT inspection station open. The last two days I had to pull into 3. Waved on each time.

In a month of driving, I never saw a DOT inspection station open. The last two days I had to pull into 3. Waved on each time.

Do you think that is "ice and snow on trailers" enforcement or something else?

In a month of driving, I never saw a DOT inspection station open. The last two days I had to pull into 3. Waved on each time.

Do you think that is "ice and snow on trailers" enforcement or something else?

I don’t think so, since all my driving has been in bad weather.

Can you imagine what it would be like if OSHA got involved with drivers or anyone climbing on top of trailers? The fall protection requirements would cost the companies billions.

I think with enough demand, there will be services to clean off the snow & ice. The first thing I thought of while reading this thread is that every airport with commercial operations has equipment for de-icing airplanes, most of which are quite a bit larger than the average tractor trailer. I can imagine that any truck wash operation could easily offer de-icing similar to what they do at airports without too much trouble. I can also imagine that mobile truck washing operations could easily do the same by adding a cherry picker to their rig so they can easily spray down an entire rig from the top. Now I wouldn't advocate they use the same chemicals as the airports do, there is a growing concern of ecological implications of allowing the fluid to just runoff into waterways, etc. but if we could de-ice with an inexpensive and more environmentally safe variation, this may be one option in the snow/ice removal "toolbox".

Maybe van trailers need heated roofs but that would be a problem for reefers

Bruce did you read the link I replied with?

Funny, before any of this was posted, I was thinking, "hey, just put Radiant Floor Heat in the trailer roof!" LOL

I wouldn't think a heated trailer roof would be any trouble for a reefer. Think about it, the roof of a reefer is already well insulated to protect the contents from the great big solar heater in the sky (the sun). I'm actually thinking a reefer might be better suited for a roof heater since it's already outfitted to provide it's own power for heating/cooling the interior of the trailer.

Most Fixed Base Operators offer plain hot water or a hot 50/50 water glycol mix for aircraft snow/ice removal. The various anti-icing fluids are then applied to prevent snow/ice accumulation during taxi and the early part of take off and climb out. An airport type bucket truck w/water heater would be perfect for snow/ice removal from the tops of trailers. It would be expensive and there would need to be a dedicated area with an adequate grate drainage system. Otherwise the area would become an ice 'ockey rink after the first use. Plain hot water would probably not require treatment before going into the waste water system. This is a winter business opportunity for a pressure washing outfit...

Everyone is talking van or reefers for snow removal but how about flatbeds? Some of these are loaded with unusual shapes, tarped and untarped, low loads and some right up to 13'6". Any trailer or vehicle is supposed to be free of snow or ice including 4 wheelers but the attention is always drawn towards the trucks. How many times do you see a 4 wheeler with only the windshield cleared where the wipers did the job? Roof scrapers only work for fixed height trailers like vans and reefers so how do you keep flatbeds or tankers clear? Maybe high speed wind blowers like a drive through car wash. There are probably no feasible answers.