Driving the big-rigs in snow and ice

Use chains, go slow.

My first icy hill was back in '91, in Montana. We were driving in rain, on a wet road, when it got dark and started icing up REALLY quickly.
Some of the locals saw it coming, and were standing ready with their pickup trucks, charging a couple hundred bucks to provide just that little extra bit of traction needed to get to the top.
While we (my trainer and me) were waiting for someone to get to us, we both noticed a gravel shoulder, and edged the truck over until we were able to creep up the mountain without local help.
Huzzah!

Then we spent a couple days in a little Mom and Pop truckstop. It's been awhile, so I don't remember exactly where we were, but it was certainly something I won't entirely forget.

Going down... same way. Wear chains, go slow. If you find yourself losing control even then, find a place to pull over, cuz it ain't safe.
Naturally, you'll get a better feel for what's safe as you gain experience, but in the beginning, better to play it safe.

Of course, this doesn't take into account jerky dispatchers and customers.

 

If you stay in this section, there is a post titled advise on winter driving that has some very good reading. It should be helpful.

 

The best advice i can give is that being a little nervous is a good thing. Don't be nervous to the point that the truck is driving you, instead of vice versa, but being a little nervous and staying on your toes even after driving 30 years will still keep you out of trouble nearly every day.

Don't ever drive beyond your means, if you are that scared then it probably isn't safe...park it. I've yet to chain my tires, and doubt that I ever will. I was always taught that chains are there to get you out of trouble, not in.

 

Just dont overdrive the conditions or your experience. If its snowing to all beat, then take er slow or pull over for a bit till the conditions improve. I wouldve been one of them you wouldve seen driving in white out conditions. You have a good line of sight in a big rig and I would just drive according to how far I could see and depending on how much traffic. If it was a white out blizzard like the time at the indiana michigan border last winter on i94 the one that caused the 100 car pile -up, I had my fourways on and was only going between 35-40. I was only a mile behind the accident when it happened and if I was going any faster then who knows what wouldve happened. But just take it easy especially on mountain passes just go real slow. Trust me there will be other rigs out there and just keep pace with them if your are comfortable with their speed.

 

Yep, and no jerky erratic movements, try not to use the brakes if you don't have to, and even slow down so that you won't have to if something happens ahead of you..

Ummm what else.. oh yeah, you have weight behind you, so if you lose traction just let off, straighten the wheel and let that trailer weight push you across the slick part until you get traction again.. don't use your engine brake it can cause your wheels to lock up as well especially when you are empty or light on the drives.

Load slightly heavy on the drives, if you don't have to pass a scale you can also move your fifth wheel all the way forward and get more weight on your steers, just watch out because most tires arent rated for much higher than 12k or something like that.

Keep a safe distance from everything in front of you, if that trailer starts coming sideways about the only thing that will help is speeding up slightly if you can.. which you cant if there is something blocking your path.. you can mess with the trailer brake as well but i wouldnt advise it starting out you will likely make it worse.

 

I was backed into the dock at Ralston Purina near Flagstaff, with a nice view of I-40, I had already decided to call it a night due to road conditions, so was getting all my paperwork done in the cab.
when a guy pulling a set of doubles came over the hill, I was thinking he was going a bit fast for the conditions, and as if on cue, he lost it. Fortunately, he got out of the truck ok, but he wasn't going anywhere for a bit.
He had to leave his jackknifed doubles in the ditch for the night.