Hydroplaning in a truck, how do you deal with it?

How do you expect anyone to read this?

Dogs don't have lips.

 

Fixed for OP,,,

I would like to know how you deal with rain soaked roads to avoid hydroplaning. I never had a problem with hydroplaning in any vehicle until a few days ago. I've driven in a couple blizzards and an ice storm, but I had my confidence shaken the other day. It had been raining for three days straight, and I was driving down a state highway that has red lights.
The light changed to a yellow about 1,000 feet in front of me, so I did the slow press on the brake pedal, and I heard the ABS releasing air. I let up on the brake and started slowly braking again. I heard the ABS cycling again, and getting close to the light that just turned red. There was no one in front of me but cars were waiting to cross the road at the intersection. It felt like I was on ice. I thought my brakes were failing. I must have slowed from 60 to about 35, but I knew I was going to go through the red light.

No cars were moving in front of me across the road. It was like time was frozen, or some kind of luck was on my side. Or maybe time to believe in God. I glided through the intersection, without anyone pulling out in front of me. I drove slowly to the next exit and turned off the road, and sat there for about 20 minutes. I felt nauseous knowing I could have creamed someone.
My day was shot. I talked to the guys at the shop and came to the conclusion that it was the surface of a freshly paved asphalt road. I always test my brakes on snow and ice when no cars are around. But I never thought of the differences in road surfaces when they are just covered in water. Most asphalt has rock in it, and concrete has grip, but this particular stretch of asphalt was smooth. It was different. I know you can remember road imperfections such as bumps or dips, potholes etc. But I would like to know how other drivers prepare or handle any situations that could cause possible hydroplaning. Or even your real life experiences.

 

First off your chosen font size is too small for some of us. I copied and pasted your post onto my notepad desktop where I can blow it up and read it.

Im going to go out and conclude that you need ABS school.

If you have to stop right now, put that brake (Service) to the application and hold it there. The Truck will DECIDE to use ABS or NOT. When it DOES activate the ABS KEEP THAT #### BRAKE APPLICATION STEADY. You will stop. Don't bother with pumping, just load up the application in a straight steady one motion until you have braking, then hold it the ABS will kick in most likely. Keep it where it is until you are stopped or until the threat is over such as light turning green.

Hydroplaning is more dangerous as it is a total and absolute loss of contact between tire and road surface due to too much water. USUALLY you have huge amounts of water coming off your steers in a 18 wheeler, much more than normal especially if you see water wrapping your drives, or trailer or both also in addition to the steer spray that's trying to destroy your hood. Not even God's Brake can stop until the physics resolve itself.

When you hit water, come off your horses instantly. (You probably want to slap those jakes off and cruise too. If you are loaded) If a threat develops Get on that service brake and stay on it. None of that pumping BS. You are only making your 18 wheeler's ABS work or not work when it really needs to focus on working now in the time that's left to keep all your wheels rotating on the hubs that carry ABS hardware. She will buzz like crazy and do what she needs to do. But you stay on it steady pressure. It will resolve in time.

Fear is normal. If people say they aint scared I call BS. What is IMPORTANT is to make a decision, do not waffle, debate, hesititate and erm... no none of that. you choose what you are going to do and start doing it for better or worse. Whatever happens maintain mental clarity and accept that your stomach has lions and panthers trying to kill each other in it from fear.

You also need to find a way to spiritually accept that there is life and death. Our days are numbered sayeth the Lord God and it is not for us to decide to kill someone today or be killed. If that time comes it's horrible but as long you do what you can in the time left before the smash to avoid it, you will be fine.

Why do I even say that? People have deliberately placed themselves against me and my 40 ton 18 wheeler many times. They will get themselves suicided if I did not pull a #### rabbit out of the hat and save them.. maybe. We'll see. It's not going to be the first or last time. It really does not bother me anymore when someone is so stupid as to put themselves to death under my wheels. What a inconvenient MESS.

Put a drive cam that you own on the glass so that the next time something comes up (And it will...) you will have the video for better or worse.

 

One extreme to the other with your don't there. It was probably fresh asphalt and oil was washed out and floating on top or something, I've heard of it happening but never had it happen to me or anybody I know either.

 

I think you learned all you needed to there. Lay on the horn is the only thing you could have done except drive more slowly next time. 60 was too fast coming up on a potential red light in heavy rain.

 

Had the road been wet? And not freshly drained on, because of the oils mixing the first 5 minutes is bad stuff?

How much water was on the surface?

How long had it been since using brakes prior? I'm thinking your brakes were water soaked. Which means more distance for braking.

Empty or bobtail is even worse.

Your lucky you did not get wrote up for failure to obey traffic device, and or to fast for road conditions.

Is the truck drum, disk, or partial disk brakes.

Good post.

 

Here on the west coast where we have a 4-5 month rainy season and the rest of the year without any rain at all, oil, dirt and all kinds of nasty stuff builds up on the roads in the dry season. When that first rain falls, the roads are like ice. On the I-5 and 99 toward the end of the summer, all of the bin loaders full of fresh picked fruits are dripping their juices on the highway. Lots of sugar in those juices, and the rain turns them into greasy sludge.

All I can figure is that you were on new asphalt after the first rain. Glad you didn't hit anybody or anything. Be careful out there.

 

I glazed over that was so long.

What is your tire tread depths ?
Steer, drives, trailer

Way too often people stretch tires to or near legal limits and end up with disastrous accidents.
I put fresh tires on when i hit 7/32 , it's just not worth the money to risk your traction and livelihood.