7 Winter Driving Tips for Truck Drivers
Posted in Blog
Monday, January 18, 2016
Our drivers’ safety is of the utmost importance to us at NTB. Despite experience level, winter driving can pose serious risks to truck drivers.
Here are our top 7 tips for keeping safe on the road this winter.
- Be prepared: make sure your truck is equipped with a winter safety kit that includes a flashlight, jumper cables, a blanket, food and water, a pair of gloves, and warm clothing. Also make sure your gas tank stays relatively full, even if that requires you to stop more frequently.
- Following space is your friend: give yourself plenty of room to slow down safely when needed.
- Slow down: most winter accidents occur because drivers are traveling too fast for the road conditions. Traveling too quickly for the road conditions can cause you to lose control and doesn’t give you much time to reach.
- Inspect your truck: perform routine inspections more frequently. Check for items such as wiper blades and wiper fluid, tire pressure, and lights any time you stop.
- Be aware of bridges: raised structures, such as bridges, are the first to freeze. Additionally, they’re often not treated with salt as well as the rest of the road, and are therefore prone to black ice.
- If something goes awry, stay in your truck. Don’t try to seek out help. It is easy to get lost in a storm, and your truck will provide necessary shelter from the elements.
- Use your cell phone to call dispatch for assistance.