Due to the sheer size of the vehicle, driving a truck is much more difficult than a typical car. Whether you’re a veteran or still learning in truck driving school, it’s worth reviewing some core tenets of being out on the road in the more dangerous winter conditions. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the roads during the tricky cold months. 

Truck Driving Advice for the Winter

1. Study the Tire Spray

One of the most subtle and important winter tipoffs for truck drivers is the amount of spray on the road. If you see another vehicle’s wheels ahead of you spraying water with their tires, there’s a lot of water on the road and traction may be harder to come by, meaning you should proceed with caution. However, if the roads are wet but you can’t see water spraying from other drivers’ vehicles, there may be black ice. While it’s not possible to completely avoid this hazard, decrease your speed to ensure your wheels have traction on the road. 

2. Slow Your Speed

Even though it’s crucial to make good time, it’s not worth jeopardizing your safety. A fundamental tenet of any truck driving school is to go a few miles per hour slower during the winter since the slick roads will allow for less control. At the same time, you should also be careful to give some extra space to the vehicle in front of you since stopping may take longer than usual and closer tailgating can easily result in a collision. 

3. Beware of Bridges

If you see a bridge coming up, it should make you as alert as possible. Because the wind can hit a bridge from all sides—including below—it will freeze faster than a typical road, leading to hard-to-notice icy conditions. To compensate, make sure you’re going at a steady rate, keep your hands firmly on the steering wheel at 10 and 2, and scan in front of you for any ice. 

Anyone interested in becoming a professional truck driver would benefit from taking a course at Great Lakes Truck Driving School in Columbia Station, OH. They offer Class A and B CDL training courses that are necessary for commercial drivers. In addition to transportation safety training, you’ll learn advanced techniques to maneuver your truck on the road. You can learn more about enrolling in the elite truck driving school by calling (440) 236-3436. Find out additional information about the programs available by visiting their website.