Today, we’ll be providing truck driving tips that can help you stay safe when there’s black ice on the road.
Winter can be a dangerous time of year for truck drivers. After all, there are road conditions that are only prevalent during this time that can make the roads more hazardous. One of these hazardous road conditions is black ice. Today, we’ll be providing truck driving tips that can help you stay safe when there’s black ice on the road.
Get Your Truck Ready for Slippery Road Conditions
To prepare for black ice, it’s important to keep your truck in good condition. There are various maintenance tasks that you can perform to get your truck ready for any slippery roads you encounter.
To start, you should keep your tires inflated to the optimal PSI. Don’t overinflate or underinflate your tires because either of these can reduce tire traction.
You should also check the tread of your tires. When your tire tread is worn out, the tires will have a harder time creating traction during truck driving.
Lastly, replace damaged wipers and keep your wiper fluid supply full. The wipers will help keep your vision clear if snow starts falling during truck driving, and wiper fluid will help your windshield wipers be as effective as possible.
What to Do If You Drive on Black Ice
When truck driving in the winter, there’s a chance that you could accidentally drive onto black ice. If this happens to you, you want to lift your foot from the gas pedal. This is because acceleration will only make your truck lose more traction, making it harder for you to steer. You should also avoid over-braking. While this may be the knee-jerk response, you want to resist this impulse. If you brake too hard while you’re on black ice, it could cause a tailspin to occur.
Finally, make sure that your steering wheel is straight. If you try turning while you’re on black ice, you can quickly lose control of your truck. Instead, try to drive straight while also coasting out of the way of ice and other possible road hazards.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for all Your Trucking Needs!
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or are simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Tags: safety, trucking tips, winter