We are now halfway through winter, and states are continuing to get dumped with snow and icy conditions, now is the perfect time to go through safe driving tips for truck drivers.

Here are 10 tips for winter weather driving for all truck drivers to review:

1. Pay Attention to Weather Forecasts

Monitor the weather forecasts on a regular basis to make it easier to plan your routes and to stay on top of unexpected delays. There are many apps that can help make this a critical part of your daily routine.

2. Be Careful Getting In & Out of Your Truck

Take caution when getting in and out of your vehicle. Misjudging a step due to carelessness or because you felt rushed can lead to an unexpected injury that can prevent you from driving for quite some time.

3. Ensure Your Systems Are Running

Before you leave for your destination, make sure that all your systems are good to go. Make sure that your defroster, heater, wipers, and lights are all working correctly before getting out on the road.

4. Keep Extra Equipment In the Truck

You never know when a breakdown is going to occur, so be prepared just in case, especially during the wintertime. Some equipment to keep handy include:

• Chains
• Extra food and water
• Waterproof Gloves
• Flashlights
• Warm Clothes
• Extra Washer Fluids

5. Slow Down

Never drive faster than what the conditions will allow, especially in poor conditions. If traction is poor, then it’s time to slow down and make gentle moves.

6. Allow for Extra Space

Along with going slow, it can also help to avoid tailgating. A good rule to follow is to stay 10 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you.

7. Don’t Stop On the Shoulder

Do not stop on the shoulder of the road, especially in the winter time when low visibility may be a factor. If you do, then other vehicles may accidentally slam into the back of your rig, creating devastating effects for everyone involved.

8. Know How to Brake Properly

Make sure to not use the jake brake on icy roads. Also try to avoid overusing your foot brake, unless you are completely straight on the road, as the trailer may slide and spin you out of your position.

9. Keep Lights Clean

In the winter time, snow and ice can build up over your lights. When you are able to make safe stops, then spend the time to clean off your lights, so that other vehicles on the road can see you.

10. Know When Not to Drive

Lastly, if the winter weather conditions and your intuition tell you not to drive, then don’t. If you have any doubt at all, then know that it’s not worth the risk of your life.

Do You Need Further Guidance to Winter Driving?

When it comes down to it, to negate many of the numerous problems that can occur, transportation businesses need to ensure that there is strong communication between drivers and the back office once the ELD mandate has gone into effect,

In respect to the impending ELD mandate, if you need additional help, UTECH is here for you. With our knowledge and expertise, we will ease your fears, so you can continue doing your job efficiently.

We are leading specialists in the trucking industry, to help ensure safety for everyone on the roads. GPSTab has gone through a rigorous certification process, and we guarantee that it will make a great choice as an ELD or AOBRD solution for your business. With the well-known and tested GPSTab platform, our edition will provide more functionality to fleets of all sizes, while keeping drivers happy.