Subsim Truckers

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by swamprat69er

Neal, when you do pull into a truck stop and go to park it, roll forward and back for about 10 minutes or so. (It will cool off your tires and you wont make ice under the tires for when you decide to pull out.) It cost me $50.oo to learn that lesson.
DO NOT put your trailer parking (maxi brakes) on, just use the tractor brakes for parking.

A little alcohol (Safety brake) in your red air line will help with frozen air lines and drain the air tanks EVERY day.

NEVER, EVER drive according to the other guys abilities. If you don't feel comfortable driving 60mph in the snow, then don't. Drive at the speeds YOU feel comfortable at.
I got my butt chewed off coming North through Ohio one February by a big time trucker (Billy Big Rig) because I was running at 40mph in a 60 zone pushing snow with my front bumper. 10 miles up the road Billy Big Rig trucker that did all the barking was turned around facing South in the comedian. I mosied on by at 40 mph and got where I was going without the aid of a tow truck. Feb. 1974 I-75 was closed right after I got past Lima, OH.

If you hear on the radio (CB or broadcast) that the road is closed in front of you, then find a safe haven, preferably a truck stop.

Never let your fuel tanks go below half in the winter up in the frozen north.
Even IF the price of fuel is higher in the north, most of the northern fuel is already 'winter' fuel. (Brand names) Summer fuel from down South will gell up sooner than northern winter fuel.

Many thanks for the advise and tips, I will take all I can use. I never even drove on snow or ice much at all as a 4-wheeler. (Once or twice). I am definitely going to go slow and easy, at least until March or so

I wish I could use only the tractor brakes, but the air leaks down after a few hours so the spring brakes would engage anyway. I've asked maint. to look at this twice, I guess it's normal.

As a company driver, price of fuel means nothing to me, so I will bear that in mind and stick to Northern fuel.

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Where ya headed to in PA? If you're coming up to Scranton, let me know and maybe I can buy you a cup of Joe and/ or a meal.

Aww, man that's nice of you. But it will be me that does the buying, my friend.

Ellwood City, not close enough to Scranton PA this go-round. I will let you know if they route me that direction. I think I have been there once already.

[swamprat69er]

A icy road will have a dull sheen to it. Watch the rear wheels of cars and other trucks passing you. IF there is no spray coming off their tires and the road looks wet, 10. bux says it is black ice you are driving on. Now black ice is only water that has frozen UNTIL you try to stop or turn suddenly. Then you are in for the ride of your life.

For freezing rain, look at your mirror brackets, if there is ice forming on them, then you are in freezing rain.

You will stay just as warm IF you direct the heat flow onto the floor and open your drivers' side window about 3-4". The fresh air will keep you awake and the windshields won't freeze up either. IF the windshields aren't hot (from defroster heat) then the snow won't partially melt and stick to them causing you to use a 55 gallon drum of windshield washer juice every 20 miles or so.

Your power divider is your best friend, as is the ATC if you have it. (Automatic Traction Control)

There are available in some truck stops a squeegee that is just wide enough to swipe down the west coast mirror without going over the edges. They have a hollow handle with internal threads so you can screw a longer handle into them. (I have two of them.)

Always remember, especially in winter, FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.

If you don't already have one, get yourself a dash cam. It could save your bacon one day.

As Murray Westgate used to say, (old Esso commercials from the 50' and 60's) 'happy motoring'.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by swamprat69er

For freezing rain, look at your mirror brackets, if there is ice forming on them, then you are in freezing rain.

You will stay just as warm IF you direct the heat flow onto the floor and open your drivers' side window about 3-4". The fresh air will keep you awake and the windshields won't freeze up either.

That's the secret to it all IMHO!. I always drove with the window OPEN winter or summer; the blast keeps ya reeeeeal perky and you will not fall asleep! Wear a hat and gloves. I still drive patrol (nearly every night till 2AM) with the window down and the vent fans going. It's a lifesaver.

My jobs all seem to have sub/naval related titles. I've been a hotel manager on duty (MOD), a middle school substitute teacher (SUB), and now I drive TANKERS over the road.

YUP When you're a trucker you are a man ASEA

[swamprat69er]

In winter I wear a French Block Heater. Toque (Keeps my blockhead warm.)
I never wear gloves to drive and hardly ever wear them for snowball fights either. Only when the temps get below zero F do I consider wearing them.
That could be the reason I have frost bitten all my fingers a time or two

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by swamprat69er

In winter I wear a French Block Heater. Toque (Keeps my blockhead warm.)
I never wear gloves to drive and hardly ever wear them for snowball fights either. Only when the temps get below zero F do I consider wearing them.
That could be the reason I have frost bitten all my fingers a time or two

When it's frosty out, don't put your fingers in your mouth.

Neal,
If you feel too squirrelly to drive on a snow covered road, it's best to park it and wait for the plows to do their thing. You do not want to see your Mansfield bar passing your tractor.

[swamprat69er]

At temps below 20 below F, don't get any bright ideas about licking the frost off the steel pipe. Warm water will release the grip or you risk tearing your tongue. Use your imagination about where the warm water will come from.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

When it's frosty out, don't put your fingers in your mouth.

Neal,
If you feel too squirrelly to drive on a snow covered road, it's best to park it and wait for the plows to do their thing. You do not want to see your Mansfield bar passing your tractor.

I still remember my ill-advised trip to Dallas last winter when they had their freeze. The roads were littered with Texians in the distress, in ditches, and creeping about dismally. Each and every overpass was iced over and getting across was alarming. It was one controlled slide from Big D to Corsicana. And that was in my SUV, which I am more competent. I will not push any envelopes in this 40 ton truck.

I'm probably making more out of this than it warrants, I suppose about 90% of the time, even in the frigid north, as long as the roads are cleared and I see normal traffic, I can drive normally. I just don't have any experience at all driving a truck in the snow/ice. Cuz I'm new, I guess But I do not want to learn any lessons the hard way, and being a MC rider, I am very familiar with that feeling of "oh $#!% !!" just as I discover the limits of traction.

I will be sure to keep my tanks no less than 1/2 full. Thank god this truck has a 130 and a 70 gal tank, some Schneider trucks just have two 50s.

[Onkel Neal]

Oh, forgot to mention, I hit a deer in Ohio. Or rather, she hit me. Big doe came streaking across the median at a 70 degree angle, smashed straight into my left fuel tank. Actually bent the steel steps and handrail back a bit.

[swamprat69er]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I'm probably making more out of this than it warrants, I suppose about 90% of the time, even in the frigid north, as long as the roads are cleared and I see normal traffic, I can drive normally. I just don't have any experience at all driving a truck in the snow/ice. Cuz I'm new, I guess But I do not want to learn any lessons the hard way, and being a MC rider, I am very familiar with that feeling of "oh $#!% !!" just as I discover the limits of traction.

90% of the time IF everybody else is driving normally, that is when you should be the most wary. If the pavement is gray and dry, then hammer down. If it is black (as in fresh asphalt), then you can still hammer down as long as it is not wet/damp. All this is assuming the temperature is below the freezing point. (32*F) If it is windy and the temp. is at 31-35*F the road will still freeze. The wind chill factor will make it 'tighten up'.
I am making more of this than it warrants, but I have been driving in the snow and ice all my driving career. 46 years of big truck and 55 years total driving. I started at 13 on the farm.

Make sure your tires have way more tread than at the wear bars.


The difference between city boys and country boys;
The city boy says, 'oh $#!], this is gonna hurt!'
The country boy says, 'hold my beer and watch this!'

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Oh, forgot to mention, I hit a deer in Ohio. Or rather, she hit me. Big doe came streaking across the median at a 70 degree angle, smashed straight into my left fuel tank. Actually bent the steel steps and handrail back a bit.

Parallel lives! As in the 'hunting thread', a buck-4+ points- ran full tilt into me as I was at highway speed at 2AM-hit just in front of and dislodged my driver-mirror and caromed off the rear quarter of my Corolla leaving two dents in the body. Passed back by two hours later to see if there was enough for the Weber but no luck....my car now has a little more character and three deer to its credit. I've missed at least five within a few blocks of home this month alone. Whatever you do, don't hit a MOOSE en route to Duluth while hauling fireworks!FOTO (It’s unclear what happened to the moose.) Or bear or a flock of 50 wild turkeys that crosses my path every AM at PRECISELY 7:20AM
GOOD HUNTING KALEUN! Ungulates ( are a diverse group of large mammals that includes horses, cattle, pigs, giraffes, camels, deer, hippopotamuses, whales and dolphins?!!. Don't hit any marine-world transport vehicle either! Swamprat, Wolfertz and I will tell you everything they sorta skipped in truck-em-up-school!

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by swamprat69er

Neal, when you do pull into a truck stop and go to park it, roll forward and back for about 10 minutes or so. (It will cool off your tires and you wont make ice under the tires for when you decide to pull out.) It cost me $50.oo to learn that lesson.
DO NOT put your trailer parking (maxi brakes) on, just use the tractor brakes for parking.

A little alcohol (Safety brake) in your red air line will help with frozen air lines and drain the air tanks EVERY day.

NEVER, EVER drive according to the other guys abilities. If you don't feel comfortable driving 60mph in the snow, then don't. Drive at the speeds YOU feel comfortable at.
I got my butt chewed off coming North through Ohio one February by a big time trucker (Billy Big Rig) because I was running at 40mph in a 60 zone pushing snow with my front bumper. 10 miles up the road Billy Big Rig trucker that did all the barking was turned around facing South in the comedian. I mosied on by at 40 mph and got where I was going without the aid of a tow truck. Feb. 1974 I-75 was closed right after I got past Lima, OH.

If you hear on the radio (CB or broadcast) that the road is closed in front of you, then find a safe haven, preferably a truck stop.

Never let your fuel tanks go below half in the winter up in the frozen north.
Even IF the price of fuel is higher in the north, most of the northern fuel is already 'winter' fuel. (Brand names) Summer fuel from down South will gell up sooner than northern winter fuel.

gonna borrow this and facebook it to my driver buddies now that we might be drilling a bit less and traveling a bit more.

[swamprat69er]

IF you run out of Safety Brake you can use methanol SPAREINGLY! A very little bit goes a long way as it will dry out the rubbers and take out the diaphrams, guaranteed.

Use Kleen flo in the fuel according to the manufacturers' instructions.

Read the owners' manual for the truck and engine you are driving. Some say it is O.K. to put on a winter front, others say not to.

Old 318 (8V71) and 671 Detroits at -50F close them right up and pay attention to the water temps. that is the only way to get any heat out of them in the deep cold.

Make sure your shutter stat is working properly IF you have shutters on yer rad. Some of this advice is pretty dated (Old school).

I was stranded once in Kingston, Ontario with a frozen fuel filter in a Mack. It is a good thing she was old. I took the canister type filter apart and threw out the filter. She fired right up once she got fuel and off we went to the steel mill. (I was hauling crushed scrap cars, then.)

[Aktungbby]

Use Kleen flo in the fuel according to the manufacturers' instructions

Nobody uses transmission fluid in the tanks anymore or am I dating myself? Was always good for the injectors.

[swamprat69er]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

Nobody uses transmission fluid in the tanks anymore or am I dating myself? Was always good for the injectors.

I still use ATF once a month in my C15 Cat, only in the summer.

In winter you will be better off with fuel anti-freeze/anti-gel.

[swamprat69er]

IF you should be so unlucky to get into a skid with the tractor, gently let off the fuel and steer. Steer the same as you would with your car/pickup.
DO NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES! AND KEEP THE JAKE BRAKE SHUT OFF ESPECIALLY ON SNOW AND ICE.

If you get into a trailer skid, then pour the fuel to it and pray you have the space required to get everything straightened out.DO NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES!

Always remember, skidding wheels lead. Anti lock brakes are handy, BUT if the anti lock feature fails, then you've got good old 'old school'.

If, for whatever reason you find yourself heading for the ditch and there is no way out of it DO NOT try and steer back out of it. Turn into the ditch. It may save you from rolling. ALWAYS wear your seatbelt. Even if you hate them like I do.