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Knowing how to prepare for and drive in any weather is crucial to lowering Commercial Truck Insurance costs. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), “On average, there are over 5,891,000 vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 21% of these crashes - nearly 1,235,000 - are weather-related.”

Bad weather comes in many forms – rain, snow, sleet, fog, wind, etc.; however, any can affect driver capability, vehicle performance, visibility, pavement friction, traffic flow, and more. Approximately 70% of weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement. Rain causes 46%, snow and sleet cause 18%, icy pavements cause 13%, and fog causes 3% of weather-related crashes, according to the FHWA.

Tips for Safe Driving in Any Weather

Monitor the Weather

Always know what type of weather is predicted and monitor weather conditions, as they can frequently change. This way, you can prepare for whatever comes your way without being caught off guard.

Inspect Your Truck

A pre-trip inspection checklist is crucial (and is the law for CDL vehicles) to your safety at any time, but it is particularly vital in bad weather. According to Smart Trucking, the minimum DOT Pre-Trip Inspection requirements include the following:

• Service brakes, including trailer brake connections
• Parking brake
• Steering mechanism
• Lighting devices and reflectors
• Tires
• Horn
• Windshield wipers
• Rear vision mirrors
• Coupling devices
• Wheels and rims
• Emergency equipment

Prepare Your Truck

In addition to the pre-trip inspection, take steps to prepare your truck if you know there is a good chance that you are heading into bad weather. For example, chains for your tires, anti-gel for your fuel tank, balancing the load correctly, etc., can decrease the risk of accidents or other issues in treacherous weather.

Watch Your Speed

“The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 23 percent of large-truck crashes occurred when commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were traveling too fast for conditions,” according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA recommends that you “reduce your speed by 1/3 on wet roads and by 1/2 or more on snow-packed roads (i.e., if you would normally be traveling at a speed of 60 mph on dry pavement, then on a wet road, you should reduce your speed to 40 mph, and on a snow-packed road you should reduce your speed to 30 mph).”

Allow for Adequate Stopping Distance

“The average stopping distance for a loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 55 mph (in ideal conditions) is 196 feet, compared with 133 feet for a passenger vehicle,” according to the FMCSA. On slippery surfaces, a truck needs even more stopping distance. Therefore, to avoid collisions, you must adjust the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you based on weather conditions, road conditions, visibility, and traffic.

Improve Visibility

Rain, fog, snow, etc., can significantly decrease visibility. Do what you can to improve visibility and ensure other drivers can see you by clearing your windshield and windshield wipers, cleaning off and turning on your headlights, etc. Blind spots are always a concern for truck drivers, but bad weather conditions can make it even harder to see vehicles in your blind spots. Therefore, be even more careful when changing lanes in poor visibility.

Carry a Survival Kit

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst! A survival kit can help keep you safe and/or get you back on the road. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to survival kits. Think about emergencies you may run into, and consider what you or your truck may need. Here are some suggestions:

• Nonperishable Food
• Bottles of water
• Extra clothing
• Winter clothing, such as hats, gloves, etc.
• Blankets
• Medication
• Warning flag
• Snow shovel
• Ice scraper
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight and batteries
• Jumper cables
• Portable phone charger
• Ice cleats
• Toilet paper
• Hand and feet warmers
• Safety vest
• Cash
• Wheel chocks

How to Save More on Truck Insurance

At American Insuring Group, we go beyond providing you with affordable truck insurance. We carefully analyze the needs and risks associated with your business and match you up with the best trucking insurance policy by carefully analyzing many competing insurance companies.

The result? You get high-quality Commercial Truck Insurance coverage at a very affordable price. Get a free quote today by calling (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

Driving a truck is challenging enough. Add some snow, sleet or freezing rain, and you have the perfect storm not only for your safety, but for your trucking insurance rates. Few truck drivers can escape driving on wintry roads because more than 70 percent of the nation’s roads are located in regions that receive more than five inches average snowfall annually.

Winter Accident Rates 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) reports that 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement and 15 percent happen during snowfall or sleet each year. Every year more than 1,300 people are killed, and 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy or icy pavements.

Handling a 40,000-pound tractor trailer on treacherous wintry roads requires special driving skills and a lot of common sense as stop time increases and visibility and traction decreases.

Here are two tips to prepare for winter driving:

1. Make sure you have the following supplies in your truck. It’s better not to need something and have it than to need something and not have it:

• Kitty litter – When you stop for a meal or a bathroom break, your tires will be warm, which can quickly turn snow into ice. Kitty litter is a great way to get a little bit of extra traction to get you started.
• Good quality Lug tires
• Fuel conditioner
• Methyl hydrate for fuel and air lines
• Extra fuel filters (don’t forget a wrench)
• A hammer & putty knife. When driving in excessive amounts of snow, air tanks can quickly freeze. You can remove snow and ice packed on your air tanks with a hammer and putty knife
• Windshield washer fluid
• Chains
• Propane heater and lighter
• Extra warm clothing
• Insulated socks and good boots
• Extra blankets or a sleeping bag
• A well-charged phone
• Food and water
  
  

2. Be extra diligent during your circle check. Make sure that everything is in working order including the defroster, heater, wiper blades and motor, brakes, and lights. Top off the washer fluid. A few ounces of brake line antifreeze mixed in with the washer fluid can help prevent freezing on your window. Drain moisture from the air tanks. Start with a full tank of gas for extra weight over the drive tires to help with traction. Check the tires and the tire pressure. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and lights are completely clean before departing.

Here are six tips once you hit the road:

1. Slow down – This is the number one rule of safe winter driving. If roads are slick, the posted speed limits are probably too fast. Most at-fault accidents are due to excessive speeds.
2. Keep a safe distance – When possible, leave about ¼ of a mile between you and the vehicle in front of you.
3. Don’t stop on the shoulder – When visibility is bad, another vehicle may not see you or may think that you’re driving on the road and slam right into you.
4. Don’t over brake and don’t engage the jake brake on icy roads – Your truck may slow down, but your trailer may not.
5. Keep lights clean – Even if you start out with clean lights, snow and ice can build up decreasing visibility. Stop in a safe place periodically to make sure the lights on your truck are clean.
6. Use common sense – You may feel pressure from hours of service rules and dispatchers, but don’t put yourself (and others) in harm’s way. Know your limits and what your equipment can handle. If you don’t feel that the roads are safe enough to drive on, find a safe place to park your truck and wait out the storm. Call dispatch and have the delivery rebooked. Nothing is more important than your life.

Taking these precautions on snowy, icy, or slushy roads can help save lives. It can also help decrease the cost of your truck insurance premiums.

Call Us to Save on Commercial Vehicle Insurance

To learn more ways to save on any type of commercial vehicle insurance, give the experienced agents at American Insuring Group a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610)775-3848, or click here to contact us online.