By Sandy Long

Listening to satellite radio in the truck, I am appalled every time I hear of another major pileup involving multiple semi-trucks along with cars. People are dying, rigs are destroyed, lives are changed, all unnecessarily in my opinion. We had a very rare pileup back in the day, maybe one a year that I remember, what has changed?

I asked on WIT’s Facebook group what a good following distance was for bad weather. More than a few replied three to four seconds or less. In bad weather, on bad roads, nope, not me. I want a huge cushion around me. I prefer one-quarter of a mile between my truck and the one in front of me. It was how I was taught forty plus years ago, though I might cut that to an eighth of a mile if there is little traffic. Still works today for me, gives me a chance to act, not react if things go wrong. 

Of course, back in the day, we all had our CBs on, especially during bad weather. During bad road times, it was business only, alerting those behind to extra slick spots, or where a bit of gravel might be on the shoulder for traction. Forewarning was given quickly if someone was in trouble along with mile marker if there was one. Remember, forewarned also gives a driver time to act not react.

I did not drive a truck with cruise control until 1986. Few company trucks had it before 1980 or so. These days, cruise control is in every truck. Cruise control is great for dry roads, not so great on wet roads, and a totally bad idea on snow or ice. Not only does cruise keep torque to the ground which can push your truck’s nose and make the drives spin, but it takes a second or two longer to kick it off to then slow down properly. With keeping on the foot for fuel and adjusting speed to coast across slick spots to avoid braking, you have a better chance of being able to act, not react by jamming on brakes. 

There is a regulation in the little green book that is a trucker’s best friend in bad weather. §392.14 Hazardous conditions; extreme caution. Extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Speed shall be reduced when such conditions exist. If conditions become sufficiently dangerous, the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued and shall not be resumed until the commercial motor vehicle can be safely operated. Whenever compliance with the foregoing provisions of this rule increases hazard to passengers, the commercial motor vehicle may be operated to the nearest point at which the safety of passengers is assured.

[33 FR 19732, Dec. 25, 1968, as amended at 60 FR 38747, July 28, 1995]

Guidance for § 392.14: Hazardous conditions; extreme caution. Question 1: Who makes the determination, the driver or carrier, that conditions are sufficiently dangerous to warrant discontinuing the operation of a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)? 

Guidance: Under this section, the driver is clearly responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle and the decision to cease operation because of hazardous conditions. 

What the above regulation does is overrides the carrier being able to force a driver to go out on the road if the driver deems it unsafe to do so. Write that number down for use when necessary. It is better to act and pick your parking spot, than react and have to keep going when it is patently unsafe to do so and not find a parking spot.

The FMCSA states that 25% of all weather-related accidents are caused by excessive speed. Now a driver may make it down the road going too fast on snowy or icy roads, until they go around a curve, have to slow down quickly, hit a slick patch, or God forbid, another vehicle loses it and hits them. Then they have to react, not act. 

So, New Year Resolutions that may save your life.

• Increase your following distances to at least five or six truck lengths minimum, more preferably.
• You do not need an expensive CB radio. These days I run a $40 cobra, but have one and keep it on in bad weather.
• Keep the cruise control turned off on bad roads.
• Park if you feel it is unsafe to continue. Remember you are under mandate by Federal Regulation to do so.
• Slow that big rig down Mr. or Ms. Truck Driver in bad road conditions or bad weather.

Happy New Year!