Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Poor Road Conditions and Truck Insurance

By Steve Turner

A good way to prevent having to use your truck insurance coverage is to be aware of the type of weather you will be traveling in. Surely you have experience driving in poor weather sometime in your trucking career. It is vital to understand how any inclement weather will affect the state of the roads that you are driving on and then in turn how you should respond to these conditions.

Before leaving for you trip be aware what the weather is going to be like along the route you are taking. Plan for alternate routes in case extreme weather make it dangerous to use the original. Also use your CB to talk with other truck drivers to get updates on the conditions of the roads ahead of you.

During rainy conditions, even light rain, be careful not to hydroplane. Even small amounts of water on the road can cause reduction in the traction of your tires by as much as 30%. If you do start to hydroplane, do not push on your brakes and be sure you are your steering straight until your feel your tires grab traction again.

Driving on a flooded road is never a good idea despite the extra weight associated with a commercial truck. Your trailer could jackknife or the whole rig to flip over because of the strong water flow in the flooded area. Abandon your truck if you and head for higher ground if you do find yourself in this situation.

Slow down before entering into fog. Roll down your window and be alert so that you can see and hear any slow moving or stopped vehicles that may be in your path. Be prepared to stop quickly if the need arises.

When traveling through snow or a blizzard be consious on any bridges or overpasses because they will freeze first. Keep a slow and steady pace and be cautious when using your brakes. The area that you will need to stop in icy conditions will be three to twelve times greater than normal, so maintain plenty of space between you and the next driver.

During a thunderstorm stay in your truck because this is the safest place to be. Park in an area that is away from tall trees and power lines.

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