Driving A Rental Truck In The Winter
Driving A Rental Truck In The Winter
Congratulations, you’re going to move! You’ve rented your truck and are thinking about the driving route for your move.
Questions to consider.
Will it be snowing?
Will there be ice on the road?
Will you be crossing a mountain pass?
Picture yourself going over a mountain pass and when you get to the top and start down, you realize that the truck is going to speed up and your only means of slowing down is the brake pedal. Then you realize that halfway down the pass you start to see smoke coming from your brakes. At this point a professional driver will rely on his years of experience to get to the bottom of his grade, unfortunately, your average driver doesn’t have the experience to handle this situation.
Do you have the necessary skills to drive the rental truck safely in any weather conditions (whether it be wet or dry roads)?
Driving A Rental Truck In The Winter
All mountain passes require chains to be onboard and installed if the chain law is in effect when crossing. (Ask yourself do you know how to install chains on a large truck?) Most rental companies do not supply chains; therefore, you could be stranded for days before being allowed to pass.
Safety is always the primary concern when driving during the winter
If you have to drive a rental truck in such conditions, here are a few things you can do to improve safety:
- Follow the weather and road conditions. Allow for extra travel time.
- Clear snow and ice from the roof of the cab, the hood, windows, lights, and mirrors.
- Bridges and overpasses freeze before road surfaces.
- Be prepared for emergencies. Bring extra clothing, blankets, food, water, flashlights, and a first-aid kit.
- Allow twice the normal safe traveling distance between your vehicle and other vehicles. Stopping a large truck will take a greater distance and the stopping time will be increased in inclement weather.
- During stormy conditions and moderate wind, the truck tends to pull in the direction the wind is blowing.
- Keep your fuel tank as full as possible.
Other Things To Consider
- Make sure you inspect the truck for any damage and take pictures, to ensure that you are not charged for damage to the truck that was there prior to it being in your possession.
- Check the door for weight to see if you need to stop at weigh stations.
- Load the truck with the heaviest item at the front of the truck.
- When pulling a trailer, if the trailer starts to sway it’s due to a weight imbalance. It was loaded lighter weight items in the front of the trailer and the heaviest weight loaded in the tail.
Why hire a professional driver from RTD?
- Our least experienced drivers have 20 years or more experience driving in wet, dry, and winter conditions.
- We have drivers that have pulled loads more than 150 feet. (three-times longer than an average tractor-trailer)
- RTD Drivers that have pulled loads more than 300,000 lbs. and your average load for an 18-wheeler only weighs 80,000 lbs. and 65 to 70 feet long.
Our drivers are ready to put their many years of experience to work for you!
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