How To Operate Commercial Vehicles in Bad Weather

If you’re starting out as a commercial vehicle driver, it can be difficult to drive in bad weather. Even if you’re an experienced truck or bus driver, you must exercise caution when you encounter adverse weather conditions. Of course, you will inevitably run into bad weather down the road.

Here are some tips on how to operate your commercial vehicle in bad weather:

Always Check the Weather Forecast Before a Trip

Before every trip, you should check the weather forecast to know if you will encounter any extreme weather conditions along your route. If the weather forecast says there is an incoming storm, hurricane, or blizzard, you’re better off sitting it out or planning an alternative route.

Besides that, you should also confirm if the roads along your route have been deemed impassable due to an episode of bad weather.

Always Prepare for Bad Weather

Since the weather can be difficult to predict with absolute certainty, you should always carry enough supplies for bad weather — even if the weather forecast says otherwise. More succinctly, make sure you pack emergency food options such as granola bars, canned veggies, canned pasta meals, nuts, dry cold cereal, tuna, beef jerky, long-life milk, and water that could last for weeks if you’re stranded due to bad weather.

In addition to that, you should pack extra blankets, clothes, a rain poncho, a sleeping bag, paper plates, and utensils. Don’t forget to bring an emergency kit with a first-aid kit, flashlight, battery-powered radio, flares, power bank, battery-powered radio, shovel, and salt.

Don’t Skip the Pre-inspection

Inspecting your bus or truck for any defects should be done before every trip regardless of the weather conditions. If you’re expecting bad weather, you should pay closer attention to the tires. If they’re worn out, you should replace them with the appropriate tires for the season. For instance, if you will be driving in the snow, you should equip your bus or truck with winter tires.

Since visibility is often a problem if you’re driving in bad weather conditions, you should replace your headlights, signal lights, and taillights if they’re worn out. Other things you should pay closer attention to include the cabin heater, defroster, air filters, cooling system, battery, fuel filter, water separator, electrical wirings, and windshield wipers. If it’s winter season, you should use winter-grade fluids that are designed to withstand low temperatures.

Slow Down When Driving in Bad Weather

Anytime you experience bad weather when driving, you should be cautious and slow down to avoid an accident. In most cases, you will have reduced visibility which means you’re more likely to miss out blind spots or hit other vehicles if you’re driving at a high speed. Not to mention, if it’s your first time driving in snow or icy conditions, driving at normal speeds is dangerous — even for experienced commercial drivers. But if you slow down, you will have more time to react and avoid any sudden braking, turns, or acceleration that could make you swerve off the road.

Adapt Your Driving Skills Depending on the Weather Conditions

Besides slowing down, you should adapt how you operate your commercial vehicle depending on the weather conditions. If you’re driving on snow- or ice-covered roads, you should go easy on the brakes, throttle, and steering wheel while keeping off the cruise control. If you’re driving uphill, you should try to gain momentum while you stay in gear without shifting so you don’t lose traction. Another tip to remember is to avoid setting your red brakes so they don’t freeze if it’s cold and wet in the winter.

But what if you’re driving in the rain? You should follow the same rules that apply when you’re driving in the snow. However, you should avoid hydroplaning through a large surface of water that could drag the vehicle off the road.

If you’re experiencing strong winds, double-check your load to make sure it’s properly secured and maintain a tight grip on the wheel. You should also drive close to the shoulder so you can give other vehicles more space in case the wind blows your trailer.

Don’t Drive if the Weather Is Too Dangerous

Sometimes the weather is too dangerous to drive and your best course of action would be to pull off the road and wait until the coast is clear. Similarly, you shouldn’t proceed if the road conditions are too dire. It’s not worth it to risk your life trying to meet a deadline even if you’re under pressure from the dispatch.

If you can’t find a shelter, it could be safer to stay inside your cabin. That’s why you should pack enough supplies for such scenarios. Most importantly, monitor your vehicle’s condition and communicate through emergency channels if you’re stranded due to bad weather.