Category: Winter driving

Thawing Winter Roads Make Way for Weight Restrictions

Posted on March 10, 2023 by - driving in winter conditions, Trucking in winter, Winter driving

What is Frost Law?

In many northern states that get a lot of snow during the winter, roads as well as the ground underneath the roads freeze due to moisture trapped beneath roads. When spring comes and the weather starts warming up, the ground underneath roads starts to thaw which causes roads to be more vulnerable to damage during this time, the most common being potholes. This has caused many states and Canadian provinces to enact Frost Law, or Spring Load Restrictions. 

Frost law is a law enforced on roads when the weight capacity of a road per vehicle and the speed limit is reduced significantly to prevent road damage. State and city governments determine the weight limit based on the temperature, moisture content in the soil, and overall road conditions. More weight limits are imposed on roads that are older. Roads made with more modern road technology significantly reduce the amount of moisture retained in the top layers of roads. Sublayers are still, however, subject to varying amounts of moisture. 

When does Frost Law Occur?

Frost Law impositions depend on the state and the city that the road is located in. Roads are most susceptible to damage during the first few weeks of spring thaw. Typically Frost Law is enforced starting in March and ending around June, but this varies from state to state. Weight restrictions remain in effect until most of the moisture beneath roads has dispersed. 

Where does Frost Law Occur?

Frost Law occurs in the following states: 

Idaho
Iowa
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New York
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Frost Law also occurs in the following Canadian Provinces:

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan

How to know which roads have what restrictions?

Each state’s website has a list of roads and their weight restriction information along with maps highlighting roads that are designated as all-season routes. These roads do not have a weight restriction due to Frost Laws and should be used when driving a vehicle that would be susceptible to these weight restrictions. 

It is important to keep these weight restrictions in mind when traveling through these states and provinces. Traveling on roads affected by Frost Laws in a vehicle exceeding the weight limit can lead to major fines. Be sure to check and plan your route accordingly before you set off to avoid fines and damaging roads with heavy vehicles.

Winter Weather Trucking Tips with ExpressTruckTax

Posted on December 21, 2022 by - driving in winter conditions, Trucking in winter, trucking tire tips for winter, winter, Winter driving

Today December 21st is the first official day of winter and you know what that means? Colder weather. With colder weather comes hazardous driving conditions. Some parts of the country have already had their fair share of winter weather this year and for others, it’s just the beginning. Some parts of the country are also more used to snow and ice than others. Whether you have been trucking during the winter or if this is your first time, below you will find some helpful trucking tips for winter weather travel.

Check Your Truck

Before you depart on your trip you need to check your truck whether or not you are expecting to encounter winter weather. It is always best to be prepared. Make sure your tire pressure is good. Check that your headlights and tail lights are clean and in working condition. Make sure that your truck heater and defroster are operational. It is important that your wipers, lights, and brakes are working properly too. Fueling up beforehand is also essential. It might take a while to get assistance if an accident occurs or if you break down so it is better to be safe than sorry. 

Proper Supplies

Driving in winter weather conditions means that you will need to pack the proper supplies needed for your trips. Make sure that you pack extra clothing layers and winter weather gear, gloves, flashlights, a bag of sand or salt for tire traction, snow scrapers and brushes, blankets, tire chains, and jumper cables.

Travel at Safe Speeds and Distances

When you travel slower it gives you a long time to react if there are vehicles braking up ahead or animals crossing the road and you need to hit the brakes to avoid hydroplaning and causing accidents. Another way to prevent this is to keep a safe distance from the vehicles in front of you and constantly be aware of your surroundings. If you are on a bridge especially, keep in mind that there might be ice on the road so keep your speed down and make sure to keep extra distance from vehicles.

Stay Parked 

If winter conditions are especially severe, it is okay to stay parked and let your dispatcher know. The delivery can be rescheduled. It is better to be safe than sorry. If a driver is nervous it puts them on edge and which can be very dangerous in hazardous conditions.

Warm Up Windshields

If you are about to depart and your windshield is frozen, make sure to defrost it before setting off. It is important to have visibility in already low visibility conditions. Keep ice off your windshield by warming it up so that you can keep your eyes on the road when driving in wintry conditions. 

Stay Safe

Here at ExpressTruckTax, we want to make sure that you are driving safely during these winter months. Follow the above tips so that you can stay safe on the road during the winter months. Have a Happy Holiday and safe travels from the ExpressTruckTax team!

How To Safely Navigate Winter Trucking

Posted on February 15, 2021 by - Winter driving

If you’ve been on social media this week, you’ve probably seen the scary footage of the icy interstate pileups in Texas and Iowa. Icy, snowy, and wet conditions can make winter trucking tricky, but you can’t just stop driving until Spring arrives. Instead, you have to drive through some wintery conditions, so do it correctly, and know when to stop. Here are some winter driving tips for truck drivers.

Prepping For Snow

Before embarking on a winter trucking trip, check the weather. Keeping your life and preventing accidents is more important than getting tons of skittles to Wal-Mart. However, we do understand the certain situations when a delivery of essential items needs to be made.

Pack a bag of emergency items. Include extra blankets, and warm clothes like a waterproof jacket, a warm hat, gloves, and boots, in case you have to get out of your cab and wait to be rescued. If you stay in your cab you’ll need those blankets to keep warm. A dead truck won’t fill the cab with heat.

Your emergency kit should also include food and water in case you get stranded, a flashlight and flares, a windshield scraper, jumper cables, chains or traction mats, and a bag of salt or sand.

When you’re getting ready to leave and at every stop, top off your gas and make sure your windshield fluid is topped off with fluid that won’t freeze. Also, make sure your truck has antifreeze and has been serviced for winter trucking. Your tires should be winter tires or all season tires to have deeper grooves for more traction.

Make sure that your heaters and defrosters are all working properly, along with your window wipers, which you should have a really good pair to wipe thick snow and ice away.

Defrost your windows completely and wipe all the snow away for the best visibility while truck driving in snow. Then wipe any snow from your headlights, tail lights, and blinkers away, so you can see and people can see you. Also, don’t forget to wipe the snow off the top of your cab! 

While driving, slow down. Don’t accelerate too quickly, don’t brake too hard, and don’t take turns too quickly. Keep a firm grip on the wheel, stay calm, and don’t make sudden jerky movements. Never use cruise control as it over spins the tires if you start to slip or slide.Keep extra distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. If you’re whizzing past people creeping in the right line, slow down.

Watch out for black ice. When conditions are between 22 to 32 degrees, it’s actually the most dangerous because the snow and ice are very wet and slippery, and the road freezes in some places that can be hard to see.

Be careful when you approach bridges, as they freeze first and can be tricky. Plus, pay attention to all road signs, they’re pretty serious with winter conditions. If a curve should be taken at 35 mph don’t push it.

Should you start to slip and lose control do not slam on the brakes, especially if your trailer isn’t straight. Ease off the gas and gently glide to a stop while maintaining your steering.

If you have any doubts whatsoever, then it’s time to stop. No need to push it. Simply pull off at safe location and wait it out. In most cases snow plows have interstates and ramps cleared pretty quickly.

Happy Trucking

Winter has already been tough this year. Be prepared with the tools necessary to make it through truck driving in snow, be safe, and know when to stop.

For more winter trucking tips visit ExpressTruckTax and please share your stories about winter trucking in the comment section below.

Winter Tire Care Tips To Keep You Rollin’

Posted on January 5, 2018 by - semi truck winter tire care, truckers, Trucking in winter, trucking through ice, trucking through snow, trucking tire tips for winter, Winter driving, Winter tire care

ExpressTruckTax shares tire inspection advice for truckers

Winter is here. Not just any winter, but a historically cold one that’s breaking records all over! New York hasn’t been above freezing for days and even Charleston, SC has received 8 inches of snow!

Wherever you are, you’re probably bundled up and want to stay warm. It would literally be the worst time to have a tire issue because you would have to go out and fix it in freezing temperatures! Don’t let a break down happen, prep your tires for the worst with these winter tire care tips!

Winter Tire Care Tips To Keep You Rollin’ 

During the winter it’s best to be more alert. Generally, the driving conditions can darker, icer, and much snowier than other seasons. It can be difficult to see structures like curbs and sidewalls.

You will really want to look out for these objects because hitting them makes your tires more susceptible to impact breaks. If you have a puncture from hitting one of these objects you may not know until your tire fails later.

You will also want to take the time to really check on your tires to look for punctures or damage. Signs of a slow leaking punctures include irregular wear, lower tire pressure, cuts and snags.

Driving with lower tire pressure extends the footprint of your tire which gives you more traction. This can be helpful to give you more control while maneuvering through snow and ice, but dangerous in other situations.

Underinflated tires will heat up faster, especially at higher speeds and can result in premature failure, blowouts, and fires, which all do not sound very fun. Underinflated tires can also lead to weakened sidewalls and can put more pressure on the carcass. You can always call your maintenance department to check on the minimum tire pressure for your load if you’re unsure.

Check the tire tread, because when your tire tread is low the chances of your tires blowing when they hit debris is increased. Keep in mind that the recommended tire tread depth is 4/32 of an inch for a steer tire.

Another sign of low tire pressure is uneven wear around the shoulders. However, neglecting your regular tire maintenance will also cause them to wear unevenly. Be sure to rotate and align your tires often.

Rotating and aligning your tires will provide a smoother ride and will prevent suspension damage. It will also help your truck from pulling to the side and causing your tires to wear faster.

Also, if your tires are overinflated the side walls become harder than normal. This can reduce traction, reduce performance cause uneven wear, and increase the chances for blowouts. Overinflated tires are bouncier too, so your ride can be less comfortable.

We know that you don’t want your truck to look dirty after hauling through snowy areas, so you will wash off all the salt and grime. When washing your truck be sure to include the tires! Cleaning off all the debris and chemicals will help prevent premature wear.

ExpressTruckTax shares semi truck tire care tips

Stay Safe And Warm!

Thank you for all of your hard work during one of the most grueling winters in history so far. It’s not easy trucking through winter weather and we hope you don’t break down or have to stop due to a tire issue.

Please share your winter care tips in the comment section below and visit ExpressTruckTax.com for more trucking blogs.