Mountain Driving Tips
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You may have years of experience driving in and around and , but are you prepared for mountain driving? Semi truck drivers face unique safety challenges when dealing with the unpredictable weather and steep grades of mountain drives. Read on for seven safe mountain driving semi truck tips from International Used Truck Center.
Our Top Tips for Mountain Truck Driving
- Never Rush the Descent – When it comes to descending an incline, don’t rush it! In fact, err on the side of travelling too slowly rather than too quickly. It’s more difficult than you might think to correctly identify the grade of a hill by eye.
- Get the Right Grade – Grade signs will tell you what speed to maintain as you climb or descend steep terrain. Always refer to the posted signage rather than trying to guess the grade, and make sure to maintain your speed even as you near the bottom of a hill. Overconfidence — or even a slight misjudgement — can have dire consequences if you pick up too much speed and then encounter unseen ice patches or unexpected curves.
- Prevent Spinning Wheels – If you give the truck alot of power while ascending on a slippery surface, the wheels are more likely to spin. Instead, supply power gradually.
- Be Mindful of Engine Overheating – Driving through mountains puts a lot of stress on your engine, so don’t push it too hard going up an incline. Turn on the engine fan, let the truck walk up the hill, and keep an eye on the engine temperature gauge.
- Make Your Own Tracks – Running directly in the tracks of the truck ahead will make a slippery surface even more so. Pull slightly to the right to avoid doing this, and to gain the added traction of gravel on the side of the road.
- Limit the RPM – You can prevent out-of-control wheel spin by keeping the engine at the top of the RPM range. This way, the wheels will hit the limiter after reaching a couple hundred RPM.
- Leave Extra Following Distance – No matter the weather, mountain truck driving makes it harder to stay in control. Leave plenty of room between yourself and the truck in front so that you have ample room to straighten out your trailer if necessary.
How to Regain Control When Driving Through Mountains
Sometimes, despite your best efforts and following all the right steps when driving through mountains, it’s possible to lose control of your truck. There are a few steps you can take to stay safe and regain control:
- Try using the gravel at the side of the road to straighten out the trailer. Crowd the truck/trailer unit into the shoulder while gently applying the trailer brake.
- Use the runaway lanes as a last resort. Runaway truck ramps are there to help slow your truck and get it safely off the roadway in an emergency situation, so don’t be afraid to use them when it’s necessary.
What Should You Do Before Driving in Mountains?
Experienced drivers know that overconfidence is a major cause of accidents, especially when mountain driving. Semi truck drivers should also keep a sharp eye on the weather report. Preparing for weather changes is more important than usual if you’re mountain driving in a semi truck. Be ready to chain up whenever signs are posted, or to seek out an alternate route with a shallower grade.
Drive Safe With International Used Truck Center
Whether you have decades of driving experience throughout or this is your first time driving through mountains, these sensible safety tips should keep you on track. Stop by our Driver’s Corner for guides on winter truck driving, staying healthy on the road, and other topics.