Time To Winterize
The mercury may still be hitting 90 degrees or more in many parts of the country, but it’s not too soon to start thinking about winterizing your truck
The mercury may still be hitting 90 degrees or more in many parts of the country, but it’s not too soon to start thinking about winterizing your truck.
In the September issue of RoadStar magazine, editors and experienced drivers offer tips on what kind of winter accessories, emergency supplies and tools to carry; winter maintenance tips, and winter driving tips.
For instance, on the maintenance side, it’s important to make sure your tires, batteries, windshield wipers and coolant are in top conditions. For your truck, don’t forget to stock the truck with chains, shovel, fuel filters, antifreeze windshield washer and the like. And don’t forget yourself and your pets, with supplies such as emergency food, warm clothes, and polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes from snow glare.
When driving in winter weather, remember to increase your following distance, watch for ice buildup on mirrors and antenna, and stay abreast of weather conditions and forecasts.
One of the most important tips? If the weather is too bad, park the truck. “No freight we haul is that important,” says Brian Hitchcock of Michigan-based MBH Trucking. “It’s not worth putting someone into a ditch or getting killed.”
To read more, see the September issue of RoadStar. To learn where you can get a copy or sign up for a subscription, go to www.roadstaronline.com.
More Safety & Compliance

A Camera Isn't a Safety Program. Here's What Brokers Are Screening for Now
Footage alone may not be enough to pass broker vetting processes. Here's what counts as a defensible safety program now.
Read More →
Marijuana and Trucking’s Drug-Testing Dilemma
Marijuana is getting stronger, laws are changing, and drug tests still can’t reliably establish impairment. What does that mean for truck drivers and the fleets that employ them?
Read More →
PrePass, Kodiak Connect Driverless Trucks to Roadside Enforcement
The system will allow enforcement agencies to verify Enhanced Inspection information and decide whether Kodiak’s autonomous trucks can bypass roadside screening sites.
Read More →
From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers
After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.
Read More →
FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition
Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.
Read More →
ZF Expands Commercial Vehicle Push in North America
ZF is expanding its North American commercial-vehicle presence with new transmission applications, electrification, trailer technology and autonomous-driving systems.
Read More →
Truck Drivers Need More Than Another Alert
Fleets have more visibility into truck health, safety events, and driver activity than ever. The next challenge is turning all that information into useful guidance for the person who has to decide what to do next.
Read More →
Tesla Wants a Self-Driving Semi. Are Cameras Enough?
Could Tesla’s camera-only autonomous driving technology work on an 80,000-pound Semi? In this commentary, HDT's Deborah Lockridge takes a look at Tesla, Cybercab, and how autonomous trucks see the road.
Read More →
What DOT’s Automated Vehicle Strategy Means for Trucking
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a new automated-vehicle strategy that outlines plans for driverless-truck regulations, cross-state freight corridors, and federal safety standards.
Read More →
NYC Expands Speed, Pedestrian Safety Tech Across Fleet
New York City is expanding intelligent speed assistance and pedestrian-alert systems across its municipal fleet, moving the technologies from pilot programs into vehicle procurement and retrofit requirements.
Read More →

