POW, that's a little flawed isn't it?? The more traffic on the roads, the warmer the pavement will stay. If it is close to freezing, you want traffic on the roads to help keep them from freezing, but only if they drive sensible which is rare to happen.

 

Here's my rationale: With fewer trucks on the road and practically no cars, (except for those in the ditch), there is no one to run into you. Cars typically get in accidents when the snow first falls because they don't adjust quickly enough to the change in road conditions. Car drivers have many things on their mind besides driving, the commute is an inconvenience to them so they are unaware that they might not make it home or to Outback Steakhouse to meet little Miss Suzie Rottencrotch for dinner.

Truck drivers are more aware of the change in road conditions, but there are plenty of newer drivers that have not skidded or been jack-knifed yet. They move too fast and lose the traction on the drive tires which puts them in a spin, sometimes right across the berm heading into another on coming truck or car. The lucky ones get stuck in the ditch.

So I shut down during rush hour and start driving once the rest areas and truck stops begin filling up. During that time I have my coffee, restroom break and dinner all finished. If I am the only truck on the road, or one of a few, then I can travel at a safe speed so I keep control, 20 to 35MPH tops. There will be a slim chance of another inexperienced driver hitting me. My only challenge is visibility.

It works for me.

 

Until the new guy in the plow truck wipes you out.

 

Snow has great traction- and when it turns to slush it'll pull you and Ice sucks

 

Yep, gotta watch out for black ice too. I've been on roads where it looks perfectly fine and you tap the breaks or the accelerator and the wheels spin and you know you're in a bad situation.

Although, snow can be almost as dangerous with the trucks we have. What is the deal with Freightliner Columbia's wipers? They are worthless when snow is wet.

 

Mr. Ford95, funny you should mention. Last week a snow plow got stuck outside a driveway at my shipper.

 

If I might add Yoopr as you have posted eloquently before ... packed snow has excellent traction. As you posted "Slushly" snow does not.

It has been my limited experience although that when light (at W&S they haul furniture which is a very very light load sometimes less than 5K pounds) even packed snow can be treacherous.

Also in my limited experience that blowing snow across the highway, especially in areas like Wyoming, can be an indicator of very poor traction because the snow will not stick to the ice covering the interstate. You have this thin layer of blowing snow under say an inch of ice ....[/b]