Wheels are more likely to skid in poor, winter conditions.
During CDL training new truckers learn not only how to operate trucks under usual safe conditions, but poor ones as well. These include snow, sleet, rain, and other inclement weather conditions which can cause your wheels to skid. Skidding occurs when your vehicle wheels lose their grip on the road. This can happen for many reasons, such as the aforementioned poor road conditions and also improper vehicle handling. Learning how to regain control of a truck when you start to skid is incredibly important for any driver. It can not only save your life but the lives of others on the road. To learn lifesaving skid control and recovery tips, read on.
What To Do If Your Back Wheels Skid
Back wheels skid most often when a truck accelerates or decelerates too quickly. This can either be due to driver mistakes or slippery inclement conditions. If you start to skid, the last thing you want to cause is a jackknife situation. You can avoid this by taking your foot off of the pedal, rather than breaking as you may instinctively want to do. It is important that you keep your wheels rolling, but reduce your forward speed in natural increments until you regain control.
What To Do If Your Front Wheels Skid
The vast majority of front wheel skids happen when someone is driving too fast for the weather conditions. Worn tires or uneven cargo loading can also be to blame. You can recover from this by stopping the truck as quickly a possible. However, do not break too hard as this can worsen the skid.
If Your Drive Wheels Skid
During this type of skid, do not break. If you are skidding due to ice, push the clutch in. As your truck begins to slow, turn quickly. This will begin to maneuver your truck sideways. At this point, you will need to turn the wheel in the direction you want to go. Once your truck straightens, countersteer to avoid skidding in the other direction accidentally.
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Tags: keeping control of your truck, skid control, winter weather