There are many dangers that truck drivers face on the road, but one of the most treacherous is when they encounter a slippery grade, like snow-covered grades. Though the guys from the best East Brisbane Car service can fix any issues with your vehicle, it doesn’t mean you could overlook your vehicle’s traction. Maintaining traction and keeping your rig under control can be difficult, especially if you’re not prepared. That’s why today, we want to ensure you can prevent any dangerous event from happening on the road. So, keep reading. We’re about to show you some key factors to consider when driving on slippery grades.
Fully-Engaged Axle Interlock
One of the most important aspects when driving on slippery grades is to ensure that your front and rear axles are fully engaged. This will help provide you with the best possible traction, and it also enables you to control your rig more effectively. To ensure that every wheel has maximum contact with the road, check if the axle interlock is set according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Engine That Is Running Close to the Top RPM
Professional truckers know that the lower the engine rpm, the less traction you will get on slippery roads. That’s why keeping your truck running close to its maximum performance is a must. If you want to ensure that your rig has enough power when going up a steep grade, then you should check your RPMs before hitting the gas pedal. Not that you should be accelerating too hard on a slippery grade, but you need to be prepared for any situation.
Proper Timing for Shifting
Shifting gears could potentially result in spin-out because shifting gears means you let out the clutch. This can get even more dangerous on slippery grades because the lack of traction can easily cause your truck to spin out. That’s why, if you want to shift gears properly on slippery grades, you should make sure you let out the clutch slowly and evenly, then accelerate at a steady pace.
Use of Differential Lock
Finally, if all else fails, then you can use what is known as the differential lock. When you engage the differential lock, it will limit the power that goes to each wheel and make sure that all of them are working together as one unit. This helps prevent spin-outs by giving your truck a better grip on slippery grades. Remember that this is the last resort measure, so use it only when necessary.
Following the advice above and adhering to proper truck driving etiquette, you should be able to keep yourself safe while driving on slippery grades. With these tips in mind, ensure you’re always prepared when encountering snow-covered roads and icy hills. Stay safe out there, my fellow truckers.