Common impacts winter weather has on truck drivers

Fall may only be starting to arrive in Pennsylvania, but winter arrives soon bringing snow and ice with it. The change in weather can impact how trucks drive and handle the roadways increasing their potential for accidents. Shorter days ahead cause truckers to spend more time driving in the dark presenting its own set of hazards for motorists.

Back in March 2019, Forbes published an article about how winter weather affects the trucking industry. Winter storms can bring whiteout conditions, feet of snow and closed roadways in a short period of time. Truckers may wind up stranded on roadways or skid off into the snowbanks.

Truck drivers can help alleviate the impacts of winter weather by planning ahead to avoid storms. However, that is not always possible, and the industry can face negative financial impacts due to incidents on roadways. There are new tools beyond weather apps to help truckers drive safely while maintaining delivery schedules in harsh winter conditions.

The Smart Trucking Blog states that freezing rain may be the worst weather to drive in for truckers. Low visibility and black ice are common side effects of freezing rain potentially causing trucks to jackknife. On certain highways and bridges, high winds from winter storms can cause trucks to tip over or move off the road.

As the seasons change, hailstorms are possible along frontal boundaries. Hail stones can damage windshields and cause slippery roadways. Tire chains help trucks and cars navigate roadways with heavy snow. Continuing to drive when visibility severely lessens can result in an accident.