Hauliers have enough on their plates all year, but the
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cold winter months bring extra dangers—adverse weather can be testing for man and machine alike. Steve Banner passes on some expert advice on how to outwit Jack Frost.
Glearning white snow looks picturesque on all those Christmas cards you're about to take down and chuck into the bin. It's not so pretty when you're battling up the A76 in the teeth of a blizzard. Close attention to maintenance is important all year round, but much more so during the winter.
Several items should be added to the standard checklist, says Ron Bowie, field engineering manager at Volvo: " If your fuel tank isn't full you 2 can get condensation forming and turning into c,
-e..., water, which will get into the diesel. Every so 2 often you should loosen the plug in the bottom 2,of the tank to drain the water away. Replace it i when diesel starts to drip out."
1 And Brian Hannan, aftersales operations f.D f2 director at Daf, adds: "It's also advisable to a E check the fuel filter for water." "You should drain any water out of the air tank at least once a week," says Bowie. "For example, if you get a water bubble in the system and it freezes, it can clog up the air suspension's valves. Many systems have air dryers these days, of course, but they depend on the dessicant being changed periodically. It's important to check that this has been done."
False economy
Hoping an elderly battery will last another winter could be a false economy. Starting engines that have become colder than usual overnight requires a lot of energy; leaving the lights and radio on while the truck is stationary, and using the tail-lift, might flatten it if it's already weak.
"Check you've got enough antifreeze in the radiator," says Bowie. "The coolant should contain antifreeze year round, but some of it might have been lost if the truck has suffered a burst hose. Inspect the hoses, and make sure the alternator and drive belts are OK."
A Mercedes-Benz spokesman advises using a 50/50 water/antifreeze mix, adding that the windscreen washer reservoir should contain a strong mixture of water and screenwash to stop it freezing.
Bowie is unhappy about the practice of pouring a few gallons of petrol into the tank to stop the diesel from waxing. Waxing is rare these days, he points out, "What's more, diesel lubricates the engine's fuel pump, and adding petrol affects its ability to do so." Adding petrol is also likely to cause the fuel injection needles to stick, he warns.
Ensure the cab's night heater is working properly if it hasn't been used for several months. "You should see that its exhaust isn't blocked or damaged," says Brian Hannan. "If it is, toxic fumes can seep back into the cab."
Make sure your tyres are in tip-top condition—a wise precaution at any time of year with sufficient tread depth and no bald patches, Hannan adds.
Scania advises drivers to check their lights before they set off, and clean them if necessary That includes the fog and brake lights. They should also clean ice and dirt from the windows and mirrors and replace worn windscreen wipers.
A can or two of de-icer, an ice scraper and a few rags are all essential so that the windows and lights can be kept clear during a journey which might involve overnight halts. A pair of sunglasses is vital to make sure the driver is not dazzled by the low winter sun.
Drivers can, of course, become stranded if really bad weather sets in. That's why it makes sense to carry warm clothing, a blanket and a flask of hot tea or coffee, Scania adds; not to mention a torch, gloves, a mobile phone and a shovel, When you encounter snow, ice or fog, keep your speed down and make sure there's plenty of space between your vehicle and other road users.
These are sound policies in dry sunny weather, but are twice as important in winter, says Peter Hodgson, chief executive of driver training specialist West Herts Training of St Albans. "You should at least double the space between yourself and the driver in front of you," he suggests.
"If it's icy it can take a vehicle up to io times longer to stop," says Mary Williams, executive director of road safety campaign group Brake.
Leaving plenty of room is especially important if you're at the wheel of an artic, because once it starts to slide on ice it's extremely difficult to bring it back under control, says Kevin Birch, development manager for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Even if the weather is clear, ice might still linger in the lee of embankments and other places the sun has not reached, he points out. Such spots should be approached with caution.
"If you run into fog, put your fog lights on," says Hodgson—an obvious precaution, but it's amazing how few drivers bother.
"Don't speed up when it clears, because you may end up speeding into the next fog bank," Birch advises. If the fog is really thick, switch off the radio, open the window slightly and use your ears as well as your eyes, he says. "You're likely to hear the screech of brakes and the crunch that announces an accident before you see it, and that extra bit of warning could prove invaluable," he adds.
Strathclyde University's Energy Systems Research Unit is working with five other research centres and Fiat on a cruise control system that uses lasers to keep vehicles a safe distance from one another in fog. This might be applied to trucks.
Even if there's no ice, snow or fog about, dark afternoons increase the likelihood of accidents. "Keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users who might be difficult to see," says Hodgson. "You'll have to cope with glare and dazzle from other vehicles with badly adjusted headlights, and you should make sure yours are properly adjusted. You should also ensure you use your lights when visibility is poor. It's also wise to put reflective markings on the sides and rear of your truck so that you can be seen more easily," Concentrating so hard when you're driving in poor weather can be tiring. If you start to feel weary, stop when it is safe to do so and have a cup of coffee and something to eat," says Birch.
Accidents caused by drowsiness are a yearround problem, according to the Sleep Research Laboratory at Loughborough University. They peak between 02:00o6:oohrs and 14:oo-16:oohrs, it says. Dropping your speed and taking more breaks might mean you arrive late—but that's better than not arriving at ail.
"Fleet managers should encourage drivers to take their time if the weather is bad, putting safety ahead of completing their schedules on time," says Mary Williams. 'If the weather is very bad, drivers should not be on the roads at all."
Accident rate
November is the month with the worst daily accident rate, with more than 700 a day recorded in 1998, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Transport. Mat correlates with the onset of winter weather. However, it's interesting to note that February—when the weather is usually still bad—had the lowest number, with just over Goo. A similar phenomenon has been noticed in previous years.
So far as breakdowns are concerned, the busiest time for Scania's Lifeline Emergency Response service is from October to February. It receives 31% more calls then than in the summer; flat batteries are said to be the most common cause of trouble.