What Does the CDL Manual Say About Winter Weather Rules for Truckers?

Don’t brake too hard. Slow down. Stay far from other vehicles. Stop driving.

These are just a few of the rules truckers must follow when driving in winter weather, as established in the Commercial Driver’s License Manual. Semis, tractor-trailers, and even buses are held to strict standards when snow and ice come into play.

If a big rig passes your passenger vehicle on a wet, snow-covered or slick highway, its driver is probably breaking the rules.

What is a Commercial Driver’s License?

A Commercial Driver’s License, or a CDL, is necessary for anyone seeking employment in the trucking industry. In fact, drivers of nearly all large vehicles — tractor-trailers, dump trucks, and even buses — must receive a CDL before they can legally operate them.

Generally, vehicles requiring this license fall into one of these categories:

• A single vehicle weighing more than 26,000 pounds
• A combination vehicle weight more than 26,000 pounds, if the weight of the vehicles being towed is greater than 10,000 pounds
• A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers
• Any size vehicle that requires hazardous material placards

There are three classes of commercial motor vehicles: A, B and C. Truck-tractors, semi-trucks, and other heavy combination vehicles belong to Class A. These are the most difficult to operate and require the highest skill level.

What Does the CDL Manual Cover?

A CDL Manual is a training guide that is used by anyone trying to get a CDL and become a professional driver of commercial motor vehicles.

The CDL Manual provides the rules and guidelines that truck drivers must follow to be allowed to operate heavy trucks. Before someone can get a CDL, they will be tested over the contents of the CDL Manual and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR).

Each state has its own CDL Manual, though they are all basically the same. Before taking the knowledge and skills test for a CDL, a driver must obtain a commercial driver’s permit and go through training.

By the time a driver receives their CDL, they should be familiar with the rules established by the CDL Manual. They should be prepared to operate their vehicle safely in any situation.

What Does the CDL Manual Say About Driving in Winter Weather?

Because wet pavement, snow, frost and ice make the roads significantly more dangerous, CDL Manuals detail how a semi driver should act in winter weather. If you aren’t familiar with heavy trucks, you might think that operating them on snow and ice is similar to driving your car.

However, a fully loaded semi-trailer truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — about 20 times heavier than the average passenger vehicle. They are about 14 feet tall, reaching more than twice as high as an SUV. Driving one of these rigs is difficult on dry pavement, but even harder in adverse weather.

For this reason, there are several boxes a trucker must check before they can hit the roads in winter.

Winterizing a Semi-Truck: CDL Manual Guidelines

Windshields, Windows, and Mirrors: Ensuring Visibility

The CDL Manual says that vehicles with frosted, ice-covered or snow-covered windshields or windows are a hazard. Before driving, truckers must make sure their defrosters and any heaters (like mirror or fuel tank heaters) work. They must remove any ice or snow from the windshield, windows and mirrors.

The vehicle’s wiper blades should be in good condition, pressing against the windshield to clear any snow when they’re in use. Cold temperatures require truck drivers to use windshield washer antifreeze, making sure the reservoir is full of fluid.

Inspecting Tires for Winter Driving

On slick roads, poorly maintained tires can be deadly.

During their pre-trip inspection, CMV drivers should check tire tread with a gauge. Front tires should have a tread depth of 4/32 inch, and others must be at least 2/32 inch. All tires must have enough traction to push the rig through the snow.

If the roads are bad enough, a heavy truck may be impossible to drive without tire chains. Before departing, drivers need to make sure they know how to use tire chains and ensure that they are not worn, bent or broken.

Additional Winter Preparations

Other important components during pre-trip inspection include:

• Coolant and antifreeze should be full
• Lights and reflectors should be clean and working properly
• Hand holds, steps and deck plates may need cleared of snow and ice buildup
• Radiator shutters must not be frozen shut, and the winterfront shouldn’t be closed too tightly

Operating a Semi on Snowy or Icy Roads

It has been far too common during my 35+ years as a personal injury attorney that, in the winter, I get a call about a semi-truck wreck on snow or ice. It almost always includes a trucker driving too fast for the road or visibility conditions.

This is because, though the CDL Manual explicitly directs truckers to drive slowly — or stop driving altogether — on slick roads, many drivers ignore the rules. People die as a result.

Here is what the CDL Manual says about commercial vehicles on winter roads.

Driving Slowly in Winter Conditions

Truck drivers must accelerate and brake smoothly and slowly. On a wet road, they should reduce their speed by one-third. On packed snow, they should reduce their speed by half or more.

If the road is icy, commercial drivers are directed to slow to a crawl and pull off the road to a place where they can safely stop.

They should avoid passing other vehicles — which shouldn’t be hard if they are driving as slowly as the Manual instructs.

I represented a client once who was killed by a negligent semi-truck driver on I-70 near Brazil, Indiana. Despite the Manual’s rules, the trucker was using the left lane to pass the passenger vehicles in the right lane. When a car tried to merge to the left to allow another car onto the road, it spun out.

Because the semi-truck driver was driving too fast for conditions and attempting to pass slower vehicles, he struck the woman’s car and killed this single mother. My client and all other vehicles were driving significantly below the posted speed limit. However, the semi was the only one driving in the passing lane and wasn’t slowing down.

Monitoring Changing Road Conditions

Big rig drivers should be aware of road conditions at all times. If temperatures rise and ice starts to melt, the roads will be even slicker. A licensed commercial driver also knows that shaded areas and bridges may be icy even when other spots of the road are not.

Black ice is one of the most dangerous roadway conditions, hard to see and patchy. It causes dozens of wrecks each winter. But a diligent trucker knows that ice droplets on their side mirrors mean black ice has probably formed.

Once the precipitation has thawed, slush or water may gather on the highway. At this point, truck drivers must avoid hydroplaning. If their tires lose traction, they should remember to release the accelerator and avoid using brakes.

Maintaining Extra Space on Winter Roads

The CDL Manual instructs truckers to keep a greater following distance than normal. Everyone on the road will need significantly more space to slow down. And, if a vehicle spins out and into a big rig’s lane, driving slowly and far back can prevent a tragic wreck.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in Winter Weather

Ignoring these rules is likely to cause a crash. Unfortunately, these accidents are often deadly.

Failure to reduce speed, for example, is one of the most common causes of winter weather wrecks. In one of the many winter crashes I have represented, a semi was driving too fast for road conditions. To make matters worse, the driver was using his cell phone. He was unable to stop at a red light, sliding through the intersection and striking my client. She survived the wreck but suffered a severe brain injury. This wreck occurred in New Castle, Indiana, on State Road 3.

When a heavy truck loses control and skids across the roadway, it might become jackknifed. This occurs when the cab and trailer of a semi-truck slide in opposite directions, creating a “V” shape.

On icy roads, turning or taking a curve too quickly can be catastrophic for an 18-wheeler. Drivers must enter the turn slowly and brake only as hard as necessary. They are not to use their engine brake, also known as the jake brake, on slick roads, as it can cause skidding.

How a Few Negligent Truckers Endanger Everyone

Some truckers believe they shouldn’t have to drive differently in adverse winter conditions. They always blame the other drivers on the roadways.

Regardless, it is my experience that most truckers are caring, professional and safe drivers. They follow the FMCSR and CDL Manual rules, as well as their company’s guidelines. It is just a few careless and negligent truckers who choose to endanger all of us.

Were You a Victim of a Winter Truck Accident? We Can Help!

If you or a loved one are a victim of a winter, adverse-weather semi accident, you should hire a truck accident lawyer. There are federal, state and local laws, as well as rules and industry standards involved in semi wrecks. You will need an experienced and qualified truck accident/personal injury attorney.

I have handled truck accident cases for over 35 years. Numerous of these were semi and large-truck accidents caused by the trucker driving unsafely in winter weather conditions.

You need to move quickly, which can be difficult if you are suffering from severe injuries or have lost a loved one. However, it is critical that an attorney be hired quickly so they can preserve the evidence necessary to protect you and your family.

Attorneys at Craig, Kelley and Faultless know what it takes to help a truck-wreck victim recover financially. Contact us today at (800) 746-0226 or with our online form.

David W. Craig is a nationally recognized truck accident lawyer who sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. He was the recipient of the National Thurgood Marshall “Fighting for Justice” Award for his work helping victims of truck wrecks. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.