Winter Truck Driving Safety: Essential Snow & Ice Emergency Kit for Commercial Drivers

Snowy and icy conditions can make for hazardous driving conditions. This is challenging when driving a car, truck, or SUV. Severe winter weather brings added challenges in driving a commercial vehicle. If you get stuck in a snowstorm or if a road closes, are you prepared to stay comfortably in your vehicle? Several items can make this a more tolerable experience. 

Tire chain season is in full swing. If you are traveling in Colorado or other mountainous states, be aware of the state chain laws. In Colorado, semi-trucks are required to have snow chains from September 1st to May 31st. Commercial motor vehicles must carry chains regardless of the current weather. For specific tire chain regulations, check out the Colorado State Patrol’s chain law information. Buying tire chains will be less expensive than the fine a driver will get if they are ticketed for not having them. 

With treacherous weather, it’s easy to get in a hurry and install tire chains incorrectly by leaving too much slack. It’s worth investing in tire chain adjusters or tensioners to pull the chains tight and keep them from causing damage. Loose tire chains can hit the fenders, air lines, brake cans, and cause premature wear on your tire chains. Typically, a pair of adjusters is sold in each package in order to cover one set of chains. 

Keeping your ice scraper nearby can help keep your windshield from freezing and maintain road visibility. A standard ice scraper offers limited coverage in scraping semi-truck windshields. Buying a larger ice scraper with a brush and a telescoping handle will help keep your windshield clear in the snowiest conditions. If you are in an ice storm, it’s good to have de-icer on hand to help melt any ice from locks or to increase windshield visibility. 

Drivers should carry a shovel to clear any snow from their vehicle or to help out someone else in need. If a driver gets stranded in a personal vehicle, having a shovel will be useful in clearing snow away from the tailpipe to prevent carbon dioxide poisoning. Small collapsible shovels make it easy to store them in a vehicle. 

Being properly prepared means planning for the worst-case scenario. If you get stranded in your semi, will you have adequate food and water? Emergency Ready-to-eat meals offer shelf-stable nutrition. Basic items from the grocery store are also helpful to have on hand, like jerky, nuts, trail mix, granola bars, protein bars, sunflower seeds, canned, or freeze-dried food. If you have a way to boil water, having oatmeal, ramen, or macaroni and cheese is a filling source of nutrition, and it offers a long shelf life. Having a designated emergency stash will ensure you are prepared for Mother Nature’s unpredictable weather conditions. 

In sub-zero temperatures, drivers should carry an assortment of winter gear. This includes coats, snowpants or coveralls, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, thermal clothing, socks, and snow boots. Extra blankets and a sleeping bag will help drivers stay warm in extreme conditions. Thermal/emergency blankets can retain body heat to prevent hypothermia and are easy to store. These work well as a liner inside a sleeping bag or under a blanket to reflect heat to the body. If you get stranded in the middle of nowhere, you may need to help out a fellow driver. It’s always good to have spare clothing on hand to share. 

If you are driving a diesel truck in freezing weather with severe wind chill, you will want to carry a chemical additive to prevent gelling. There are a lot of different types of diesel additives on the market that help prevent fuel from gelling and wax crystallization. It’s best to use these additives before temperatures drop below freezing. Keeping a spare fuel filter on hand could save a headache if the fuel filter becomes clogged from the freezing temperatures. 

Cold weather can be especially hard on batteries, so it’s important to carry jumper cables, a jumpbox, or a jump pack in your vehicle are essential. Carrying these items can get your vehicle back on the road sooner. A jump box is more expensive than jumper cables, but it can be worth the investment. A jump box offers additional benefits, such as charging cell phones, running laptops, or powering other electrical devices. A jump pack works well for a lot of situations, not just in an emergency. 

Regardless of the season, carrying a flashlight is a must-have item for any vehicle. Newer flashlights have bright LED lights and variable lighting patterns. Flashlights will provide the light needed in the most remote locations. 

Many more items could be included in an emergency kit. Being prepared for winter conditions can make all the difference when that moment arrives. Colorado’s heaviest snow months are February, March, and April. The best time to be prepared for treacherous driving conditions is today. 

You can find these items and much more at any of our Transwest locations. Our friendly and knowledgeable Parts Experts are ready to help you get prepared for whatever comes your way.