{"id":1873,"date":"2020-04-26T04:26:09","date_gmt":"2020-04-26T08:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/?p=1873"},"modified":"2021-07-14T13:12:29","modified_gmt":"2021-07-14T17:12:29","slug":"7-mountain-driving-tips-truckers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/7-mountain-driving-tips-truckers\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Mountain Driving Tips For Big Rig Billy – Goats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Mountain driving can be dangerous for anyone, especially for a truck driver carrying a ton or two of freight. A slip up on a slick road can leave you wrecked, raw or ruined. Looking at the mountains in the distance can be a pretty sight on vacation, but driving through them (let’s face it) they can be hellish. Whether you\u2019re just a “kid” or a full-blow big rig billy goat, these mountain driving tips really could be life-saving.<\/p>\n

7 highly-effective mountain driving tips<\/h2>\n

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1. Don’t test your luck, inspect your truck<\/h2>\n

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This is smart for any trucker driving in any terrain. Make sure that your truck is in prime condition before you begin traveling to avoid possible issues. You want to maintain your semi,<\/a> so check the brakes, tires, fluid levels, and make sure there aren\u2019t any leaks. Also, inspect<\/a> your tire chains even if you don\u2019t anticipate using them, and always carry an extra set.<\/p>\n

2. You can never have too much gas<\/h2>\n

Some of the best mountain driving tips are just common sense. You may be expecting to make it through the mountains fairly quickly, but the weather and other factors might have a different plan. In some mountain areas, you could drive 100 miles or more without passing a gas pump, so fill \u2018er up before you leave. Even if you do find a gas station, it\u2019s likely that they will charge an extra $2-4 per gallon. Low gas levels can be extremely costly not only in a monetary sense but also for your safety.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for truck drivers to experience sudden blizzards, storms, fogs, or multi-vehicle crashes while mountain driving. Some of these situations can leave you stranded for a long period, sometimes 24 hours or more. If this would happen and you have a full tank of gas, you\u2019ll be able to have electricity and heat for many hours.<\/p>\n

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3. Use rest areas to pull over and cool off those breaks<\/h2>\n

Once you make it up to the top and are getting ready for the descent, see if there\u2019s an area to pull over. Re-check everything, especially the brakes and tires, before you begin the downhill journey. Doing so can help catch any problems that may occur and allow you to properly prepare. This will also help to give your brakes a chance to cool down and feed your inner beast!<\/a><\/p>\n

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4. Don\u2019t rush the route<\/h2>\n

Seriously, take your time. You can take it slow as many times as you want, but you can only take it too fast once. Experienced truckers suggest going 5 mph below the suggested speed limit to ensure safety for you, passengers, and other drivers on the road. Speaking of other drivers, let them pass you. The mountains are not the place for a race, so let them go peacefully<\/a> and pay attention to what you\u2019re doing \u2013 not them.<\/p>\n

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5. Use proper braking and shifting techniques<\/h2>\n

When it comes to mountain driving tips we have to talk about making your descent. It\u2019s a known guideline to be one gear lower than the one you came up in. Also, remember to brake and downshift before the downgrade. People usually slow-down when they\u2019re already half-way down the hill and they realize they\u2019re going too fast. This can be very harmful to the brakes if you are heavily using them or staying on them, as they can overheat and possibly catch fire. If you try to downshift while going downhill, you have a higher chance of stalling the engine or getting stuck in neutral.<\/p>\n

Even when you do brake before the downgrade, you\u2019ll likely still need to apply the brakes on the way. Again, don\u2019t stay on the brakes for an extended period of time, and find your \u201csafe speed<\/a>.\u201d For example, if your safe speed is 40 mph, you should allow your truck to speed up to 45 mph and then steadily drop your speed to 35 mph. This allows you to let off the breaks for a little while until you speed back up.<\/p>\n

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6. Beware of changing weather conditions<\/h2>\n

Weather can change very quickly with the changes in altitude. You could be seeing sunny and clear skies at the bottom, only to meet thick fog or even blizzard-type weather<\/a> near the top. Mountain driving can be very unpredictable, so be cautious as visibility can vastly decrease within a matter of seconds. It\u2019s also good to keep in mind winter safety tips<\/a> for when you encounter snow and ice. Remember to take your time in harsh weather, and pull over in a safe area if you need to.\"mountain<\/p>\n

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7. Bring food, water, and emergency gear<\/h2>\n

Be sure to pack a few days worth of food, water, and clothing. A dry pair of clothing could be life-saving in the event that yours get wet. In addition to the basics, make sure you have a toolbox for minor repairs that may arise. Flares, cones, and a first aid kit can also come in handy. Always carry a blanket with you in the event of cold weather and lack of heat.<\/p>\n

One other suggestion for mountain driving is to get a CB radio<\/a>. A handheld radio might not cut it for your journeys, instead invest in a mobile CB radio with an external antenna. This can be especially beneficial if you are making mountain trips regularly. If you have no cell service, a CB radio will still work \u2013 you just need to have another person with one in the area. Most truck drivers frequently monitor channel 19, so that\u2019s your best bet for assistance.<\/p>\n

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So that’s it “kids,” we hope these 7 mountain driving tips will transform you from a big rig billy-goat to the big rig G.O.A.T!<\/a> What have you experienced driving over the mountains, share your advice with us in the comments below!<\/p>\n

Looking for your next high alpine run? Check out our job listings to become the GOAT at your next carrier!<\/p>\nFind a Trucking Job Today!<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mountain driving can be dangerous for anyone, especially for a truck driver carrying a ton or two of freight. A slip up on a slick road can leave you wrecked, raw or ruined. Looking at the mountains in the distance can be a pretty sight on vacation, but driving through them (let’s face it) they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,43,27],"tags":[461,463,1024,462],"class_list":["post-1873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-rules","category-tips-and-tools","category-trucker-pov","tag-mountain-driving","tag-mountain-driving-for-truckers","tag-mountain-driving-tips","tag-mountain-truck-driving"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1873"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5242,"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1873\/revisions\/5242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}