Driving in winter weather can be difficult for any driver with any vehicle. Driving industrial equipment, like bucket trucks, in cold conditions can be even more difficult and dangerous as well. Whenever road conditions are not optimal, things such as vehicle weight and size, as well as driver skill, can really have an effect on how a truck will handle and that is something for which all bucket drivers need to be prepared. Attempting to drive trucks on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads takes a skilled driver with good reflexes and of course proper readying of the vehicle.
Preparation
Before attempting to get out on any icy roads with a bucket truck or other type of heavy commercial vehicle, there are a number of maintenance and weather-specific items that should be taken care of regarding the vehicle itself to keep it running well. Hard starts, oil thickening, and many other problems can make getting such a large vehicle started very difficult. Equipment can become wet, slippery, and heavy if covered in snow and ice. Bad conditions can put a large strain on the vehicle, especially if it is not running at peak performance.
Avoiding such problems requires certain changes to routine maintenance, such as switching to winter batteries, using synthetic oil that does not thicken from the cold, and keeping the bucket and all other equipment covered to prevent the accumulation of water or snow. Also, propane heaters will help to get the engine warm enough for an easier start in extreme conditions as well as keeping any fuel and oil lines flowing again.
Visibility and Traction
The other half of the seasonal maintenance equation for these vehicles is taking measures to ensure that visibility and traction are always optimal. New, heavy-duty wiper blades should be installed and wiper fluid reservoirs should be kept full at all times. The use of amber fog lights can also help, since relying on just regular headlights alone is simply not enough when snow is falling very heavily. Regular headlights frequently reflect back from falling snow, so fog lights specifically made for extreme or snowy conditions are suggested. Tires should be switched to winter snow tires that are thicker and will grab better on poor roads. Where allowed, tire chains should be ready for quick installation in order to get bucket trucks where they need to be.
Vehicle Handling
Once all of the maintenance preparations has been done, the rest is up to the driver. Knowing the vehicle in terms of how it will handle in poor conditions is imperative, so practicing before there is a need to go out to a job is recommended. Heavy vehicles, like a bucket truck, will need much more braking room to come to a stop without sliding, something that should be avoided if at all possible. Becoming skilled at handling the weight of the vehicle to prevent over steering and under steering is important as well. Any vehicle that is heavier in the rear than in the front runs a greater risk of spinning, or the front tires slipping, which can impede proper steering and drivers should be careful of this as well.
Getting around safely with bucket trucks definitely takes prior planning and some familiarity with how the truck handles under poor driving conditions. With practice and some degree of common sense, most operators can learn to maneuver the truck as needed in spite of most difficult winter road conditions. Going slowly and not being in a rush is a big factor as well; when drivers acknowledge that fact and take enough time getting to and from all job sites, there is a much greater chance of getting through the day without experiencing any problems due to weather conditions!
