Some tips and advice for Newbies

[Big_Dave]

Driving a truck is by far more different than any other type of job out there. There's a whole new world that's just been opened up for you. Here's a few tips that'll make your life a bit easier on the road.

Cash Advances.
Take them only if needed! What you take for advances today, will come out of your paycheck on payday! Lots of newbies don't realize this and then when payday rolls around there's not enough money to cover your bills at home and feed your wife and kids. It's been a while since I've used Comdata or T-Check cards, but if I remember correctly, you are charged a 'service fee' if you get a cash advance without fueling. This is also deducted from your pay.

Purchases.
Truck stops are EXPENSIVE!! If possible buy your supplies like snacks, sodas, bottled water, lunch meats, bread, etc.......at a Wal*Mart. You'll save big bucks doing this! If you must buy stuff from a truck stop, buy just what you need, don't buy any extras at the time.

Frequent Fueler Points
You can use these at the respective truck stop chain to buy high dollar items like CB radios, Satellite radio, 12v. TV's, etc........ Try not to use cash to buy electronic gear at a truck stop.

Showers and Personal Hygene
This is a pet peeve of mine! If you have time to fuel your truck, you have the time to grab a shower at the end of the day! Going more than 48 hours without a shower is just plain NASTY! :yikes: Yeah, there's gonna be waiting lines for showers. The best time of day to grab a shower and most likely miss any lines is between 9-11 am, 2-3 pm and 1-5 am. If you don't have any 'shower credits' on your frequent fueler card, BUY A SHOWER! It'll cost you around $5-$9 depending on where you are at, but presenting yourself to the shipper or receiver when you're 'clean makes a much better impression than if you're filthy and greasy looking. Change your clothes too! I hate sitting in a restaurant trying to eat when some nasty s.o.b. waddles by and the 'cloud' of stench hits me. That just ruins my dinner! :angry: There's been times when I've had to get up and leave because the stench from the next booth over is so bad! :yikes: :angry:

Time Management
This is another 'biggie'. When dispatch gives you a run, make darn sure you have the hours available to run it! Don't drag your feet all day long and then try to run 700 miles overnight. :yikes: It doesn't work!

Game Rooms
Stay out of them game rooms they have in these truck stops! You start playing them and the next thing ya know, you've blown 3 hours there! Now you're broke and your load is now gonna be late. :wtf: See Time Management and Cash Advances above! ;)

Eating on the Road
To avoid food poisoning I do NOT eat from the buffet or the 'deli' counter near the fuel desk. How many days have them 'subs' been there? :yikes:

As for the buffet, watch 'who' eats from the buffet. Usually it's the guys that are nasty and dirty and look like they haven't showered in a week. They get up there and while loading up their plate, they'll cough without covering their mouth, scratch their azz, pick their nose, etc..... Do you want to eat food that they've reached over or use the serving utinsels that they've touched? :yikes: No thanks! I'll order from the menu! I haven't gotten food poisoning out there yet and I don't intend to start!

Parking on the Fuel Island
Don't park on the fuel island unless you're getting fuel! Nothing makes me madder than to see someone park on the fuel islands and go inside with their shower bag or go in the restaurant for dinner! :angry: I've seen where someone 'removed' a truck that was parked on the island and the guy was in having dinner. He didn't lock his truck and someone moved it to the farthest corner of the lot that he could. :rofl: He was sure surprised when he came out and found his truck gone! :rofl:

There's more tips that I've probably forgotten. Anyone else got anything to add?

as my instructor says when pulling into a truckstop be smooth about it no need to drive in there like a bat out of hello drop the o off but any way i see drivers get into trouble at truckstops cuz they pull in to fast take time slow down and be safe

does that sum it up dave

[Big_Dave]

Trip Packs and Paydays
Make copies of all your trip packets before you turn them in! Keep them with you for at least a month before you drop them off at home.

Then on payday, reconcile your check stub to your trip packet.

Any differences can usually be corrected with 1 or 2 short phone calls.

When dealing with the Payroll dept. keep calm, cool and collected. Explain any differences and listen to what the person on the other end has to say. 9 times out of 10, it's usually something that YOU forgot to do or add when you turned in your trip pack.

[truckermanitoba]

I thought of this,write down your route for delivery what entrance you used
were the office was in a notebook so if you go back do not have to figure out again because you have done once already.

[JaBang]

Plan ahead for finding a place to shut down. Use the truck stop guide and pick out a couple of options that you'll be able to make without using up every minute of your log.

Nothing worse than being out of hours and no place to park.

[Uturn2001]

Vehicle Inspections Do a really good one every day. 15 or 20 minutes at the start or even the end of your day can and sooner or later will save you hours and maybe hundreds of dollars later on down the road. Also do walk around inspections every time you stop to look for things like burned out light, low/flat tires, 5th wheel issues, air leaks etc.

Trip planning When planning a trip make sure you plan it in such a way that it is workable for you as well as doable.

Individual Skill level Recognize and respect what your skill level is. Do not give into peer pressure of any sort to "make" you drive in a situation where you do not feel safe driving in.

Backing Get out and look if you are not 10,000% sure what your truck or trailer is at in relation to objects around you. Even if you have a helper still get out and look because since it is you driving that rig it is your butt that will get ripped if you hit something.

Companies Take the time to fully learn how your company operates and then learn how to make it work for you.

Finally know this. The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. If you are making enough money to pay your bills and have some left over each month, and are being treated well where you are at, think real hard about jumping ship to that job that pays an extra 5 or 10 cents per mile. Even if you get the miles to make the bigger paycheck, which many times you won't, you may find the overall working conditions a lot different and maybe a lot worse than what you had.

[allikat]

Check your lights in the evening, or when you fuel. Bulbs go at the most inconvenient times... like in the half hour run between loading and passing the first scales. (As has happened to me in Ohio... :angry: )

[daytrader]

If you run for a fleet with drop and hook options. Do not just leave the burnt out light or torn off mudflap for some one else to get fixed. At least let fleet support know about it.

It gose two ways. You either waste your time or some one else wastes your time.

That mud flap was like that when I hooked up to the trailer. The scale will not care about that.

[Maverick]

WOW, a lot of real good advice. I wish I had had a site like this to read and ask questions in when I was in my first few years!!!

The only things I can think of to add right now has already been said but I'll just say it again anyway.
Always, "CYA" (Cover Your Butt!!)

Do your pre-trips and post-trip inspections like your life and the lives of others depended on it. It does!!!

Take your responsibilities seriously!! You will enjoy this profession and have more fun if you do.

Plan ahead!!! Self explanitory.

Manage your time wisely and Keep good records.

And above all "BE SAFE" out there!!! There's no freight more important than "YOU" :cheers:

[USAF_2T2]

Don't urinate on the ground - Facilities, while usually dirty are available inside.

Don't use the lot as a trashcan - Like above, they are inside or a big can outside.

Bathe - Nothing says slob then smelling like a $hithouse door off a tuna boat

Proper grammar - does not include various 4 letter words every sentence

Respect - goes both ways, try it, you'll be amazed

I just had to toss my $0.02 in. Great advice above too :harhar:

[Big_Dave]

Leave your attitude in the truck.

No matter what kind of day you've had, ALWAYS enter the shipper or receiver's with a smile and upbeat attitude.

9 times out of 10, they'll be happy to load / unload you and get you on your way.

If you walk in with a chip on your shoulder and griping about this, that and the other, usually they'll go off and do something else until they feel like getting into your trailer.

If you have a problem with the shipper / receiver.....

DO NOT get into a wizzing match with them. It'll only prolong your stay there. Excuse yourself and calmly walk back to your truck. Once there, contact dispatch or whoever you're supposed to call if you have a problem. Calmly explain the problem to them.

After you hang up, then you can scream, punch the steering wheel, whatever.

Just make sure that when you go back inside, put on a smile and leave your attitude in the truck.

[USAF_2T2]

CALL THE MARSHAL'S

That is your tax money that pays them, and they will make your stay at said shipper/reciever a pleasant one. :chase: :rofl:

On a serious note:
As Dave was saying attitude goes a long way when dealing with anyone. Sure, there are days when everything just ticks you off, but having a good attitude will help you out alot.

Here is what I do. (Works for me, might for you) When I am having the day from hell I try to fing the good out of the day. Could be the weather, or whatever. Realizing that your bad mood will not help things.

Example - You are refueling your truck. You step inside and there is a line at the fuel desk, you are in a hurry and get upset. Doing so will not make the line move any faster so just go with the punches and either write a letter to the truckstop HQ or just brush it off. Yelling will not get anything done, just make them mad and no one wins.

[Preacher]

Don't forget to put the stickers on your side doors that say: "ABSOLUTELY NO LIZZARDS!!!" You will save time, money, and a trip to the urologist. :wtf:

[Jimbo]

As a second thought to JaBang's statement, get a book that lists Truckstops, and use it to keep track of the ones to stay away from. If I went to a good place, I highlited the name in green. If the place was a filthy pit, but had good fuel, I gave it a yellow line. If the place was good to eat at, and had good showers, but the fuel was lousy, they got a red mark. Places I didn't want to ever come back to, I put a big black X on their name.

By doing this, I saved myself the frustration of planning a trip out, and ending it at a bad truckstop. Better to stop a little early, and stay at a better stop, than to drive as much as you can, and end up in a dive.

[daytrader]

Don't eat the yellow snow.

Do not swerve for a deer or animal. Nail it.

[bamahillbilly]

Can you guys talk about the dangers of opening and closing trailer doors?
For us newbies.

never stand behind the trailer as it is being backed to the dock

[USAF_2T2]

Can you guys talk about the dangers of opening and closing trailer doors?
For us newbies.

I once pulled a van trailer, and stuck that bad boy under a low bridge, so I don't know that dangers of opening and closing doors except this.

This may not happen, but it strikes me as a danger. When opening the doors on a cubed out trailer, open them with an excape plan. Don't open them while standing in the middle. Reason being is that freight moves around and may fall out onto you when you open the doors.

Closing, I can't think of a reason off hand.

[Big_Dave]

ALWAYS open the doors 1 at a time!!! Like USAF said, "leave yourself an escape route."

When I open the doors, I ALWAYS stand off to the side until I know that nothing is going to fall out.

If your company provides straps, use them!

Load locks are pretty much useless as far as I'm concerned. I've used then a few times, but will never use them again.

A driver that I knew got hit in the head by a falling load lock. Knocked him out colder than a block of ice when it hit him. He had to have 6-8 stitches...........once the ambulance came and got him.

[daytrader]

Load locks worked in the old trailers. These new light side ones flex to much. The dang lock will fall in the drive way or first bump. Refers hold them pretty good, just for dry van. Straps are the way to go. Almost the only way to go.

[daytrader]

Keep up on current events. This sounds kinda dumb, but you may easily fall out of what is going on.

Get a mag subscription of something you like and bring them out on the road with you.

Invest 50 cents for a paper every now and again.

Cheap entertainment that helps your mind.

Try to kill the down time constructive. Maybe read a trade book. Hell learn locksmithing or gun smithing. You have this time to kill. Do something with it.

Also, use some of that time to relax. Play a game. Watch a TV show. Go for a walk or tour if you happen to have a chance.

Heck. If you get the chance take it. Like if you deliver supplies to a ranger station at some national park. Ask if you can park your truck for a bit. You may be supprised how nice they can be. Check it out. You may never get the chance again.

Love your family and friends. You never know what tomarrow brings. :cheers:

[DrivingZiggy]

When I went through JBU (J. B. Hunt truck driving school) back in '94, they actually gave us a class on opening the doors. JB uses the doors with 2 handles/locks on each door. The technique is to "crack" them open but not all the way, letting the locking mechanisms stay in their slots that keep the doors shut. Of course, you should be standing to the side while doing this in case there is something really heavy against the door which could crush you if it falls on you.

If whatever is behind the door is not that heavy, you might be able to re-close the door and go find somebody to help you.

Okay, if there is nothing pushing the door, peek inside the crack you just made to make sure it's okay to open the door.

If you're an OOIDA member, you have a subscription of LandLine magazine. I like it, it keeps me abreast of everything that is happening in my industry.

I also bring my computer with me for entertainment as much as for business.

One time, I was stuck in Fontana, CA, for the weekend. Fortunately, the company I was leased to had a yard there and I was able to drop my trailer and bobtail around. I went to Malibu just to say that I had been there. Then, on the way back I came through Beverly Hills, just to say that I had been there. Then I had very good steak at Charley Brown's in West Covina.

Also, once I was in Sedona, AZ. This place is known not only for its beauty, but because it is considered a "vortex" for spiritual healing. I found a nice little inn where the folks were nice enough to let me drop my trailer. I then bobtailed to a park--I don't recall whether it was national or state--and the gate attendants only charged me the same amount they charge cars and even found a "special" parking place for me.

There is plenty to do out there if you pay attention and are on the look out. All that pressure from dispatch is really bogus a lot of the time and you can make time to be a tourist if you really try. I just wish I had known that much earlier in my career.

[daytrader]

Open easy and close to the dock. Stay back. Freight can attack. Nothing like a K mart ot Target load. Floor to roof all jammed in. Open the door freight may just fall out. Just trow it back in the trailer. Even if it says fragile. Just pitch it in the wagon and back her in.

My view. If it is fragil it would not have a fridge on top of it.

Fragile means throw me around in Air freight I have come to find.

Poor lizzards and crickets.

[scubadiver]

things to add. Get a cooler and food warmer and keep some food and fluid in the truck. This is for when your stuck at a shipper/reciever for a few hours and in case you get shut down at a rest area due to weather. Carry clothes for all seasons especially if you come out west. It can snow as early as Sept. and as late as May. Be preapred to be shut down due to weather , regardless of season and the part of country your in. I know this will get me slammed a little every so often stay in a motel, this is mostly for company drivers . The reason is the truck can drive you nuts.

[Big_Dave]

every so often stay in a motel, this is mostly for company drivers . The reason is the truck can drive you nuts.
Everybody needs time away from the truck. Some of these companies will leave you on the road forever if you let them.

If you find yourself stuck sitting somewhere for a couple days, by all means, get a motel room. Go check out the local sights.........anything to get away from the truck.

[LugNut]

Some thing to think about when opening and closing the doors. Wind, if it's windy out make sure you have a firm grip on the door. If the wind does blow it loose from your grip let it go. Don't try grabbing it and stopping it. A friend of mine did that one day when the wind blew a partially open door. He grabbed it to stop it and ended up with surgery to both his shoulders. Most likely the door wont be harmed if it blows open even in a hard wind. If it does who cares. Your body is worth more than the metal in a door frame.

[Big_Dave]

Speaking of doors, get a couple 18" bungee cords.

Sometimes trailer doors don't stay hooked after you open them. It takes about 2 seconds to strap the door to a crossmember under the trailer.

Sure beats buying a fender for a car parked near the loading dock if the door comes loose. :wtf:

Almost been there and done that. :yikes:

[Stumbl]

A lot of lessons in this one sequence of events, so the best way is to relay what happenned.

Background: New driver, about 12 hours behind the wheel (time at the cdl mill doesn't count )

My trainer and I are on route 46 N. in north jersey heading towards the George Washington bridge, we stopped at a dunkin donuts there. It is our second day on the truck together (second trainer I have been with, hence the hours not matching up)
When we get back to the truck with our coffee he hops into the passenger seat :wow: . I think " Oh crap, he wants this rookie to drive through NYC! Good thing I already went potty or I would need new shorts! "
NYC has been my biggest fear since I decided to get my CDL.

OK.... We have a green driver heading over the GWB. We made it fine... over the bridge, now comes the toll gate. going downhill, hmmm, OK. We are just about maxed out at 79,800 pounds (give or take a couple). hmmm ok.

Holy crap, those gates are NARROW! hmm , slow and easy watch mirrors, all that stuff that a vet does by instinct. It works, I did it this way and got through YAY! Now I need to move over 3 lanes to get to ( I think it was...) the Major Deegan expressway. We get over but I miss a shift, poor recovery too. Now I'm starting to get nervous as traffic is getting heavier yet.

Take a deep breath. Ok We are over and on the right way! Trainer is relaxing again. He didn't Yell or anything like that, so no issues there, He says he is glad it went so well for someone so new and their first time over. (I question what made him do it this way, but to myself)

Now we are on 87 heading out, and I miss my exit. Still so new working the truck that it's easy to miss a sign ( this is the main lesson, as you will see ) Trainer is pissed off now, we get off to get spun around. He is getting more exasperated, I am more nervous. OHHH BOYYYY am I nervous!!! I can't seem to hit a gear to save my life! This compounds it badly!

THEN I hear him SCREAM STOPPPP. I look up a little and see the sign.... 12'6" . I would have hit the bridge. I completely missed it.
yup, woulda been a quick career too.
My biggest mistake was letting the trainer get me so rattled and rushed that I screwed up more and more. Once I started missing gears I felt like I completely forgot how to drive! I DID forget how to read signs. Everything went out the window fast
He wasn't comfy in unfamiliar areas (dedicated run) and that affected his personality. ( How was THAT for PC? lol ). When we knew where we going we were a good match in the truck.

You have to keep your cool, even when it gets hairy. If you're getting rattled you MUST stop and get it together somehow. If you don't bad things WILL happen!

The training time has probably been one of the most difficult in my life. There are times where I feel I would be better off on my own. I let myself get rushed and that is when I screwed up. Don't do it.
When you get on the trainer's truck, Usually the first thing you hear is "The Rules" I think its mainly to remind the Noob ( and a LOT NEED reminding ) that this is the trainer's home.
It can be very tense, depending on the trainer. With so much to learn and so much responsibility some trainers may forget that you are as nervous as you are.
I think I will leave that there, I left that truck on good terms, and I don't want it to sound like there is bad blood, cos there aint :)

Stay within yourself and what you are comfortable with. You can't let it go crazy because you have been asked to do something you aren't comfy with. Yeah, you gotta do it, you gotta learn the job. DON'T let the trainer RUSH you. At least for me... that was when the bad things started.

F.Y.I.
The trainer got us back on the highway,I got behind the wheel again and I made three other locations that night. The night never got better, as we were on unfamiliar ground and my tension levels stayed fairly high ( and my shifting sucked ) but I did slow it down to MY comfort level. I didn't get it done quickly but I DID get it done.

Wow, prolly the longest post I have made in years :)

I was ready to quit right then and there. I was nauseous, sweating, and worrying about getting people killed. I was so sure I would NEVER do anything so "dumb" as a low bridge... oooooops. Guess I'm not as good as I thought I was. The 25 years with no accidents driving everything up to a large tow truck didn't count nearly as much as I thought it would. I guess maybe that was another lesson for me :)

[LugNut]

Speaking of doors, get a couple 18" bungee cords.

Sometimes trailer doors don't stay hooked after you open them. It takes about 2 seconds to strap the door to a crossmember under the trailer.

Sure beats buying a fender for a car parked near the loading dock if the door comes loose. :wtf:

Almost been there and done that. :yikes:I had a clown in a Conway truck forget to secure his doors correctly. I woke up, hopped in the front seat. Noticed who was next me and saw the driver sitting there doing what ever. Then I took a look in the mirrors and watched his door swing open right into the side of a boat. Went to look and it had been doing that for a while. The boat had a nice big gouge in it. Had a chat with the moe-ron about his door. He didn't like it even a little. What dispatch told me to do and how it was fixed after a few pics were taken I won't say. I do carry a few rolls of white tape. The kind they use to seal the boat cover with.

The point is you need to be careful to secure the doors when opening and closing. Most people dont get off as lucky as the Conway driver.

[allikat]

You can easily miss stuff, even when you've been driving years. You spot the sign for the road you want, and completely fail to spot the height/weight limit sign 2 feet further back. Easily done. It DOES get easier, especially when you get chilled out and relaxed with the motor, you're more free to spot things without your attention being cluttered with trainers hissyfits and shifting screwups.

[Uncle Fester]

If it looks like a duck,
if it walks like a duck,
if it talks like a duck,
chances are, it's a DUCK.

Having said that, keep your truck, your dashboard and your person as neat and orderly as possible to avoid being flagged by Motor Carrier Enforcement for any reason.
In my 15 (my God, has it been so long) years, I can't help but notice that a lot of drivers were pulled out of line for how they appeared.

WINDOWS CLEAN!!!!
If you don't see it, chances are you'll hit it. Doesn't it make sense that since over 95% of the decisions you make are based upon what you see that the windows you look through are clean?

Watch out for the "ghost car" and that "moving blind spot".

The "ghost car" is the set of headlights that are approaching from the right when in reality, it's just the reflection of the car approaching from the left. This happens a lot at night and on a rainy night, it can really fool you.
The "moving blind spot" is the area that your west-coast mirrors always block from your view. A car or possibly a truck could be in that blind spot.

If you hit another man's truck, OWN UP TO IT. Don't try to leave, don't try to blame it on someone else because they won't believe you anyway.

IF YOU REMEMBER NOTHING ELSE, REMEMBER THIS!!!!!!!
It's just freight.
In 100 years, there will be nothing written down for posterity telling future generation that you made that "impossible" overnightmare run and got it there on time.
In 100 years, no one will care about the load you're hauling today.
In 100 years, there will be nothing to remember that you hauled a load of whatever to wherever so don't stress yourself.
The load isn't worth the worry, your life or anyone else's life.
If you wipe out doing something you shouldn't have (running illegal or in bad weather), the person who pressured you into doing it will simply pick up their jacket at the end of the day and say, "well, that's too bad for him" and go on with his life.
On the other hand, you're life will be turned upside down-and for what?

[Big_Dave]

The load isn't worth the worry, your life or anyone else's life.
If you wipe out doing something you shouldn't have (running illegal or in bad weather), the person who pressured you into doing it will simply pick up their jacket at the end of the day and say, "well, that's too bad for him" and go on with his life.
On the other hand, you're life will be turned upside down-and for what?
No truer words have ever been spoken!

If something happens while you're running 'hot', you can kiss everything you have 'good-bye'. 'Cuz once the lawyers and the Courts get done with you, you'll be lucky to get a job flipping burgers and hopefully living from paycheck to paycheck.

[daytrader]

You can not easily miss stuff, you WILL miss stuff.

I know it sound like I woul;d never do it. I have been doing this 7689 years and have never missed a thing. Yet they can sit back and think of the things they missed last week.

It isn't if you miss it. It is how you deal with it. DO NOT get stressed. If you can get the truck inthere, you can get the truck out of there.

[Uncle Fester]

How I learned A LOT is just watching how other trucks did the things I needed to do.
Tire tracks help a lot too.

Just remember, if HE could do it, why can't you?

My attitude was, if THEY can do it, how hard CAN it be?!?!?!?!

[saddletramp]

I pull triples every day and the best advice I could give is do a complete pretrip and posttrip on all of your equipment. Check the lights, pin coupling (get under and visual the pin like Dave said), check you hubs for oil and heat, and make sure the licenses are in the Kingbox. Check and note any damage to the equipment before you pull so you don't get charged with it.
Always verify your trailer number with your bills. If you pull out of a large lot with alot of your equipment around it can be real easy to grab onto the wrong box! I had 3 trailers one day, one of them had a number of 299868 and right beside it was a 299866. Hooked it all together and then realized my middle box was the wrong one..... :angry: Spent another 20 minutes busting and rebuilding the set. The rest of the day went downhill because of that screwup. Got started late and was trying to cut a few corners to get caught up.! :wacko:

[itrucker]

Great advice!

Here's one more: after sleeping or when I've been away from the truck for more than 30-seconds, I release the tractor brakes, throw 'er in reverse, and gently nudge the tractor backwards into the stopped trailer. That way, if the kingpin has somehow managed to come loose, the backing manuever will re-engage it. This of course does not take the place of a visual inspection of your kingpin via a proper pre-trip inspection (as previously mentioned)!

Oh yeah, give a friendly smile :) to the trucker you pass in the parking lot at the truckstop. You never know if that smile will make his or her day!

- Chris

[The Saint]

Don't eat the yellow snow.

Do not swerve for a deer or animal. Nail it.

A couple of weeks ago I hit a deer in MO on the 70. Tore up my left front bumper etc. I called the safety dept to let them know. Wehn I was done I asked her how this was going to reflect on my record. She said I did the right thing by keeping my truck on the road and hitting the deer. It is amazing what damage a small deer like that will do :yikes: . Anyhow like Daytrader said nail it.



No animals were injured while typing the above post.

[Skip Shift]

Here's a tip that takes reverse thinking but once you use it, you'll never forget it - or it's importance.

How to avoid snow build-up on your wiper blades and windshield:

ALWAYS keep your windshield as cold as possible during the storm itself while travelling through it.

Turn off the defrosters and keep the heat on floor and/or cab level to keep yourself comfortable.

The problem with a hot windshield is that as the snow melts and as the wipers pass across the windshield it collects the newly made water and freezes instantly on the wiper creating a "base" for the snow to collect on, once the collecting stage starts, it's a fruitless battle you'll lose everytime. nothing short of stopping and knocking it off will correct it, and we know how dangerous it is stopping on a roadside to do this or even hunting a safe place can be stressful. no one likes to stop unless they have to.

If you watch, you'll see oncoming truckers with clear windshields during a snow event and others with the "raccoon" look with 2 lil wiper holes they're peering through, this is the difference why some do and some don't.

I hope this helps anyone starting out that doesn't know this trick. and yes, it works in four-wheelers too.