Winter Training & The Roehl Way of Protective Driving

Weather can change quickly. Winter storms can bring large amounts of snow and ice, along with blowing snow, whiteout conditions and black ice. The best advice is to check the weather forecast and plan accordingly so you know what to expect and are prepared to drive. Being aware of weather conditions when traveling is crucial to ensuring a safe journey. At Roehl, we're built on Values like Safety and Driver Success! That's one of the reasons we provide so many tools to our driving teammates, including our annual Winter Safety Training and free winter cleats.

Our winter training provides drivers the opportunity to learn how to do safe in the winter. This includes driving safe, operating equipment safely and keeping themselves safe in and around equipment.

Below are some steps you can take to be prepared to the quickly changing weather conditions as you travel to different regions of the U.S. and Canada, and we've provided an overview of our Winter Training.

Utilize your local national weather service and Check the Road Conditions Along Your Route

One way to help you plan ahead is the AccuWeather.com Road Trip Planner. Road Trip Planner allows you enter your start and end points and time you plan to leave to give you hourly weather forecasts along your route.

Another helpful website is run by the US DOT. This website will list by state the road conditions and closures. If you are unable to open websites, 511 in any state will provide you with up to date road conditions. While at truck stops, watch the local weather reports. At Roehl, we suggest you keep your Truck PC volume turned up to know if we send a message regarding weather.

Stay mobile

Having access to the most up to date weather warnings and advisory information keeps you aware of rapidly changing road conditions. You can use your radio or SIRIUS XM Radio channels 113, 138 or 247. You can also monitor the weather in your region on your smartphone with an AccuWeather app.

Have a winter weather emergency kit

In case you get stranded; keep a kit of emergency supplies in your truck. Your kit should include a flashlight, first aid kit, food, water, shovel, ice scraper, blankets.

Understand the Warnings

• High Wind Warnings – sustained winds of 40 mph or greater or frequent gusts of 58 mph or greater.
• Wind Chill Warnings – a wind chill warning is issued when wind chills of -20F or lower are expected. 
• Winter Storm Warning – is issued when a winter storm is about to occur in the area, usually within 36 hours with a prediction of 4-7” or more of snow or 3” or more snow with ice accumulation.
• Winter Storm Watch – is issued when there is the potential for significant and hazardous winter within 48 hours. This is usually 5 inches or more of snow/sleet within a 12 hour period or enough ice accumulation to cause damage to trees or power lines.
• Winter Weather Advisory – will be issued when 2 to 4 inches of snow, alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain, is expected to cause a significant inconvenience.
• Freezing Rain Advisory – ice accumulations of less than 1/4 inch.
• Ice Storm Warning – ¼ inch or more of ice accumulation.

If you want to know more about how you can get access to the resources that will help you be successful, contact us or Apply Now. We offer a feature to search driving jobs near me, including opportunities for experienced drivers all the way to people who need to get a CDL (plus even more resources, like practice CDL tests).


Apply Now

What is Roehl's Winter Safety Training?

Our Winter Safety Training is an opportunity to learn about driving safe in winter, operating equipment in winter, personal safety year-round and how to make safe left turns. The learning is facilitated through Roehl Youniversity, which is our online platform full of courses to help our teammates (both driving and non-driving teammates) continue learning and being leaders. We create and customize this safety content because we want our driving teammates to be successful and we respect their time (so some of the video components are optional, based on driver's experience with TeamRoehl).

What's available to current Roehl drivers?

These e-learning modules are available: 

Driving Safe in Winter
Truck drivers have an opportunity to learn about driving safe during winter, and the module consists of a video and a knowledge check. 

Winter Operations
Drivers can learn about operating our equipment during winter and other practices for their success. 

Personal Safety
Learn about keeping yourself safe on and around your equipment in this module, and

Making Good Decisions in Less Than Ideal Weather Conditions
Learn how to Do Safe! in less than ideal weather conditions.

Simulator Training – Winter Driving and Left Turns
Roehl has the latest in simulator training and we're offering classes for our driving teammates at our Marshfield and Chicago Area Terminals. Drivers have the opportunity to learn about applying the Safe 7 Protective Driving Techniques in a winter driving environment.

Learn more about our training & join a company that invests in you!

Apply Now

 

Here's feedback from our teammates about these learning opportunities:

• "As always, very informative and thorough. Helps to keep skills front and center and fresh."
• "This is great information and really drives home the importance of our drivers protecting others we share the road with, compensating for their mistakes to protect them and shows the value in their lives as well as ours. From a place of love really says it all..."
• "...good information for those who have been working as drivers for some time as well as those who may be starting their careers."
• "...driving safe in winter great job as always thank you"

Summary

While you are on the road it is crucial that you pay attention to all lights and signs. Keep your radio on in case of an emergency broadcast. Heed all watches and warnings carefully. If you think it is unsafe to drive where you are or where you will be going, find a safe place to park and let your company know. Communication is important. At Roehl, our drivers have the final call on whether it is safe to drive. Looking for a carrier that values Safety? Apply with Roehl and use the Safe 7 and travel safe when travelling in winter weather!