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Truckers Track Cold Conditions
With the sudden return to winter this week, most drivers are concerned about the snow and ice forecasted for Thursday and Friday. But truck drivers have another fear. If diesel fuel does not get the right additives, it can start to gel up in cold conditions. That risk is elevated when higher amounts of biodiesel are used, since it gels at a higher temperature.
"You're going to still doctor your fuel and that," truck
driver Ron Likins said.
"You've got to or it will gel up, and when it gels up, it is no fun."
Diesel fuel can start to cloud around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and gel around 15 degrees. Biodiesel is a more eco-friendly option, but blends with higher amounts of bio-diesel are more likely to gel in the cold.
"Typically what happens with the fuel starts to gel in a truck, is it will surge and slow down," Mid-West Truckers Association Associate Director Matt Wells said. "The newer systems will actually tell the driver that the fueling system is slowing down and it will go into a reserve mode."
Fortunately, modern fuel additives help avoid this problem. This means fewer trucks end up on the side of the road and more deliveries arrive on time. In Rob Likens' 51 years on the road, he made a fueling mistake the cost him valuable time.
"On the way to California, I didn't pay attention to where I was and I fueled up, and then I bought fuel in the wrong place--what you call buying bad fuel--and then you pay the consequences," Likens said.
The fuel Likens filled up with wasn’t treated for wintry
conditions in the Midwest.
Wells said most drivers who drive from warmer states to cooler weather make note of the conditions and fuel accordingly. If cold weather does become a problem, the setback won’t be nearly as long as it used to, thanks to modern conveniences.
"If you drive in a large amount of cold weather, you have what's called fuel tank heaters, where there's actually heat flowing through the tanks to keep the fuel from freezing," Wells said.
Another major concern for truckers in wintry weather is stopping distance. Even when the wintry precipitation hits, they will be carrying the same heavy loads.
Anyone who has to be out on the roads Thursday and Friday should check the distance a truck driver leaves between his truck and the car in front of it. If passing a truck, make sure to leave that same distance.
