Resource road driving tips for light trucks
It is important that you use every tool in your driver’s toolbox to negotiate resource roads with the highest level of safety with respect to yourself and other users.
Every piece of terrain and road is different. It varies daily with weather conditions, other users, the season, road surface material and condition and more. If you can identify some of these differences, then you can adjust your driving style and strategy to safely handle your vehicle in variable conditions.
Here are some key strategies to consider:
Before you even get into your vehicle, consider your personal attitude and temperament which can ultimately affect how you drive. If you are tired, under pressure of production or work, had an argument with your partner, not feeling 100% - these things can change how you will act and react as a driver.
Next, consider the contents of your vehicle. Is it fully loaded with equipment or people? Does someone want the sound system turned up? Are there loud conversations happening? Having an environment that allows the driver to hear the VHF radio, the vehicle’s mechanics and the road itself help the driver to evaluate the current conditions and adjust accordingly.
Take a look at the following conditions that also affect safety and the choices drivers need to make:
Seat belts
Although it’s required by law, fatalities still continue to occur in the forest industry as a result of failing to wear seatbelts. Ensure that you and all of your passengers are belted-up prior to driving.
Frost lines
Observe the road surface for freezing, particularly in shaded zones that don’t get sun until later in the day or even at all.
Snow
Snow density changes dramatically depending on the season, weather, freezing levels, wind compression, sun, etc. Open areas that are affected by wind can accumulate more snow. You will need to consider shaded zones that have more snow as well as avalanche zones.
Hills
Understanding how the terrain varies will help you adjust your driver speed, gearing and so on, to negotiate different pitches more efficiently and safely. Regularly scan long distances ahead, across valleys and anywhere that allow more open views of the upcoming terrain.
Dust
In summer, dust on resource roads is a major challenge, but it can also be useful in determining whether there is traffic on the road. By looking for dust clouds, this can indicate traffic further up the road and help determine if it is coming towards you. Sometimes the size of a dust cloud can indicate the size and speed of vehicles.
Low sun
Low sun in the morning or evening can present visual challenges. Wearing the correct eyewear, adjusting your speed and even positioning your vehicle can help increase safety. It is also important to remember the position of the sun directly behind you will also cause challenges for drivers coming towards you, so be mindful of their conditions as well.
Corners
Treat every corner uniquely as the characteristics of a corner like camber and pitch dramatically affect how to steer and the speed needed to safely drive around the corner. Expect oncoming traffic around every corner and always position your vehicle on the right side of the road to avoid a collision.
Soft road shoulders
Firmness and traction levels often change on resource roads. The shoulder of a resource road is rarely driven on and is often a lot softer than the main surface. This can present a challenge if your wheels end up on a soft shoulder, potentially grabbing the tires and causing the vehicle to pull further off the road.
Near sight, future sight
Being a visually conscious driver allows you to gauge important information about the road you are travelling on. It is important to focus on the road just ahead of the hood of your vehicle, but also to look as far down the road as possible. That can mean looking across a valley, or through breaks in tree lines or terrain. This ability to build a complete picture of the road ahead will help you understand the upcoming challenges and make your drive safer.
Vehicle type
Every vehicle is different. The size, load, capacity and contents of the vehicle will affect the vehicle’s specific location on the road it is travelling on, how fast it can go, its stopping distance and its ability to negotiate the road. It is important to understand your vehicle, but it is equally as important to evaluate all vehicles around you and how they may react.
User types for resource road
Every road is different which means every road needs to be driven accordingly. You need to continually adjust to changing road conditions rather than driving on “autopilot”. Roads vary in grade, surface type, width, severity, etc. Driving the correct vehicle and using the right driver aids such as 4x4 traction control and proper tires can assist you in a safe journey.
Load
The amount, position and integrity of the vehicle’s load whether it is passengers, equipment and/or product, play a large part in how your vehicle will handle. You may want to consider choosing lighter loads with more frequent journeys as a safer, more successful option.
Maintenance
Following a regular maintenance schedule will help prevent major problems before they occur and can avoid leaving you stranded on the side of a resource road.
Suspension / vehicle noise
Listening to your vehicle as you drive can provide a lot of information on its integrity and performance. Throughout your drive, the vehicle will have a fairly consistent mechanical noise in terms of air flow, engine noise and tire noise. Listening to mechanical noise changes can be an indication of loads shifting, changes in traction levels, possible mechanical issues and so on. If your vehicle does breakdown, ensure that you have taken all precautions prior to attempting to diagnose or fix the problem. In forestry, between 2015 and 2019, there have been six fatalities resulting from working under or around vehicles. In most of these cases, the operator failed to secure the vehicle before attempting work under or near equipment.
Considering all of these factors, it is important to adjust your driving to each variable accordingly. A road and its conditions can change without warning as you travel throughout the day. Stay alert and stay safe.
Other resources
Article original publication
BC Forest Safety Council, Forest Safety News, December 2019.