Assistance When You Need It Most

The Illinois Tollway is encouraging drivers to stay prepared for severe cold weather travel and to call *999 if assistance is needed on the Tollway system. Help is available for those facing mechanical issues or being stranded. Regularly deployed Zero Weather Road Patrols are now active around the clock, improving the response time for those needing help.

“Safety is always our highest priority and during this frigid weather we want to remind drivers they can always reach us by dialing *999 if they need roadside assistance on our system,” not only during freezing winter weather but throughout the year,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse.

By calling *999, drivers can connect with Zero Weather Road Patrols, Tollway Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks, or Tollway roadway maintenance teams who are ready to provide aid.

Winter Driving Tips from the Illinois Tollway

The Tollway has issued advice for drivers navigating brutal winter conditions to stay safe on the road. Follow these essential tips when driving during subzero temperatures:

• Use *999 for Assistance: Provide your location details, like the nearest mile marker or crossroad, for faster help.

• Stay in Your Vehicle: If stranded, turn on your emergency lights and remain inside your car until responders arrive.

• Charge Your Phone Fully: Ensure your cell phone has enough battery life before leaving your destination.

• Mind Your Tires: Cold weather deflates tires—check inflation levels regularly.

• Keep a Full Tank: Avoid gas line freeze-ups by maintaining your tank at least halfway full.

• Pack a Safety Kit: Include gloves, blankets, boots, flares, bottled water, and a flashlight with fresh batteries in your car.

For real-time updates on road conditions, drivers can subscribe to Tollway Trip Tweets at Twitter or find updates on the Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com. Track specific roadways like @94_294_Tollway and @I_88_Tollway for personalized alerts.

Around-The-Clock Zero Weather Road Patrols

During freezing conditions, the Illinois Tollway deploys 24-hour Zero Weather Road Patrols to supplement regular roadside services provided by the H.E.L.P. trucks.

Available Monday through Friday from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. under Geico sponsorship, H.E.L.P. trucks are complemented by at least 12 Zero Weather Road Patrols outside these hours, including nights and weekends.

These patrol vehicles, equipped with arrow boards for traffic management, can transport stranded drivers to Tollway maintenance garages, plazas, or oases while helping address common issues like flat tires, drained car batteries, overworked radiators, and empty gas tanks.

Source: The Trucker

The post Illinois Offers Roadside Assistance During Extreme Winter Weather appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Emergency declarations have been issued in Kentucky, Missouri, and New York, including waivers to assist with the transport of crucial heating fuels and other essential products.

Missouri’s Emergency Declaration

Missouri has enacted an emergency exemption specifically aimed at supporting the delivery of residential heating fuels. Under this declaration, vehicles involved in transporting heating fuels are temporarily exempt from federal hours-of-service regulations until Sunday, January 12.

This limitation applies exclusively to residential heating fuels; no other fuel types or petroleum products fall under this waiver.

A statement within Missouri’s emergency declaration highlights the urgency of the situation, citing potential damage caused by a mix of severe winter weather including “rain, freezing rain, snow, sleet, ice, and low temperatures, impacting communities throughout the state.”

The waiver applies to all interstate, state, and local county roads. Additionally, drivers operating under this order are not required to carry a physical copy of the emergency declaration during transport.

Kentucky’s Widespread Relief Actions

Kentucky’s emergency declaration was triggered by an extended period of below-freezing temperatures, which significantly impacted daily life and fuel availability within the state. This declaration is valid until Thursday, January 16.

Relief measures enable exemptions from hours-of-service regulations and weigh station stops for vehicles transporting propane, fuel oil, and kerosene. Additionally, essential supplies—like food, water, medical supplies, non-alcoholic beverages, and livestock or poultry feed—are included under the emergency provisions.

The directive allows essential goods and relief services to be expedited, ensuring residents in the affected regions receive the support they need during these challenging conditions.

New York Addresses Severe Statewide Impact

New York State has declared an emergency order to address compounded issues arising from the severe winter storm paired with significant supply chain challenges. These conditions have disrupted the timely delivery of critical heating fuels required by households, businesses, power plants, and customers dependent on alternative or interruptible sources of fuel.

The emergency order modifies hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers to facilitate faster transportation of vital supplies. Below are the specific changes to the standard regulations:

• The 70-hour on-duty limit in eight days has been extended to 84 hours.

• The 60-hour on-duty limit in seven days has been increased to 74 hours.

• The 14-hour daily work limit has been temporarily modified to 16 hours.

• The 34-hour restart provision is reduced to 24 hours.

• Time spent waiting in a parked commercial vehicle at loading or unloading sites will no longer be counted as “on-duty” time for compliance calculations.

These changes aim to help alleviate delivery delays and ensure supplies are distributed efficiently. The emergency measures in New York will remain in effect through today, January 10.

Source: Land line

The post States Declare Emergency Amid Winter Storm Blair’s Impact appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The emergency declaration, which dates back to October, was initially renewed on November 8. The latest extension accommodates the specific requests from each state, with the new expiration dates as follows:

• Florida: December 2

• Georgia: December 11

• North Carolina: December 26

• Tennessee: December 26

This extension primarily benefits those involved in transporting essential supplies or operating utility service vehicles to restore critical services. Importantly, drivers providing direct assistance to hurricane recovery efforts are eligible for the relief, regardless of their trip’s origin.

Restrictions and Updates on Travel

Several roads in western North Carolina and Tennessee remain restricted to essential travel only. Additionally, vehicles longer than 30 feet are still prohibited on some routes.

While major road construction projects in North Carolina are paused for the Thanksgiving weekend, portions of key highways like Interstate 26 and Interstate 40 are still closed. Drivers planning trips in the area should proceed with caution.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee, has forecast potential snow accumulations and freezing conditions over the weekend, adding further challenges to travel in these regions.

Need Assistance?

For updates on road closures, routing assistance, or emergency declarations by state, the FMCSA has detailed resources available on its website.

Stay safe and informed as recovery efforts continue.

Source: Land Line

The post FMCSA Extends Emergency Declaration for Hurricane Recovery appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Bendix Tech Tips recently released several tips to ensure fleets and drivers are well-equipped for the challenges of winter, keep reading to see what they have to say on staying safe when winter weather strikes.

Brake Checks

“In winter road conditions, it’s even more crucial that your brakes perform at their best – and the time to get them ready is before they’re put to the test on snow and ice,” said Mark Holley, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, wheel-end. “Fortunately, the most effective preventive maintenance practices for your brakes are pretty straightforward: regular inspections and lubrication.”

As winter approaches, it’s crucial for drivers and technicians to be aware of potential damage and corrosion to key components of their trucks. Moisture and harsh road chemicals can wreak havoc on air brake chamber housings, so it’s important to inspect them during routine walk-arounds. In the garage, technicians should also ensure that chamber dust plugs are properly seated to prevent corrosive materials from entering and causing internal damage.

For added protection, consider using a sealed chamber, which features a dust plug with an integrated check valve. This design allows air to escape without allowing moisture and contaminants to enter.

When inspecting air-disc-braked vehicles, technicians should pay attention to the boots for any punctures or tears, as these can lead to corrosion. It’s also essential to check the integrity of the guide pins and replace any damaged parts. Ensure that the shear adapter cover is in place and properly seated. If necessary, remove the pads and clean the carrier surface with a wire brush. Additionally, confirm that the brake moves freely on its guidance system.

Don’t forget about lubrication. It plays a crucial role in preventing moisture buildup and corrosion. Prior to winter, be sure to grease all automatic slack adjusters, clevis pin connections, cam tubes, shafts, and bushings.

Clearing the Air

“Your truck’s air system is significantly more vulnerable to trouble in the winter, especially if you’re driving through temperature changes and dealing with freeze-and-thaw cycles,” explained Jason Kolecki, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, air supply and drivetrain. “That means every system it’s connected to is also more susceptible to damage, from brakes to automated transmissions, advanced safety systems, and emissions controls.”

Bendix suggests some essential steps to prepare your vehicle for the winter season. First, manually drain the air tanks to eliminate any remaining moisture from the previous months. While draining the tanks every three months is a good practice for most trucks, those that use a significant amount of air may require more frequent draining.

Next, check if your air dryer cartridge needs to be replaced. If it hasn’t been replaced recently or if you notice moisture during the tank drainage, replacing the cartridge is an easy and crucial step. The air dryer cartridge is vital for your vehicle’s air system, especially during winter when condensation and freezing can lead to valve and brake issues.

Most truck manufacturers now equip vehicles with oil-coalescing dryer cartridges, to prevent oil aerosols from entering the system. If you have one of these cartridges, ensure that you replace it with a similar one to maintain the system’s functionality. Standard cartridges can cause malfunctions and shorten the lifespan of components if oil aerosols pass through them.

Lastly, consider replacing the purge valve as part of winter maintenance. Corrosion and debris buildup can rapidly occur during the winter months, so it is advisable to start with a new purge valve, especially if the existing one shows signs of damage.

“The last big thing that comes up every year is to remind people about the hazards of using de-icing solutions on a frozen air system,” Kolecki said. “And we know that sometimes they’re unavoidable for getting trucks back on the road quickly and safely. But keep in mind that once they’re in the system, these chemicals can damage O-rings and valves, so you really should try to affect as small an area as you can and keep an eye on those parts later on in the garage.”

Supporting Your Advanced Driver Assistance Technologies

“Cold weather, wind, snow, ice, and sleet often make for rapidly changing and unpredictable road conditions, and there are several straightforward ways to keep driver-supporting systems like stability control and collision mitigation working at their best,” noted TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, controls. “In addition to making sure there are no active DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes), drivers can double-check their wheel-ends for adequate tire tread depth and unusual wear like cracking, along with making sure all bolts are tightened. And pre-trip inspections should include clearing obstructions like snow and ice from any external cameras and radars that are part of forward- or side-mounted collision mitigation technology or lane-departure warning systems.”

Don’t overlook the importance of properly functioning tire pressure monitoring systems in your vehicle. Winter temperature swings can impact tire inflation, so it’s crucial to have technicians check that everything is running smoothly in the shop. In addition, it’s essential to ensure electrical connections are secure and watertight, protecting against moisture, salt, and road chemicals.

By following the right maintenance and inspection practices, you can significantly increase your safety on the road during the winter months. Stay prepared and stay safe.

Source: Trucking Info

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