There’s no stopping old man winter. . . Or a trucker for that matter. Well, almost nothing. Sleet and snow can certainly prevent the efficient movement of freight, but that may be a good thing (safety first)!

One of the biggest winter hazards truckers face, short of an all-out blizzard, is black ice, that invisible, thin sheet of frozen water on the highway. Off-ramps and bridges are the most common places where black ice forms, and the best advice, per the Washington State Department of Transportation, is to take it sloooooow. Awareness is also key, so if temps drop into the 30s, be on the lookout for the dreaded transparent stuff.

Another driving tip is to be extra aware of non-rig motorists; other vehicles can cut in front of your truck with little notice, causing you to brake hard ¾ not good on icy roads. And so you can more easily see those other motorists, keep you windshield clean; salt and other highway chemicals can quickly turn it into a hazy mess. You want to maintain as much visibility as possible when the snow is flying.

Another tip: Stay connected to media and DOT reports if a big winter weather event is expected. Many state DOT’s update their website often with the latest road conditions. The Iowa Department of Transportation, for example, even makes a “special effort” to let truckers and trucking companies know what’s going on via satellite radio, email, and Twitter. Another step you can take is if you have a buddy who lives or works in the snow- or sleet-threatened destination that you’re traveling to, call ahead and ask what the roads are like.

If the white stuff is really coming down, do yourself a favor and stay put. Find somewhere to pull over until the roads clear up. To prepare for this possibility, make sure you’ve stocked up on water, flares, a flashlight, ice scrapers, canned food, and extra blankets.

The best advice you can heed during the snowy season though is to simply slow down and increase your following distance ¾ two simple road rules that can mean the difference between being safe, or flipped over on the side of the interstate.