4 Causes of Skidding and Sliding

Skidding on the road is scary and dangerous. Learn what causes trucks to skid and how to avoid sliding out of control.

While skidding is more likely to occur in the winter due to icy road conditions, driving behaviors such as over-steering, over-braking, over-accelerating or just plain driving too fast are other common causes. 

• Ice and snow are common causes of skids. Take your foot off the accelerator and engage the clutch which will allow the engine to help you regain traction.
• Faulty equipment such as worn or improperly inflated tires or brakes can be factors as well. Be sure your pre-check includes checking your brakes and tires!
• In a front wheel skid, you may not be able to steer at all if your front wheels do not have enough traction. The way to control this situation is to stop the truck as quickly and safely as possible. Ideally, you should let the truck slow down by itself without braking. If you have to brake, do it lightly because braking too hard can worsen the situation.
• If your rear wheels lock, the vehicle will slide sideways in a spin-out and can cause a jackknife. To correct this type of skid, stop braking, turn quickly in the direction you want the truck to go, and then countersteer quickly the other way to avoid skidding in the opposite direction.

Knowing what you should do ahead of a skid and staying calm and focused will help you to regain control and come out of a skid safely.