If you could get winter truck driving tips from anyone, who would it be? How about someone who drives a 155,000-pound, 12-axle tractor trailer on mountainous, snow-packed, two-lane roads nearly every day?

Well, I found such a person. Even better, I commenced to bribe, cajole, and generally badger him into coming onto the Trucker Dump podcast to share his experience with you. I may have even threatened to set bear traps for his dogs. Don’t judge. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.

Kevin Lowery has been driving big rigs in Alaska for 23 years of his 28-year career and he’s learned a thing or two about getting around in the snow and dealing with extreme cold temperatures. In today’s podcast, we discuss how to get your rig and yourself ready for winter, how to keep from having maintenance issues, and what to do if you have them anyway.

We also talk about the best heater settings to use, how to drive on the snow, and how to keep from getting stuck when you park for the night. We learn how to install tire chains properly and when you should and shouldn’t use them.

Lastly, we talk about the Ice Road Truckers show and what most Alaskan truckers think of it. And be sure to stick around for the after show to hear a few minutes of us joking around after we were done recording the interview. It’s quite funny!

A quick word to all you dear blog readers who’ve never bothered listening to the podcast version; I apologize, but if you want to hear all these awesome tips, clicking that Play button is the only way you’re getting them. Seriously, it won’t kill you this once. I simply don’t make nearly enough money doing this podcast/blog to pay for a transcriptionist, and if I were to do it myself this podcast wouldn’t likely be published until the snow is long gone.