MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | SECTION B
J
MOTORING
WHAT MOTIVATES MANAGER? NEW FACES MANAGER AT FERGUS FAST LANE HAS A NEW SON By Tim Engstrom tim.engstrom@fergusfallsjournal.com
Zack Hanson, 27, is the manager at Fergus Fast Lane in Fergus Falls. He resides in Fergus Falls, too, and spoke with the Daily Journal about some of his interests and his desire to work in the automotive field.
Q: What interests you about automobiles? A: My father was a mechanic.
Q: What is your favorite car make and model? A: My black 2009 Chevy Silverado.
Q: What do you like most about your job? A: I just like the fact I get to see a new face almost every day.
Q: Have you always wanted to work with automobiles? Why or why not? A: That was the case up until a few years ago. Since then I have taken an interest in information technology.
Q: What is your favorite memory working with automobiles? A: I have an old memory of rebuilding an engine with my
Zack Hanson stands beside the sign at Fergus Fast Lane, 1215 College Way, in Fergus Falls. TIM ENGSTROM/DAILY JOURNAL dad, Wayne.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I like to spend time with my family. We have a 2-monthold son, Grayson.
A: Fergus Falls.
Q: What are your hobbies?
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Italian.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
Q: What is one interesting fact about you?
A: I am easy to get along with. A: “Law Abiding Citizen” with At least that is what people tell Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler me.
Ways to stay safe while driving on Minnesota’s roads in wintry weather Did you know? Drivers speeding and not paying attention are the main causes of work zone crashes. Follow these safe winter driving tips: • Call 511 or visit www.511mn.org before leaving on your trip to get current road conditions. • Turn on your headlights and wear your seat belt. • Turn off your cruise control. • Slow down; allow at least five car lengths, and preferably 10, between your vehicle and a plow. • Stay behind the snowplow. The road behind a snowplow is safer to drive on. • Watch for snowplows that turn or exit frequently, and often with little warning. • Never drive into a snow cloud.
trip. • Stay back at least five car lengths, and preferably 10, behind the plow, far from the snow cloud. • Stay alert for snowplows that turn or exit frequently and often with little warning. • They also may travel over centerlines or partially in traffic to further improve road conditions. • Slow down to a safe speed for current conditions. Snowplows typically move at slower speeds. Don’t forget, cars and plows are in the storm together. Be patient with the snowplows and drive according to road conditions. Heavy traffic congestion affects snowplowing operations, so if cars stuck in traffic, so are the snowplows.
Snowplow facts What is black ice? Black ice is actually invisible ice that is almost totally transparent. It can easily catch drivers off-guard and cause crashes.
How and where does black ice form? Black ice forms when the air temperature is warmer than pavement, which causes moisture to rapidly freeze and creates a thin, transparent layer of ice on the roadway.
What can I do to be safer? • Slow down on bridges, overpasses and tunnels, and in the early morning when the air temperature is rising faster than the pavement temperature • Avoid applying brakes on ice as it may cause a vehicle to skid • Do not use cruise control during winter driving conditions • Use a safe speed for winter driving conditions, regardless of the posted speed limit • Keep a safe stopping distance from the vehicle in front of you • Do not use a cell phone MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION while driving and remember that texting is prohibited while driving in Minnesota • Keep both hands on the steering wheel, your eyes on the road and your attention on your driving
About snowplows
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Snowplows travel much slower than the posted speeds because it is most effective for clearing roads. The driver’s field of vision is severely restricted behind the truck, and the driver must rely on mirrors to see to the rear and side of the truck. Remember to: • Be patient, and remember snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your
• MnDOT plows nearly 12,000 miles of state highways and interstates in Minnesota, which equals 30,637 lane miles. (One mile of a four-lane road equals four lane miles.) The Twin Cities metro area has 5,103 lane miles that MnDOT maintains. • MnDOT has approximately 1,500 full-time snowplow drivers and 327 backup drivers. All operators are required to have a valid Class B commercial driver’s license. MnDOT also provides extensive two-week training for new operators each year at Camp Ripley, MN, and annual refresher training for veteran plow drivers. • MnDOT has 839 snowplows, including reserve trucks that provide backup in case a snowplow needs maintenance or is damaged. • MnDOT has 148 truck stations statewide, with 19 of those truck stations in the Twin Cities Metro area. • Fully equipped trucks weigh as much as 15 times more than an average car. • A single-axle plow (one set of wheels in the back) can weigh up to 50,000 pounds when loaded. A new single-axle truck costs $170,000. • A tandem-axle plow (two sets of wheels in the back) can weigh more than 70,000 pounds when loaded. A new tandem truck costs $210,000.
Snow removal techniques MnDOT’s snow removal program sets goals based on public safety and driver expectations. MnDOT uses market research to determine how quickly the public expects roads to be cleared when setting a performance goal. Snow removal performance can vary depending on moisture content of the snow, weather conditions and timing of the snow fall. A snowfall that
occurs before and during a rush hour will cause more problems than snow falling from midnight to 3 a.m. Heavy, wet snow followed by a cold snap will require more time to clear than dry snow. MnDOT primarily uses two materials to improve roadway safety and inhibit ice formation: • Salt: Melts snow and ice on roads when road surface temperatures are below freezing. Salt loses its effectiveness as temperatures drop. • Sand: Increases traction for motorists on slippery roads, mostly used at intersections and ramps. It may also be used in extreme cold temperatures when salt is less effective. The following techniques help MnDOT be more efficient and use less salt and sand, which reduces our impact on the environment. • Anti-icing: Generally refers to applying liquid salt brine to the road surface just before or early in a snowfall event. This prevents precipitation from bonding to the road surface. • Pre-wetting: A treatment to rock salt or sand that involves applying liquid salt brine or other commercial chemical solutions to the salt or sand mixture. Pre-wetting the salt allows the salt to activate more quickly and cause it to stick to the road surface instead of blowing off to the shoulder and ditch. • De-icing: Uses chemical or mechanical means to break the bond that has formed between the ice and road surface.
Why does MnDOT close roads during a winter storm? When extreme snowfall and loss of visibility make driving dangerous, MnDOT may need to close roads for the safety of both motorists and snowplow operators. MnDOT only closes roads in extreme blizzard, whiteout conditions — when it isn’t even safe for our drivers to be out. The intent is to keep the motorists in towns that can accommodate them.
What do the road closure devices look like? Road closure devices may include barricades, flashing lights or gates lowered across the roadway. They inform motorists the road is not safe for travel. Their only option is to turn around and get off the road quickly.
Who decides to close highways? The decision to close a highway is made by MnDOT staff, with input from local law enforcement and the Department of Public Safety.
PAGE B2 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015
HOW TO HANDLE CAR TROUBLE WHILE DRIVING Safely and successfully driving with a trailer takes practice and patience.
The basics of driving with trailers in tow Active adults and busy families understand that one perk to owning a pickup truck or an SUV is the ability to tow items behind the vehicle. Many of these trucks already come equipped with trailer hitches that make it possible to tow boats, RVs, snowmobiles and more. But safe and successful towing requires knowledge of the basics of hitching a trailer and some special rules of the road. The following are a few safety tips for drivers unaccustomed to towing. • Know your vehicle’s tow weight capacity. The owner’s manual will list the maximum weight a vehicle can tow safely, but this is just a simplified estimation of data. To tow successfully, it’s important to know your vehicle’s gross combined weight rating, or GCWR. This includes the vehicle itself, its passengers and cargo, as well as the trailer and the trailer’s cargo. More passengers on board reduces the amount of weight you can pull. Another weight factor is the tongue weight, or how much of the trailer’s weight rests on the hitch, which should be around 10 percent of the trailer’s weight. This helps reduce trailer sway and can improve steering. • Practice proper weight distribution. Distribute the weight of the item being towed to make towing smoother and safer. The cargo’s center of gravity should be low, and most of the weight should be toward the front. Weight on either side also should be even. These steps will help prevent the trailer from fishtailing or flipping over. • Use the right hitch equipment. Adjust the hitch so that the trailer being towed is relatively level to your vehicle when attached. Connect lights to your trailer through the
hitch system so that brake lights and other indicators work properly. Make sure the hitch ball is the right size for your trailer, otherwise the trailer might disconnect during towing. Use a pin and safety chains to keep the trailer secure. • Check if extra brakes are required. Many states require a separate braking system on towed vehicles with a loaded weight in excess of 1,000 pounds. Newer trucks may have a built-in controller for brakes or you may need to have a system installed. Experts from Popular Mechanics advise using a trailer brake output system that matches the trailer brake output to the tow vehicle’s deceleration. • Slow down and drive more cautiously. A vehicle towing a trailer will not maneuver the same way as a vehicle without a trailer attached. Give yourself a greater cushion of space between other vehicles. It may take longer for you to brake because of the added weight. Get used to using side-view mirrors because the trailer may block your rearview. Larger, extended sideview mirrors may help you feel more comfortable and safe. Make wide turns so that the trailer will clear curbs and not tip over. • Avoid backing up. Unless you’re experienced with driving large rigs, you may find reversing with a trailer very challenging. Limit situations that require backing up. Park in pull-through parking spots when possible. If you need to back up, move slowly and with your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, turning it in the direction you want the trailer to go. • Practice, practice, practice. Get acclimated with towing in a parking lot or on empty streets before taking your trailer out on the open road.
Tesla ready to push lawmakers for right to sell in Connecticut MILFORD, Conn. (TNS) — Officials with Tesla Motors say they’re willing to go the extra mile to convince Connecticut lawmakers that the company’s business model for selling its upscale electric vehicles should be allowed as part of the state’s new car retailing landscape. When the the state’s General Assembly reconvenes Feb. 3, Tesla will resume its efforts to educate legislators on how the company operates and why it would be economically beneficial for it to be allowed to exist.
Will Nicholas, Tesla’s government relations manager, said allowing Tesla to sell its cars to Connecticut residents directly, rather than just deliver and service cars that state residents have bought online -- as the company is currently allowed to operate -- would have a multi-million dollar impact. Each sales location, which the company likes to refer to as a gallery, would have an $8 million to $10 million direct impact on the state’s economy as well as generating nearly $1.7 million in sales tax revenue.
Sudden car trouble is something no driver wants to experience, but many a driver has been driving down the highway only to feel his or her vehicle start to sputter. Such sputtering might indicate a car is running low on fuel, or it could be a sign of something more serious that requires motorists to think as quickly and safely as possible. When car trouble strikes while a vehicle is on the road, the first thing many drivers do is check their fuel gauges. A car that runs out of gas is certainly inconvenient, but if you can pull over to the shoulder or make it to the nearest filling station, then this unfortunate situation can be remedied rather easily. But when a car’s tank is full and it is still showing signs of trouble, drivers must take steps to protect themselves, their passengers and their vehicles. The following are a few simple tips motorists should keep in mind so they can safely handle any car trouble that may arise while they are out on the road. • Keep a first-aid kit, spare tire and tire jack in the car at all times. Flat tires are no fun, but they are even more of a nuisance when drivers are not prepared to address them. Always keep a jack and spare tire in your car, even if the spare is a donut you can temporarily use to replace a flat tire until you make it to a filling station or automotive supply store. As an added safety measure, keep a fully stocked first aid kit in your vehicle in case you cut yourself
Josh Chris
Sam
Ben
while changing the tire or need to address another medical situation. Visit www.redcross.org for a list of items to include in your automotive emergency kit. Keep a blanket in the trunk as well so your passengers can stay warm should you experience car trouble on a cold day or night. • Make note of your surroundings. Some car troubles can only be fixed by the professionals, so pay careful attention to your surroundings in case an issue arises and forces you to pull over and call for help. Always pay attention to mile markers and any landmarks that might help you describe where you are. Car troubles can strike at any time and anywhere, so be sure to pay special attention to your surroundings when driving in unfamiliar areas. • Pull over. Don’t panic if an issue arises
suddenly. Remain calm and pull over onto the shoulder. The right shoulder is the area for pulling over on most roads, but you may also use the left shoulder on multilane highways with medians. Try to get as far away from traffic as possible without driving off of level ground, and always use your signals when pulling onto the shoulder. If the vehicle can’t make it to the median, put your emergency flashers on and get out of the car, moving away from both the vehicle and traffic. Immediately call for emergency roadside assistance, alerting the authorities if need be. • Use flares or triangles to alert other drivers. So long as you are not risking your well-being, you can place flares and/or warning triangles behind your vehicle so oncoming traffic
Ice, rain, snow and freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your car. To keep your family safe on the slippery roads this winter, it’s important to take a few simple winterization steps. According to the International Carwash Association, proper maintenance can also go a long way in helping preserve the investment in your vehicle. Follow these five tips to keep your vehicle in top shape throughout the winter weather: 1. Switch engine oil: Oil lubricates the engine so it can function properly, but not all automobile oil is the same. If you live in a cold climate, consider switching to a thinner, less viscous oil. For example, a 10W-30 might be ideal for hot summer weather, but a thicker 5W-30 is better for when temperatures dip below freezing. Ask your auto mechanic what is recommended and refer to the manufacturer’s manual for more insight. 2. Maintain a car wash routine: Due to the presence of ice, salt and sand on the roads, washing your vehicle in the winter is even more important than the summer. Getting a car wash and a fresh coat of wax before the temperature begins to drop can be your first line of defense against winter elements. Vehicular corrosion occurs most quickly when the temperature rises and falls below freezing. The International Carwash Association recommends finding a car wash that is part of the WaterSavers program. There
Kyle
Dale
If we can hoist it, we can repair it.
Guaranteed!
Complete Auto & Light Truck Repairs • Custom Exhaust • Tow & Shuttles
are more than 1,500 environmenyou live in an area where winter tally friendly car washes worldmeans driving in snow and ice, it’s wide enrolled in the program critical to check your tires to keep that meet water quality and usyou and your passengers safe. age standards. These car washes Each tire should have an adequate use 40 gallons (151.5 liters) or less of fresh water per car. 3. Check the battery: Cold weather can take a toll on your car’s battery. Before you get stranded, give your battery a once-over to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. Check the cables, ter- Regular car washes in the winter are key to maintaining a minals and flu- car free from the presence of ice, salt and sand. id and look for anything abnormal. Some battery amount of tread to properly grip retailers will conduct a complethe road. You can easily see if new mentary car battery assessment if tires are needed with the penny you’d prefer an expert analysis. test — hold a penny head down in 4. Update engine coolant: Just the center tread. If you see the top because it’s chilly doesn’t mean of Lincoln’s head, you have less your engine can’t overheat. To pro- than 2/32-inch tread and it’s time tect your engine against corrosion for new tires. Also be sure to your and to help ensure it doesn’t overtires are properly inflated to enheat, ask your car technician to sure optimum handling, safety, and change to a coolant with ethylene fuel efficiency. glycol which has antifreeze propTaking the time to properly winerties. While replacing coolants, terize your car not only ensures ask the technician to make sure the comfort and safety of you and all fluids are topped off, including your family but also helps you window washer solution. maintain the value of your car for 5. Get a grip on tire safety: If many winters to come.
WHY WAIT ‘TIL THE LAST MINUTE...
WINTERIZE YOUR VEHICLE $
$
%
10 OFF 10ANYOFF 20FULLOFF
EACH RADIATOR FLUSH & FILL, TRANSMISSION SERVICE, POWER STEERING, OR DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE Excluding Oil Change
LABOR SERVICE
Established 1980. 124 years of combined experience 3100 S. Pebble Lake Rd Fergus Falls, MN 56537
knows to drive around it. The popular not-forprofit motor club AAA recommends placing the first flare or triangle 10 feet directly behind the side of the vehicle that is closest to the road. The second should be placed between 30 and 60 feet (increase the distances as the posted speed limit increases) behind the middle of the bumper, while the third flare or triangle should be placed between 120 and 360 feet behind the vehicle’s right side. • Stay with the vehicle. Once you have called for help and set up flares or triangles, stay with the vehicle, though do so at a safe enough distance so you are not in harm’s way. Sudden car troubles can be scary, but drivers who approach such issues calmly and quickly can reduce their risk for accident or injury.
Top 5 tips to maintain your car in the winter
Adam Joe
Safely and successfully driving with a trailer takes practice and patience.
218-736-6229 www.pebblelakeauto.com
SERVICE PRICE ON WEDNESDAYS!
1215 College Way, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 218-739-0739 • 281-205-2771
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | PAGE B3
November Transport holiday gifts the smart, safe way auto sales expected to break Plane ride records YOUNGSTOWN (TNS) — Record breaking. That’s the way auto analysts explain November’s auto sales. “We are expecting a very strong November,” said Stacey Doyle, TrueCar senior analyst. “It’s going to be a huge month. It’s the time to strike.” Factors such as low gas prices, interest rates remaining unchanged and pent-up demand from consumers are all expected to lead to an increase this November over last, even with two fewer selling days, TrueCar analysts project. New-vehicle sales, including fleet sales, will come in at 1.3 million for a 3.9 percent increase year over year, the analysts say. Retail sales alone are expected to increase by 3 percent. “Retail has been strong this year,” Doyle said. “We did see earlier this year that some auto manufacturers were pulling back on fleet.” When adjusted for the two fewer selling days, Kelley Blue Book analysts expect to see a 9 percent year-over-year increase in new-vehicle sales this month, with 1.3 million sales for the highest sales since 2001. “With the holiday advertisements and deals, it should be a big weekend for auto sales,” said Tim Fleming, KBB analyst. Most manufacturers are expected to see an increase in sales for the month. Given the recent scandal with its diesel models, Volkswagen Group is expected to take a hit in sales. KBB analysts project as much as a 9.5 percent drop. The General Motors pickup truck lineup is expected to boost the automaker’s sales by about 2 percent, KBB predicts. TrueCar shows GM coming in with a 5.7 percent increase in sales. Compact car sales are expected to remain soft in November. The compact sport utility vehicle/crossover is expected to surpass every other segment this year as the top-selling segment. Overall, this year is expected to bring in the highest number of sales ever, with an expected 17.4 million sales. “In December we are expecting a double-digit increase year over year,” Doyle said. “It will probably be the best year ever.”
Pricier cars can be better insurance bargain COLUMBUS, Ohio (TNS) — So much for conventional wisdom. An insuranceQuotes.com study finds that sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks can prove to be a better insurance bargain than smaller vehicles. “We always assume that with the more-expensive vehicle, you pay more, the less-expensive, you pay less,” said Laura Adams, the website’s senior analyst. “This study shows it’s not the case. You can see affordability in more-expensive vehicles.” The study is based on sales of 20 popular new vehicles. The website divided the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of each car by the annual cost of insuring that vehicle. The result is an insurance-to-cost ratio that shows which vehicles are expensive to insure and which might be better deals by comparison. For example, a 2015 Ford Explorer with a list price of $34,345 costs about $1,300 a year to insure. Meanwhile, a new Ford Focus that lists for $18,045 costs about $1,400 a year to insure. The study found that SUVs and trucks account for eight of the top nine insurance values.
As families spread out across the country and even across the globe, the holidays can become a little more difficult to navigate. According to AAA, a federation of motor clubs throughout the United States, roughly 90 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for yearend holidays. Families that are spread out must decide where to spend the holidays together. But in some cases, families can’t all be together, so celebrations must be handled remotely and gifts shipped to waiting recipients. Shopping for gifts may have taken some time, but now you will have to figure out how to get those gifts where they need to go. The following are some pointers for holiday celebrants who are driving, flying, taking a bus or shipping gifts.
package. Presents under a certain value may be duty-free or tax-exempt. Check with customs to get a better idea of the shipping regulations.
Shipping dates
Packing the car
If the goal is to purchase and ship gifts near and far, starting early has its advantages. Thousands upon thousands of cards and packages are shipped each day during the holiday season. In 2013, shipping giant UPS projected 132 million deliveries during the last week before Christmas, and actual figures exceeded those expectations. Many shipping services will get packages to recipients on time, but customers can help them along by sending them several weeks before the holidays. Shipping later in the season may incur additional fees for priority shipping. Always check sellers’ “purchase by” dates to ensure items will arrive on time. Items that will be shipped internationally should include a detailed description as Learn how to pack or ship gifts safely to minimize inconveniences and ensure they arrive well as the value of the on time.
If a holiday road trip is in your future, space constraints may require you to be a little creative when packing the car. Shop for smaller gifts, including gift cards, which are easier to transport. Advise family and friends that you will have limited space so they should not go overboard with regard to gifts given to you in return. Heed safety precautions and do not obscure driver visibility in the car by stacking presents too high. Also, secure boxes and packages in the car so they do not slide or move around. Anything that is not secured can become airborne in the event of a collision, increasing the risk for injury. Items placed on roof racks should be tightly secured so they don’t fall off and present a hazard. Plan how to transport any gifts to be brought along long before the day comes to hit the road.
Airlines have specific regulations in place regarding which items can and cannot be brought on planes, at least inside of the cabin. Thanks to increased security measures, restrictions are greater than they once were. Transportation Security Administration officers may have to inspect items for safety purposes. It may be better to leave gifts unwrapped and then wrap them after the flight to avoid hassles during the screening process. Liquids, including foods, may need to be put in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces. Consider shipping delicate items ahead of time if you are concerned about breakage.
PAGE B4 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015
PARENTS! Bring your kids and your camera and take pictures with our 93” plush teddy bear! Stop in on weekdays from 8 am-5 pm until December 20.
The Daily Journal media 914 East Channing Ave. • Fergus Falls, MN