Between my previous DII (2000 SE) and my current DII (2004 SE), I've four cracked front windshields! The current windshield cracked last week. The cause in each case has been catching loose rocks on the windshield thrown by vehicles ahead of me on the freeway. In the cold weather the inital ding/crack seems to grow pretty quickly due to temperature changes.

In looking at the windshield design, it seems to be more vertically aligned than other vehicles. I guessing it takes more lateral force when the rock hits it...? My wife makes a similar commute and this has never happened on her vehicle. No, I'm not a tailgater!

Just curious, if you guys use your trucks as regular commuters on the freeways (expensive, I know), is this happening to you....or an I just lucky that way?

 

There is a lamin-x type of film for windshields but I'm not sure it's made by. This might be worth looking into, especially if you have a heated windshield.

 

Yeah...it is the heated windshield. It is covered by my insurance, but I'm still stuck with the deductible. In my case, that is $500 a pop!

 

Yes I commute on the expressway everyday.
Yes I get cracked windshields, especially if I pass a salt truck. (road salt is big and hard as a rock)
I have recently found out that some glass shops are using windshields from China and they are of a very poor quality.
Your best bet is to add a bug deflector to your hood.
That forces air up and over the roof of the truck and any debris will go with it over the truck.
When I was a truck driver the company I worked for paid for its own windshields, the glass guy as at the yard 2-3 times a week.
Added bug deflectors and he came 2-3 times a year.