It happens with almost no notice, chunks of ice and snow come flying off of tractor trailers onto the highway, or worse another car.

"I had a piece of ice come off my roof and it cracked another drivers windshield," says truck driver Roger Leppala.

Many motorists think the truck drivers should take responsibility for their rigs and clean off the debris before they drive. But climbing on top of these trailers poses a risk of its own.

"There's no way to get up there, it's just not safe at all for someone to climb on top of these trailers," says driver Kevin Langlais.

Even stepping onto a big rig just to get in the driver's seat is difficult, and drivers say getting onto the roof to clear snow and ice would be near impossible.

"You'd have to have some sort of scaffolding to get up there," says Langlais.

"My trailer has a Plexiglas roof and even if I was to climb on top of it I would probably fall through," says Leppala.

And the law is on their side. The Mass Pike is the only highway that has a special regulation requiring drivers to clear debris, but police say it is almost impossible to enforce.

"Where do you draw the line," says Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Alan Joubert. "When a car or truck is driving during a snow storm there is snow falling off of it, everyone is subject to the same problem."

But drivers and police agree there is a simple way to stay safe.

"Just be aware that stuff may be falling off of the tops and the sides," says Leppala.

"Create a distance either by slowing down or safely passing them and staying away from it," says Sergeant Joubert.