The Weather This Winter

[SueAnn]

Great article I ran across concerning the weather this year. It's pretty specific, if you're interested....

As winter looms, be sure you have best weather apps

Which weather apps do you use?

www.truckersnews.com

 

[Mike]

Checking the weather forecasts is a big part of my load searching/booking process in the winter.

Even then, you can still get screwed in places like Wyoming. Went through there last winter, the forecast was clear. On my way back across, the wind got up and shut down the road off and on for a few days simply because of the snow blowing onto the roads. Snuck out going East via a long trip North then South during a brief opening, just before the next actual snowstorm was supposed to hit.

 

[SueAnn]

Checking the weather forecasts is a big part of my load searching/booking process in the winter.

Even then, you can still get screwed in places like Wyoming. Went through there last winter, the forecast was clear. On my way back across, the wind got up and shut down the road off and on for a few days simply because of the snow blowing onto the roads. Snuck out going East via a long trip North then South during a brief opening, just before the next actual snowstorm was supposed to hit.

Would that have been at the end of November? That's what I got caught in and they shut down the interstate after my accident. Apparently, they have to have a minimum number of accidents before they can shut down an Interstate. The ambulance guys were telling me that on the way to the hospital.

My front axel is still buried there. The next time I go by there, I'm gonna leave flowers!

 

[Duck]

Would that have been at the end of November? That's what I got caught in and they shut down the interstate after my accident. Apparently, they have to have a minimum number of accidents before they can shut down an Interstate. The ambulance guys were telling me that on the way to the hospital.

My front axel is still buried there. The next time I go by there, I'm gonna leave flowers!

What the hell happened?

 

[ironpony]

Pretty cold up in WI last night... the frost/freeze map actually had good sized sub freezing temp area on it.

 

[SueAnn]

What the hell happened?

The wind grabbed the trailer on a very icy hill and jack kniffed it twice. I straightened it out once but the second time I couln't because I was at my maximum speed. I went over the side of a bridge.

 

[SueAnn]

there are so many factors to every winter event sometimes the worst driving i get is a beautiful day in WI that turns to OMG as i get to Gary IN and the lake effect snow makes it a mess up into MI. or there is no snow anywhere in PA except for 80 for 30 miles and someone does something stupid and you sit for hours

Yup! That's what happened to me.

 

[mndriver]

I try to go south or park it for the amateur hour snowfalls.

not worth playing with folks that first time or two they try to remember how to drive on white roads.

 

[SueAnn]

I try to go south or park it for the amateur hour snowfalls.

not worth playing with folks that first time or two they try to remember how to drive on white roads.

I do the same thing, usually. I was traveling with another driver that talked me into continuing on. He made it down the hill because he isn't governed and had the acceleration to use to straighten the trailer.

 

[Mike]

I do the same thing, usually. I was traveling with another driver that talked me into continuing on. He made it down the hill because he isn't governed and had the acceleration to use to straighten the trailer.

Lesson learned right there. When the gut says stop, always listen. As you can see now, those loads can always wait.

I'm my case, I am very careful about reading my rate agreements and contracts. If I do take a load that is going to potentially put me into a crap area like that in the winter, I make sure there are no late fee delivery fines and make sure the customer will take the load when I get it there in the event of a delay. I realize this doesn't apply to company drivers, but it's a good bit of information for others

 

[SueAnn]

Lesson learned right there. When the gut says stop, always listen. As you can see now, those loads can always wait.

I'm my case, I am very careful about reading my rate agreements and contracts. If I do take a load that is going to potentially put me into a crap area like that in the winter, I make sure there are no late fee delivery fines and make sure the customer will take the load when I get it there in the event of a delay. I realize this doesn't apply to company drivers, but it's a good bit of information for others

There was another reason I left the truck stop too. I had to switch loads with another driver so he could get back to Calgary because his father was dying. The switch point was on the other side of Montana. If I had stayed at the truck stop I wouldn't have made the switch time. But I didn't make it anyway.

I always listen to my gut. It's never steered me wrong yet. It's when I don't listen, I get into trouble.

 

[Sinister]

Were told that at 65mph, a 38 mph wind can tip over an empty truck and trailer.

Ice underneath that is even worse.

 

[Mike]

a 38 mph wind

that's a calm day in Wyoming

 

[Duck]

that's a calm day in Wyoming

We get winds in excess of that quite frequently here in Illinois. Especially during the spring & fall

 

[mndriver]

We get winds in excess of that quite frequently here in Illinois. Especially during the spring & fall

The windy is not known for being windy because of the wind.

 

[Mike]

The windy is know for being windy because of the wind.

 

[Duck]

The windy is know for being windy because of the wind.

This is the story I've always heard:

The origins of Chicago’s famous nickname are not entirely clear. The most obvious explanation is that it comes from the frigid breezes that blow off Lake Michigan and sweep through the city’s streets. However, another popular theory holds that it was coined in reference to Chicago’s bloviating residents and politicians, who were deemed to be “full of hot air.”​

​

Why is Chicago called the “Windy City”?

The origins of Chicago’s famous nickname are not entirely clear. The most obvious explanation is that it comes from the frigid breezes that blow off Lake

www.history.com

​

 

[mndriver]

At least you had the sense to not quote wiki....

 

[Duck]

At least you had the sense to not quote wiki....

Barely...