Comments By Bud A.

Congratulations! I can't believe you didn't keep that cool paint job, though. It was very 80s.

Has anyone driven on this road? Would really like to know what your thoughts on this grade are, compared to others. I could post a pic of it but l don't know how.

Here's a screenshot from Google Earth, showing Thermopolis to the lower left. The road travels next to the Bighorn River through the canyon in the middle of the picture and up to the right. Shoshoni is in the upper right corner by Boysen Reservoir.

I've taken that route a few times. The Wind River Canyon is incredibly beautiful, one of my Top 5 favorite stretches of road to drive for sheer beauty.

On the other hand, it's a steep, twisty, narrow road, and probably one of my least favorite stretches to drive, especially if I'm pressed for time or if it's snowing. (Yes, I have driven down that road when it was snowing. I don't recommend it.) It's a tough drive that requires your full attention and care, especially in a truck. It's not really a beginner run, so kudos to you for making it through there safely.

Most of the routes out of that part of Wyoming have some tough stretches. This route is one of the easier ways to go south. Although this stretch is difficult, the steep part and sharp curves don't last as long as other ways to get out to either I-25 or I-80. Probably the easiest way out of that area is to go north on US 310 up to I-90 near Laurel, Montana, but that's not always an option for obvious reasons.

So, I'm still sitting here. Every time I think the wind has slowed, it picks back up. I am hopling to get out of here before dark. There is no way to get this load delivered on time. I just wish I had reliable current wind info.

Here are a couple of links.

Not sure if you have a tablet or laptop, but VentuSky is really nice, especially with higher resolution.

The Wundermap on Weather Underground has a selection for wind speed as well. It can take some work to interpret it, though.

Rainy D, good idea. I'm liking the rocking. Brings back boating memories. Hunt me down then we could meet face to face. lol

Bud, this load is going to Ill for Monday delivery. Don't think it will be there then. I picked this up at our Laredo terminal yesterday and this was as far as I could get on my hours. Plan was to get up early today and get through Austin before traffic. Woke up with Harvey on top of me. You know what they say about best laid plans. lol

Ouch, that sucks! I just looked at the radar again. I hope everyone there is OK.

Actually, I think the shortest / fastest route is down through Gallup NM and take I 40 across. I was just through there , I took a load from Hurricane down to Odessa TX. It starts out looking a little dicey but only for a few miles and then flattens out on top. LOL!

JJ

Yep, I would go that way rather than across Colorado. I would take UT-59/AZ-389 to Fredonia, then take US 89A up to US 89 in Kanab, then US 89 all the way around through Utah and Arizona. I have been on US 89A down through Arizona to US 89, and although it is wildly beautiful, it's not really a truck road. There are some steep grades, the curves are tight and there are lots of people in RVs who like to stop along the shoulders to look at the canyons.

I am not sure whether it would be better from there to go down to US 160 in Arizona, then at Tuba City take AZ-264 to US 491 to I-40 in Gallup, or to take US 89 all the way to Flagstaff to I-40, since I haven't been on 264 before. The terrain doesn't look too bad on 264, but it's kind of curvy and I'm not sure what level of service you can get there if you break down.

Now you may think I am not a nice person, and while I happen to know that I am, allow me to teach you something about being competitive out here. You don't have to wake up your competition, fix them a nice breakfast and tell them it's time to pull on your boots and get to work. No sir, out here if you snooze you lose! I rolled right on around that guy and got myself inside the gate, and parked behind the Montgomery driver.

After I got inside the building and they were almost finished unloading me, the Melton driver came to consciousness and looked bewildered that I, the third driver in line, was the first one out of that place!

Hahaha! It cracks me up every time I hear a story like this. I have done that more than once, and the look on Mr. Sleepyhead's face is always worth the price of getting up earlier than you really wanted to.

I had my Conestoga cover loosened up and ready to open, and all my straps loose before the Montgomery driver had even finished getting the bungees off his tarps. So, in order to keep things moving I went right over and started helping him get his tarps off and folded. Once we had his tarps folded, I headed back to my truck as he profusely thanked me for my help and I sat down to wait my turn. About ten minutes later the Montgomery driver comes over to my door and asks me, "Sir are you waiting on me to get inside the building?" "Yes sir, I am," I reply. To which he says, "Well you go on ahead of me, I surely do appreciate your helping me, and I still have forty five minutes worth of work to do before I will be ready to go inside, and it looks like you and that fancy roller system of yours are ready to go."

If you have time to get your work done first, it's worth helping another driver even if it doesn't get you unloaded first. It's one of the things that makes flatbedding enjoyable. Generally speaking, we help each other.

On Thursday, a buddy of mine accepted a load from Charlotte to Louisiana and Houston (two stops) for Saturday. I asked, Have you looked at the weather? Nope, he answered. He's stuck in Louisiana waiting. The broker won't agree to make a decision until Monday. We all know this load is not going to be delivered until late next week at the earliest.

This is exactly why you keep track of the weather all the time. Rain in south Texas? Probably no big deal, unless they've gotten so much that it's flooding there again. Hurricane hitting the gulf coast of Texas? Better to take a load to NYC this week.

This is no criticism of you, Big Scott. My buddy is an owner/operator and can take whatever load he wants.

I don't think you're going to be able to deliver anywhere in the storm area for a few days, if not longer. Where are you headed?

I am gonna chime in. TBH, unless you have military experience inside a combat zone, it is foolish to go for that kinda job. You are "outside the wire" pretty much all the time. Trying to go over there while you are learning Trucking and try to learn combat situations as well........ do you even know what to look for when looking for IEDs? Do you know how to handle a firearm? (if you are even allowed to carry one). Do you have marksmanship training? Are you mentally prepared to take life? Have you been shot at? Have you had to deal with incoming indirect fire? (Rockets, mortars, etc..). Are you ready to see, smell, hear the horrors of combat? I have done 3 combat tours. Life outside the wire is precarious at best. There ARE reasons so many suffer PTSD from war.

Really think about what it is to be over there. You have to watch every man, woman, and child like a hawk. You have to learn when what you see isn't routine. The children over there have no issue trying to kill you. Are you prepared to kill them first? I am talking 6,7,8 year old children.

Kind of takes pretrip inspections to a whole new level.

Rifle: Make sure magazine is fully loaded and there is a round in the chamber. Check to ensure safety is on and automatic fire selector is toggled to correct setting for current situation. In addition to the magazine in the rifle, you should have at least ten additional magazines in the event of a firefight.

Sidearm: Make sure magazine is fully loaded and there is a round in the chamber. Check to ensure safety is on. In addition to the magazine in the pistol, you should have at least two additional magazines in the event of a firefight.

First aid kit: The first aid kit should be fully stocked with serviceable supplies and securely mounted.

Local inhabitants: Inspect all persons encountered for indicators of hostile intent. Check their hands for weapons, cell phones (can be used as IED triggers), and suicide vest triggers. Be careful not to overlook inspecting women and children due to your possible cultural biases.

Belt driven alternator: Make sure all of the wires are connected. The belt should not be cracked or frayed and the free play on the belt should be between ½ to ¾ of an inch.

My wife asked me to get shot glasses, so I brought home about 20 the first year I was OTR. She ran out of room and told me to stop lol. (Her favorite is one from Kansas with Dorothy's shoes in the bottom.)

I have taken a lot of pictures too, though not so many now that I'm local.

I would recommend going no faster than 10-15 mph at a 90 degree corner. Figure out what gear that is and plan to get into that gear before you begin your turn.

Same thing on curves and ramps: aim to slow down to the correct speed and get into the correct gear before you enter the ramp.

I would suggest telling yourself, "I'm a truck!" over and over. Start slowing down waaaaay before you think you need to. "I'm a truck!" It worked for me, anyway. Almost everyone goes into corners too hot when they start out, because they're used to driving 3,000 pound cars, not 80,000 pound trucks. Your truck weighs at least 20 times more than any car or pickup you've driven.

"I'm a truck!" The rules are totally different. Slow down, take your time, don't worry about making cars wait for you. Who cares if they understand? You're a truck, not a car.