Decided To Shutdown

I am heading to PA from AR. Got to MO and parked for the night. Got up at 2 am headed out at 3. About 90 miles down the road, in Dolittle, I hit sleet, wintery mix. Man was that slippery. I pulled over to a truck parking area with a fancy outhouse. Waited till the sun came up and checked the weather and road apps through St Louis, which is where I am going through. They all say road closings, rain, snow and ice. Checked with other Prime drivers and the ones heading that way have been stuck on the highway for hours and advised I do not leave my parking spot. Being new at this I wasn't sure if I was just being a wimp or smart. So I sent my FM a message and said I was staying put for awhile. Seeing the trucks pass by on the highway still makes me wonder if I should try, but my gut says stay put. Any thoughts?

I think you absolutely did the right thing.

I am heading to PA from AR. Got to MO and parked for the night. Got up at 2 am headed out at 3. About 90 miles down the road, in Dolittle, I hit sleet, wintery mix. Man was that slippery. I pulled over to a truck parking area with a fancy outhouse. Waited till the sun came up and checked the weather and road apps through St Louis, which is where I am going through. They all say road closings, rain, snow and ice. Checked with other Prime drivers and the ones heading that way have been stuck on the highway for hours and advised I do not leave my parking spot. Being new at this I wasn't sure if I was just being a wimp or smart. So I sent my FM a message and said I was staying put for awhile. Seeing the trucks pass by on the highway still makes me wonder if I should try, but my gut says stay put. Any thoughts?

I know nothing yet, but if other Prime drivers are telling you to stay put, and you are uncomfortable, I would at least wait a bit and see if the weather gets better. The sun might pop out and make things better, or it may get way worse, but I wouldn't rush it, especially if other drivers are telling you stay put

And i bet you got "10/4 thanks be safe. keep is posted"

you did GREAT. always listen to your gut. i parked it in ME during a blizzard last year and another driver left my same customer. in the morningnhe was jack knifed on I 95. i still drive through crap but it was easier once plowed ;)

you just proved to your FM that you are a SAFE and RELIABLE driver. not only did you stop but you told him why which is all they need to forward to the customer

great job!!!!

Stephanie, the roads are unsafe and modot says it may be as late as Monday morning before they're all open again. My company ordered a mandatory shut down in that region late yesterday afternoon. I was supposed to go home this weekend from Cedar Rapids, IA to just south of Louisville, KY. There was no way I was going to be able to avoid this storm to get home, so my home time is being spent here in Iowa in a hotel room.

Stay safe, always trust your gut instinct and if you ever feel unsafe or out of your comfort zone, find a safe place to shut down and let your dispatch know. Prime us a very safety oriented company, as is West Side Transport. And just know, no matter what the company, it's illegal for ANY company to force a driver to drive in unsafe conditions.

During winter months, in my trip planning, I'll ALWAYS check the weather conditions along my intended route before I head out. I've done some crazy detours before to avoid major winter storms and being shut down because of them lol.

Nothing wrong about shutting down if you don't feel comfortable. Last winter I was on I 5 in CA, up in the mt on my way to OR. Just a little light rain temp right around freezing, well the truck in front of me goes over the bridge in front me and fish tails, I hit the bridge and start to jackknife. 3 bridges later I pulled onto a wide sholder for chaining and shut the truck down I know in front of me is a few more bridges and 2 of them were going down hill and had a turn in them. So I sat for 2 hours and waited for them to clean the road up. The tow company was quite busy pulling cars and trucks out of the ditches, but I was not one of them I was also the only guy in the chain up area. Right now I am taking a load from MI to MS I got up this morning 0400 checked the road and weather condtions in front of me and went back to sleep. It's better to be sitting some were safe, wishing you were out driving. Then to be driving wishing you were sitting some were safe. I think I will do laundry today be safe out there.

Thanks for the encouraging words. Yep Rainy, I Got 10-4/I will let sales know. I 44 is closed EB. Trucks kept sliding down the hill. Not real comfortable trying a different route. I find major highways to be the safest in traveling during snow, ice etc.. I feel that if they are shut down than I am shut down. Looks like I will be parked untill at least tomorrow.

Stephanie

Very nicely done. I stopped last night because I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. So I told my mentor that I was shutting down for the night and he said good call.

But I woke this morning to snow and ice and now fog. From the truck stop I can barely see the freeway because of the fog. Glad you listened to your gut.

You absolutely did the right thing. I'm pretty sure St Louis was projected to be hit the hardest by this storm. That place is a mess on a good day, so smart call.

Great call!!!! I got out of St Louis just in time. NEVER let others make you feel whimpy or anything else because you made a command decision.. Last year I was in Houston Tx when they got a major ice storm. The entire city was close to a full shutdown. I was parked at the Petro in Baytown. The dining room window looks out toward the freeway overpass. Several of us having breakfast were chatting and we saw several trucks going by. Several drivers were on the phone with their dispatchers debating to roll out or stay put. All of a sudden we saw too semi’s going over the overpass and wrecked each other. That was a scary sight, one I pray I never see again. All of a sudden the debates ended....ALWAYS do what YOU are comfortable with...