Wind & Carelessness

Often new drivers are unsure when to shut down due to wind. Somehow snow, sleet and rain seem more dangerous.

Today I was driving through California, and I saw a rollover with a "wind warning" sign. The wind didn't seem to exist so i thought "old wreck, old sign".

100 miles later, i started getting whipped around so i parked for 2 hours hoping it would dissipate. Shortly after starting a doubles trailer came flying past me at 78, and he got up to 82 to pass someone in front of me.

2 miles later, he overturned, wrecking two other trucks and a pick up, while throwing oranges all over the highway. He probably won't get hired anywhere and caused a 2 hour shut down of the highway. How the guy in the pick up survived i have no idea.

While sitting on the road waiting for it to clear, a wind advisory went into effect until 1800 tonight. I have 33,000 in the box and the wind is 25 to 35 with 50 mph gusts! Not good.

Use your weather apps. The Weather Channel does a radar with various "layers" for wind, snowfall, temps and more. Look at us surrounded by all that dark blue!

G Town posted an awesome wind chart. Use it, and don't risk a life or your career!

Rainy, thanks for the wise words of warning I would think that double trailers are even more dangerous in winds because of amplification. Is that the case?

I hate it when oranges get spilled. Everyone thinks a Schneider driver did it.

It is looking pretty dangerous in my current neck of the woods too.

I never saw this option on the Weather Channel app until you just posted it. Thanks and stay safe!

Doubles in the wind are a pain, the rear basically wont stay inline no matter what you do, and if it is empty it makes it all the more fun.

Plus the rear had been known to blow over, supposedly the side skirts have helped a lot but I haven't driven any pups with no skirt to feel the difference.

So let me ask, because unless I ask, I don't know. When you pull over for a wind advisory, do you somewhat Jack Knife your tractor and trailer? Reason I ask, if that I would think the angles of your tandems with respect to the trailer and tractor would absorb the wind? Thanks.

Army asks a great question.

So let me ask, because unless I ask, I don't know. When you pull over for a wind advisory, do you somewhat Jack Knife your tractor and trailer? Reason I ask, if that I would think the angles of your tandems with respect to the trailer and tractor would absorb the wind? Thanks.

Great question. If you have the space, “yes”.

The worst wind I’ve experienced was on eastern slope of the Sierra’s, north of Bishop CA. I did exactly as you described on the very wide shoulder of southbound US Highway 6. The wind was blowing dust through door seams...unbelievable, will never forget it.

The CHIP checked on me twice, once to see if I was okay and basically instructing me to stay put, the second time after about 4 hours to let me know the wind velocity returned to safer levels. As I made my way south I counted a dozen blow-overs.

Wind is no joke. Please respect it and take any warning very seriously.

That really was a good question, Army! Something I’d never heard or thought about doing.

Thanks G-Town for the reply. Hopefully this Q&A will spur some to consider it if room is available.

Thanks PackRat, I hope the healing process is progressing nicely.

Same in New Mexico. Got an empty reefer , so it looks like I won't be moving for another 5 hours or so. I almost got tossed over once, it ain't worth it. Cheaper to stay put.

That's some scary stuff. And stuff I never knew would be much of issue trying to get into this industry. I'm gonna soak all this knowledge up before I get anywhere close to a rig.