High Winds; Good Judgment

Based on the video linked below, I would have shut down and definitely NOT have passed another truck.

Thoughts from experienced drivers?

Truck Buffeted by High Winds

I'll give you my thought watching that video....that driver is an IDIOT and doesn't deserve to be in a truck. His trailer is being blown across the entire lane and he feels it's safe to drive that fast as well as passing another truck? I'm guessing his box was empty and the one he passed had a load as it was not being blown across the lane. He is lucky he just went through the cables rather than killing himself or worse, some one else.

The amazon prime loads are generally very light, usually weighing under 18,000 pounds. No way to tell how fast he was actually going or I missed it, but I would’ve parked before getting to this point, as I generally check the weather along my route.

That video was shot on I-25N in Colorado, approaching Wyoming, yesterday morning. In Wyoming, I-25 N and South, as well as numerous other roads/highways, were closed to all traffic due to the high winds and blowing snow; I know this because I had to stop in Wheatland, WY, due to the closures. The point here is that while one state (Colorado) might not recognize that conditions are too hazardous for trucks to operate, as professional drivers we need to use our better judgement and shut down until safe driving conditions return. Just because a state [government] says it’s safe to drive doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive.

I80: Exit 235, Walcott Jct - Laramie: Closed to light, high-profile veh BOTH DIR due to Gusting Winds. Other travel expect reduced visibility, black ice. Buckle seatbelts. 03 Jan 17:13

Text message just a bit ago, with one from Laramie to Cheyenne, and another on US 30 (east of Rawlins). On New Year's day, those text messages from WYDOT started early in the morning with wind and later with the snow. Those roads were basically closed from noon on til yesterday at 0830. When WY is having high winds, so is CO along the front range. So, why is the Amazon Prime truck still on the road? Little to no weight? I would have been parked a lot earlier. Laura

Some people are idiots and the rest of us suffer when they cause accidents. i have seen several.blow overs.. no excuse.

a crazy video is the truck that fell on a cop car doing a traffic stop. the truck should have moved to the left lane when passing and would have missed the cop car.

I think the thing that the veteran drivers understand that the rookies don't is if it's dangerous get off the Road. I remember last year driving through Wyoming and they have the digital signs telling you what the wind speeds are. I was so afraid of being called-out for not doing my job. I still remember almost an anxiety attack because my trailer was rocking and swaying so bad. I pulled into the Petro Truck Stop in Laramie. Literally shaking. Went to eat at the driver counter. And was listening to so-called old timers laughing about the newbies that couldn't handle wind. Talk about going to your truck after that and questioning yourself? I've seen enough videos that I don't care what these people think of me I want to be able to get home to my daughters. These are the same guys going down the mountain blowing past me driving tankers. Everything I was taught in CDL School went against what I am seeing and hearing. I'm going to do what I think needs to keep me safe. I've been doing this for a little more than a year and a half and I know I have so much more to learn. I don't want to end up like one of these trucks in the ditch or the median that I see every week. Every time I see a truck wreck it literally makes me sick to my stomach wondering what they did wrong?

I definitely would have shut down.

I delivered to Walmart in Lewiston ME last week. All the way there I kept seeing digital speed limit signs saying 45, couldn’t figure out why. Then, multiple crashes mm 43, still no idea why. Roads seemed fine, I was having no issues.

2 miles from Walmart, saw this. Still no idea why, roads seemed fine.

Got out at Walmart to drop and hook and promptly fell on my ass. Solid sheet of ice. Finished my drop and hook, drove 5 miles to Auburn Circle K and shut down for the day. Messaged dispatch and let them know.

Their response was “stay safe, thanks”.

Ice and high winds are no joke. If you don't feel safe moving down the road, it's time to park it until the conditions improve. Any winter day you can travel through Wyoming on I-25 or I-80 without at least moderate wind gusts is a rare day. Having the trailer tandems up in the air while carrying 45,000 lbs in the trailer is very scary. I've had this experience in Wyoming.

No load is worth anything to anyone sitting sideways in a ditch. No load is worth risking your life by driving in adverse weather. The number one killer of truck drivers is rear end collisions, while the second highest is rollover crashes.

I sat for a day and a half there in Rock Springs WY at the FJ this week... I-80 was shut down across the entire state, along with I-25 to CO and everything in between. The wind was terrible, and roads were glazed, accidents, etc. Well, they finally opened the road around 1030 EST this past Thursday, I waited a good three hours for everyone to leave, and it was a circus watching these clowns try to all leave at once, as it took a good two hours to clear everyone out of town, it was a hoot!

I have been here and done this before, YOU WAIT, let them get down the road. Luckily, this time, there were no accidents shutting the road ahead down, which is normally the case when these roads open back up. Remember that folks, being first out the gate is not always the best plan, you may find yourself right in the middle of the mess you just sat a day or two waiting out. Don't be a victim.

Clown show ended, and I finally left, cruised across until I arrived at Elk Mountain... Oh then the fun began... Light load, electronics, around 5,000 lbs in the box. I slowed her down to 35, hit the 4-ways and rode that rumble strip on the shoulder. I had these guys flying by me at 50 to 60 mph, a few almost hit me, just like that idiot in the video. I made it, thank God, even though it was a nerve racking drive over Elk.

I lost her a few times, that wind would hit my wagon and blow it north which would send my drive tires south. That happened three times, and these guys are flying past me like we are on dry pavement. Just made me sick, as few of these guys had a radio on, if they even had one. Which is one thing I noticed when parked at the FJ waiting this out. I was in the corner, so I could see guys driving by to leave as the lot was full. I would say 70% of them had no CB radio in their truck. Back in the day, that was considered suicide running Wyoming in the winter, or anywhere West of the Mississippi.

Folks, get a CB in the truck, and use it. You do not have to talk on it all the time, just warn drivers of things ahead that you consider a potential problem. And you can turn it down too if some blowhard is on there talking about his panties. Please, just install one in your truck and make sure it works properly. And I know all about these new trucks, there are ways to properly ground the antennas, it is not rocket science. Don't be that guy in the YouTube video that follows 100 trucks into that pileup.

As far as the "Genius Bar", ignore that bunch, especially when the Federal Marshall talk begins, don't walk, RUN!

Oh, the guy pulling that Amazon trailer in the video? He should serve 6 months in the local county jailhouse, bologna sandwiches and water, have his CDL revoked indefinitely and made to pay for all repairs his stupidity caused. No mercy on that clown.