First Day Solo Snow Storm Coming :(

Welcome to the forum, trucking and flatbed.

Because you posted about weather and although Turtle gave you some good solid advice I must warn you. When you encounter adverse weather in the future, especially ice, DON'T ask Turtle for alternate routes!

Park and wait 1st rule especially if you don’t feel safe!!!

So first off I just want to thank you all for the resources and support to get through training. I finally made it! Got my own truck!

Now the fun part. I brought my truck home last week and told FM I’ll be ready to go Monday. Got to spend some much needed time with the family and get the truck packed. Also yesterday dumped 60lbs of salt on the flatbed so I can be ready for my first dispatch tomorrow.

The weather here just north of Nashville unfortunately is going to be doodoo. And I’m already having anxiety about it. It’s enough pressure just driving this big ole truck on my own without a blizzard thrown in.

So I made the call to extended services and left a message saying I might not be ready to roll. I just feel like crap because I finally made it on my own truck and I have to “call out” if you want to call it that.

I had to reason with myself that it’s better to stay home than crash my truck the first day. I’m under the training FM for now so I’m sure he’ll understand. I’m going to check in with him tomorrow.

I guess I’m just trying to do the right thing and play it safe but I’m just disappointed in myself for not being ready to roll.

I would feel better if I at least left the house and had to shut down for weather. It just feels like a bum start. And yes I did drive in snow with my trainer but not 4-6”. That may not seem like much to you guys but as a new driver I think it’s a little out of my safe zone.

My pride wants to go but my common sense says that’s just stupid. The good news is my trailer is empty so nobody is waiting on me lol.

I shut down a couple monthes ago in Oregon with a high priority load and they told me good call keep us posted your fine. Just coming ng into Oklahoma all the way from Denver and if roads get much worse I’ll be pulling of too so don’t stress to much rigs cost a lot of money !! And your life is worth more than all that so don’t stress

It’s going to get brushed off. I didn’t figure anybody would put a load on the 1/4 inch of solid ice I had going on. Thanks guys.

I hate snow lol. Got shutdown in Odessa Tx 2+ days. Finally got to Ft Worth fed ex make our delivery. Then again shut down now in Weatherby Tx ....

No load pending and now were sitting in a few inches of snow .....I coulda stayed home if I knew better lol

Welcome to Texas and sitting. I love not making no $$$ NOT Such is this life in truckin eh lol

Beats being in a ditch or worse , in a pile up like those poor people Thursday morning :( :(

Welcome to the forum, trucking and flatbed.

Because you posted about weather and although Turtle gave you some good solid advice I must warn you. When you encounter adverse weather in the future, especially ice, DON'T ask Turtle for alternate routes!

OMG I just cracked a rib or two!

I told you about asking him for directions!

So I went to pre-trip (mainly to check roads and battery). Still icy with more snow coming. I think I’m gelled up. Anyhow I called my FM and he said don’t worry about anything and just keep him posted on weather so he can relay to other drivers. And plan on Monday.

I’m definitely not arguing with that. (Neither is my wife 🙂) I really appreciate all the replies and for all you out there moving freight I wish you a safe trip. I’ll try to keep y’all posted on my first week out but for now I’ll just be reading through the winter driving posts and spending time with the family.

Prayers for y’all hard at it and hope to see you on the road soon.

I think I’m gelled up.

Michael, are you doing anything to keep your fuel from gelling? You aren't going anywhere Monday if your fuel is gelled up. Your truck probably needs to be idling. I'm not sure how to advise you. I'll bet your driver manager could probably help you get in contact with the shop for some advice on what to be doing while you are at home. You don't want that truck just sitting there with temps down below 17 or so without taking some sort of precautions. If it will crank up I would sure do that if you are having really low temperatures there. Let it idle for about four hours and then give it a break for a little bit, but try to keep that fuel from gelling.

See if it starts, then if it stays running. As cold as it's been, I would run it for at least an hour every four to six hours. Also, the more fuel in the tanks, the better.

Gonna try some anti gel. It’s -0 with wind chill and I have half a tank. I was going to leave opti-idle or whatever it is on to maintain the battery in the cold. Ran for maybe 2 minutes and I’ve only got maybe 15-30 seconds running per start with a little throttle. Opti turned off.

By the way I grew up in San Diego and got stationed at Ft. Campbell so cold weather in general has its own learning curve for me. I’ve been in Tennessee since 2001 but it’s not typically this cold and never had my own semi either.

So I appreciate all the tips. Keep em coming.

Gonna try some anti gel. It’s -0 with wind chill and I have half a tank. I was going to leave opti-idle or whatever it is on to maintain the battery in the cold. Ran for maybe 2 minutes and I’ve only got maybe 15-30 seconds running per start with a little throttle. Opti turned off.

By the way I grew up in San Diego and got stationed at Ft. Campbell so cold weather in general has its own learning curve for me. I’ve been in Tennessee since 2001 but it’s not typically this cold and never had my own semi either.

So I appreciate all the tips. Keep em coming.

Not sure if your company allows it, but you can hit the throttle to override the opti idle. Some companies have it set up so they will idle below a certain temp. I would go and get the antigel in it, and maybe rock it back and forth once or twice to make sure it get mixed up, then sit for about 15 mins and hold the throttle around 900 to 1000 rpms. Then put something in the truck to drain the batteries so the opti idle kicks on every 2 or 3 hrs. I used to leave my marker lights on and the cooler plugged in.

Are you sure the opti idle is turning it off too? Because those symptoms sound like the fuel is starting to wax which is the step before gel.