Safe Wind Speed

Not to hijack this thread, but it seemed to appropriate to justify starting a new one.

I just got scheduled for my CDL exam on Thursday in Marinette, WI. The problem is the current NOAA forcast for Thursday calls for a west wind of 21 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Obviously, for a CDL exam we'll be hauling empties and pretty much the only 4 lane highway to use goes mostly north-south, so that will be a cross wind.

How worried should I be?

Thanks,

Not to hijack this thread, but it seemed to appropriate to justify starting a new one.

I just got scheduled for my CDL exam on Thursday in Marinette, WI. The problem is the current NOAA forcast for Thursday calls for a west wind of 21 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Obviously, for a CDL exam we'll be hauling empties and pretty much the only 4 lane highway to use goes mostly north-south, so that will be a cross wind.

How worried should I be?

Thanks,

Have your instructors addressed this? Surely this can't be the first time they've tested in high winds. Perhaps they use a different test route?

It could actually benefit you. Wind of that strength would cause you to slow down giving you more time to react as long as you inform your examiner why you're doing what you're doing so they don't ding you for impeding traffic. If you do the road test make sure you're taking curves and turns nice and easy.

Not to hijack this thread, but it seemed to appropriate to justify starting a new one.

I just got scheduled for my CDL exam on Thursday in Marinette, WI. The problem is the current NOAA forcast for Thursday calls for a west wind of 21 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Obviously, for a CDL exam we'll be hauling empties and pretty much the only 4 lane highway to use goes mostly north-south, so that will be a cross wind.

How worried should I be?

Thanks,

Have your instructors addressed this? Surely this can't be the first time they've tested in high winds. Perhaps they use a different test route?

It could actually benefit you. Wind of that strength would cause you to slow down giving you more time to react as long as you inform your examiner why you're doing what you're doing so they don't ding you for impeding traffic. If you do the road test make sure you're taking curves and turns nice and easy.

I brought it up as soon as they gave out the test schedule, and was told we were testing regardless. We've been given some unofficial hints that that is the preferred route. Obviously, a lot can change in 2 days including the forecast and the route. I'm not really from the area so I can't speak to normal weather conditions.

I was just a little suprised since the Safety and Training departments are pretty much the same. I just expected a little more concern.

After boasting about how much better flatbed is in the wind I guess I put my foot in my mouth because I’m sitting here at a Home Depot and they won’t unload me yet because of the wind. Luckily this load wasn’t tarped or I think the tarp would’ve blown me away if I tried to take it off in this

Just a follow up for my question.

We had a little more discussion today about the wind conditions for the CDL test and I'm feeling better. Apparently, we're sticking to pretty wooded areas which will keep things manageable at ground level. I also don't test until 1300, so I'll probably try the highway in my car in the morning and see how it feels.

At any rate I'm done worrying until the time comes.

Well, I am shut down for the third time in four days, either in Colorado or Wyoming. This month of December has been brutal for driving out here. Three more weeks and I'm finished here, though.

Are you referring to this past Saturday? I was in NE Ohio, and the wind was really bad. I was returning to Wooster on 75South and 30East with an empty dry van and had to stop twice because the winds.

Is there such thing as a safe wind speed? I know, that flipping a dry van is a complex multi-factor event, but still, measuring in mph? Today I was driving east on US-30 in Indiana and Ohio, there was a wind warning, and I could feel it even with a 43,000 lbs load... The wind ripped the flag at a rest area, it was probably 30-40 mph...

I had to shut down to wait for the storm to pass yesterday. Saw a funnel cloud, wind hit me at 80-100mph while parked, and if I wasn't angled the way I was I would have been blown over. Penny sized hail, sirens wailing, the rain was sideways, dirt lot was under inches of water, and the truck was leaning so far over I thought it was going to flop. I had no where to seek shelter.

Https://apple.news/A40HHRC-YQfyspw3q6GAwTA

Just saw this article this morning. Apparently it was worse than I thought yesterday all over the place.

Blow overs aren't the only high wind hazard. A combination of slick spots (ice) and high cross winds can blow your truck sideways even if your truck would be perfectly safe with either the icy spots or the wind gusts separately. The combination of reduced traction and the side of your trailer acting as giant sail can turn your truck 90 degrees in a heartbeat. Your truck will now be facing the edge of the road, but the wheels are still spinning forward. Whatever traction you had when your wheels were safely in the ruts of the road has been replaced with the icy spots on the less traveled parts of the road. There will be an urge to oversteer as your truck keeps getting closer to the edge of the road before you regain traction, but that will just turn your truck sharply if/when you do regain traction and your truck will now be facing the other side of the road. That is, if your overcorrection didn't cause your truck to flip on its side. I've seen this happen on I-80 - more than once!