Winter Storm

Deacons D , if you do get out there in questionable conditions, take it extra slow until you get the feel of it. Watch other trucks and try to follow the example of the most conservative drivers. My policy is if I can’t safely drive at the minimum speed limit, I should get off and get parked.

What about all the OTR drivers out there today? What’s it like in your area?

My policy is if I can’t safely drive at the minimum speed limit, I should get off and get parked.

Getting off and parking is a little tougher in the LTL world. First, finding a spot to stop in a storm is almost impossible. Even more so if you're pulling doubles. Daycabs are also very uncomfortable when you're sitting for a while. And the worst part, it's a holiday weekend so nobody is coming to rescue you one the weather clears. That's why tracking weather conditions is important. If it's not safe, refuse to go out.

They may have comments, like what Rob is experiencing but I'd rather deal with that than being in an accident.

I plan on being extra cautious by slowing it down even more then rainy conditions and at least doubling my following distance. Really hoping the area state salt crews are on their game on the majors and the landscapers get the salt down at the shippers/receivers in a timely manner

My policy is if I can’t safely drive at the minimum speed limit, I should get off and get parked.

Getting off and parking is a little tougher in the LTL world. First, finding a spot to stop in a storm is almost impossible. Even more so if you're pulling doubles. Daycabs are also very uncomfortable when you're sitting for a while. And the worst part, it's a holiday weekend so nobody is coming to rescue you one the weather clears. That's why tracking weather conditions is important. If it's not safe, refuse to go out.

They may have comments, like what Rob is experiencing but I'd rather deal with that than being in an accident.

Yes, I see that you LTL drivers face some different challenges than OTR drivers do. I have great respect for you guys and what you do, especially getting loads into cramped, older locations. It looks to me that the weather will give us all a much needed break next week.

I thought we were bad with communications. There's a number we call that has weather updates to let us know what's happening. Dispatchers will shoot a text with specific updates since the number provides very generic information.

My terminal is worst, we still didn't have a holiday schedule for this week unless we asked. Other terminals with a few hundred drivers had theirs 2 weeks ago, we have 55. They are supposed to call or text but neither myself or the 3 other drivers who start around my time heard anything.

I track the weather on the highways I'm expecting to travel on

That is exactly how I do it as well. Since I have a set run it makes it even easier I have several key cities saved along my route.

I have many years of experience driving in snow/ice from my landscaping days but I have zero so far with these tractors in snow/ice.

Honestly, I found the traction to be a little worse than I expected the first time I was in snow. Can you use a twin screw? I used one of those once and it is definitely a improvement.

Just take it nice and smooth don't be afraid to tell them if you feel unsafe. Sometimes new drivers can feel pressured to run.

Thanks for the heads up, I’ll keep that in mind but it might not be an option. We only have 1 twin screw at my terminal and thats used by a senior driver to haul our heavy vans to down to KeHe. A lot of our pups have to be pulled by a single screw due to landing gear placement so 2 stars would have to line up for that to work.

I track the weather on the highways I'm expecting to travel on

We don’t really travel outside a 50-60 mile radius for the P&D and most of it is south of Philly into Delaware/north Maryland so the weather at my house is basically the same as our area. We do run west out into Lancaster county, there its more likely that you could run into a sudden change with the rain/snow line

I'm not a driver but I really enjoy keeping up with most of the postings and it's influencing me about possibly changing careers. But that being said, it was reported by FOX a truck stop in Vivian SD was loaded up on truckers who were sitting out the snow. Snow drifts taller then the height of the various trucks were burying the drivers in their trucks and as you'd imagine all the highways were closed. As long as you got supplies and you've got fuel for your APU and it keeps working I guess you'd be able to ride things out...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/buried-in-snow-semi-truck-drivers-spend-days-trapped-at-south-dakota-fuel-stop/ar-AA15xpw2

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Current conditions on I35 from plow camera not far from my house. Google shows a multi vehicle accident just north with a SLOWDOWN to 63mph. Who the heck is driving that fast in this crap!? They're also now offering an additional $500 to take out a load that's sitting there. Still not worth it to me. Local sheriff's office has posted many videos showing conditions out there, many roads off the interstate have drifts over 4 feet high blocking the roadway. If it wasn't so cold (-7 windchill of -39) it wouldn't be nearly as big of a deal since the road treatments would actually work.

As long as you got supplies and you've got fuel for your APU and it keeps working I guess you'd be able to ride things out...

One thing you need to remember if you're stranded in your vehicle is keeping the exhaust clear. Many trucks appear to be going away from the stacks pushing your exhaust above your cab like you see with the hood trucks. Our freightliners and internationals have the exhaust come out under the truck. If your truck is getting buried you risk the exhaust pooling under your vehicle and finding a way into the cab.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.