50-vehicle Pile-up In WI

It's being reported as near the junctures of I-39/I-90 in WI with at least 50 vehicles involved in the wreckage and multiple injuries. Just a reminder, while winter is still upon us, to be safe out there. Use all of your tools available to know the conditions of roads before starting out. Be alert with CBs for information from other drivers as to the state of road conditions. Slow down. Lastly, park that truck when there are indications of ice forming on the road.

Yes sir. Wednesday, I was traveling across the Ohio TP. I knew if I got east of Toledo before 1300 I had a good chance of not getting delayed. Well, conditions got too greasy for me, visibility was severely reduced, and I decided I was going to exit at 52 and head to one of our drop yards. About 2 miles out I was passed by a couple of trucks moving way too fast for conditions. I know I'm a rookie, but I've been driving in snow since 1982. I called out on the CB to one of them saying they might want to back it down a bit. Predictably, I got the "if you can't drive it park it" comment. Well, that driver was the one who started the pile up on the bridge at exit 52. Bad situation as he struck another truck from behind starting a chain reaction involving two tankers. I had already backed down from 45 to 35 preparing to exit, anticipating something bad about to happen. I was able to stop without any issues when the call came out over the CB. The accident was exactly 1/2 a mile ahead of me. IDK how bad any of the injuries were, but two of the truck cabs looked very bad.

Indeed! In prepping for CDL training n spring I found this app may be very helpful easily monitor regional weather for trip planning…

The NOAA app u great for forecasting and tracking real-time weather changes. But I think there are lots of good weather apps. My GPS also gives me very accurate up to the minute weather alerts. Good luck with your new trucking journey.

Indeed! In prepping for CDL training n spring I found this app may be very helpful easily monitor regional weather for trip planning…

Thanks Bill! Been enjoying following your journey 👍

The NOAA app u great for forecasting and tracking real-time weather changes. But I think there are lots of good weather apps. My GPS also gives me very accurate up to the minute weather alerts. Good luck with your new trucking journey.

Indeed! In prepping for CDL training n spring I found this app may be very helpful easily monitor regional weather for trip planning…

Yesterday got bad in several places I think. I came out of SC heading to Chicago for a delivery tomorrow morning. Someone in Knoxville thought it was wise to cross I75 on the north side of the junction at 275/640. I feel bad for the UPS driver that hit the person. I got there shortly after and a DOT officer was on the CB telling us how to go around.

I decided to call it a night in Frankfort KY. Had reserved a spot at the Flying J. Woke up this morning and pretty much all of Lexington KY was shutdown due to ice.

Not a bad drive till I got to Chicago then snowing like crazy. Forecast is more tonight. I went into the rec’r and they unloaded me early. I’m in monee tonight and pickup a backhaul in Bartlett in the morning. Heading to FL. I’ll be glad to head south.

Yesterday got bad in several places I think. I came out of SC heading to Chicago for a delivery tomorrow morning. Someone in Knoxville thought it was wise to cross I75 on the north side of the junction at 275/640. I feel bad for the UPS driver that hit the person. I got there shortly after and a DOT officer was on the CB telling us how to go around.

I decided to call it a night in Frankfort KY. Had reserved a spot at the Flying J. Woke up this morning and pretty much all of Lexington KY was shutdown due to ice.

Not a bad drive till I got to Chicago then snowing like crazy. Forecast is more tonight. I went into the rec’r and they unloaded me early. I’m in monee tonight and pickup a backhaul in Bartlett in the morning. Heading to FL. I’ll be glad to head south.

Gotta feel for that driver who hit the person. One of those things that has to be a hell of a thing to have to live with.

That snow coming down there will be hitting over this direction (MI/OH) early next week. I am hoping to be able to stay just a step or two ahead again. We shall see.

Yes sir. Wednesday, I was traveling across the Ohio TP. I knew if I got east of Toledo before 1300 I had a good chance of not getting delayed. Well, conditions got too greasy for me, visibility was severely reduced, and I decided I was going to exit at 52 and head to one of our drop yards. About 2 miles out I was passed by a couple of trucks moving way too fast for conditions. I know I'm a rookie, but I've been driving in snow since 1982. I called out on the CB to one of them saying they might want to back it down a bit. Predictably, I got the "if you can't drive it park it" comment. Well, that driver was the one who started the pile up on the bridge at exit 52. Bad situation as he struck another truck from behind starting a chain reaction involving two tankers. I had already backed down from 45 to 35 preparing to exit, anticipating something bad about to happen. I was able to stop without any issues when the call came out over the CB. The accident was exactly 1/2 a mile ahead of me. IDK how bad any of the injuries were, but two of the truck cabs looked very bad.

I was fortunate to be just a step or two ahead of all the bad weather this week. I was already in PA headed east to Allentown when that storm was moving across OH and later into PA. My next load was a pickup in Vineland, NJ with a delivery in Columbus. I actually made that trip twice over the last week or so. Late last week running that load I came into a little bit of snow in MD, just before WV. I was able to make my pre-planned stop before the snow picked up more heavily. When I started driving after my break, the roads were clear and dry. So, back to that trip this week. I had to deal with heavy rain all the way through to the OH border. Oh, I ran I-70 to I-68 because I saw that the heavy snow wasn't being forecast to go that far south. The forecasts proved accurate.

This was a good combination of dispatch being able to offer loads to me that afforded me the opportunity to avoid the worst of the weather and me taking advantage of being able to avoid the worst of the weather.

I would say the driver who started that chain reaction was an example of getting too ****y and not respecting the road conditions. Hopefully that humble pie does him good. Good on you for being the voice of reason. Excellent use of awareness to slow down in anticipation. You easily could have had the thought, "Well, I am already going pretty slow."

Knock on wood, but I’ve been incredibly lucky in being where the bad weather ain’t this winter. I think I’ve only driven about 150 miles in snow. And really no ice. I’m sure some bad weather will catch up to me at some point, so I appreciate the cautionary chatter on threads like these.

The company has been sending out frequent messages warning us to slow down or stop in dangerous weather. They say an unusually high number of preventable accidents have happened so far this new year. During that 150 miles of bad weather I mentioned, there were many cars and trucks off the road due to what I would consider unsafe driving practices. I felt safe at about 45 mph, but I was being passed on a regular basis. All manner of wrecks, slide offs, jack knives, roll overs and extended stay visits to the median. No wonder there is always a need for new drivers. Many of these accidents I observe probably result in termination for the driver. Then “new” drivers repeat the same poor judgement which creates a vicious cycle. Whenever I have the privilege of meeting a million mile plus driver, they are not so proud of the miles; they are proud that they have driven those miles without a preventable accident.

Knock on wood, but I’ve been incredibly lucky in being where the bad weather ain’t this winter. I think I’ve only driven about 150 miles in snow. And really no ice. I’m sure some bad weather will catch up to me at some point, so I appreciate the cautionary chatter on threads like these.

The company has been sending out frequent messages warning us to slow down or stop in dangerous weather. They say an unusually high number of preventable accidents have happened so far this new year. During that 150 miles of bad weather I mentioned, there were many cars and trucks off the road due to what I would consider unsafe driving practices. I felt safe at about 45 mph, but I was being passed on a regular basis. All manner of wrecks, slide offs, jack knives, roll overs and extended stay visits to the median. No wonder there is always a need for new drivers. Many of these accidents I observe probably result in termination for the driver. Then “new” drivers repeat the same poor judgement which creates a vicious cycle. Whenever I have the privilege of meeting a million mile plus driver, they are not so proud of the miles; they are proud that they have driven those miles without a preventable accident.

This thought just came to mind:

I literally haven't thought of this before reading your post here. Many times we talk about deciding whether to drive through an area of snow, wind, etc based on our own ability. I think your post brings to light that maybe we should be thinking a little bit more about how others around us may drive in that weather.

For the experienced drivers who have seen many winters, I am sure that you already take into account the potential for idiot drivers when deciding whether to drive or park during adverse weather conditions. So, my comment is leaning toward those of us who don't have that breadth of experience yet.