Interstate 70 Or 80?
Topic 33345 | Page 1
80 to 76 to 25 is shorter. Both are about the same for wind, but 70 can get worse.
I'd probably take whatever route my company sent to my QC. The only time I would choose one over the other is if I was going further West, then it would depend on how heavy my load was. With a really heavy load I'd want to avoid the mountains on i-70 through Colorado. With a light load I'd want to avoid the wind on i-80 through Wyoming.
Of course I'd check weather conditions as I neared the Colorado border and change course if necessary.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
80 to 76 to 25 like Davy said is shorter. I haven't run Ohio and Illinois in a year but the rest of the way I run all the time. Nebraska and Kansas both have squirrely winds at times. Last time I ran 70 across Kansas, the roads were in bad shape. But it's construction season and I haven't been across there since winter, so I don't know what they're like now. 80 has the usual construction but, even with the bad winter, the roads really aren't that bad.
Laura
80 to 76 to 25 like Davy said is shorter. I haven't run Ohio and Illinois in a year but the rest of the way I run all the time. Nebraska and Kansas both have squirrely winds at times. Last time I ran 70 across Kansas, the roads were in bad shape. But it's construction season and I haven't been across there since winter, so I don't know what they're like now. 80 has the usual construction but, even with the bad winter, the roads really aren't that bad.
Laura
Laura, I just got to Denver today after I took my company navigation route, which was I70.
70 through Indiana was terrible as usual. Illinois not so bad. Missouri I don’t like but not as bad as Indiana. Kansas was not bad at all. The road was pretty good until I got to Colorado. I would compare 70 in Colorado to 70 in Indiana, terrible.
All in all, I prefer the I80 route, but if it’s shorter than the 70 route, I wonder why my navigation put me on 70? I thought it always picked the shorter route.
Funny story about the 70 route yesterday. Just west of St Louis, traffic was extremely heavy with lots of poor driving being on display. Several multi-car accidents, all with young women and teenage girls standing around the accident sites. Come to find out, there was a Taylor Swift concert at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City last night. Much of that crazy traffic was going to that concert. I definitely regret not taking 80. I probably lost 100 miles in that traffic. I hate Taylor Swift, lol.
All in all, I prefer the I80 route, but if it’s shorter than the 70 route, I wonder why my navigation put me on 70? I thought it always picked the shorter route.
My Garmin can be set up to do the quickest route or the shortest route. I do the shortest route unless I know for a fact I can be quicker with a few extra miles. For example, heading eastbound across Wyoming going to the Denver area. My Garmin would have me jump off at exit 313 in Laramie and come out at Fort Collins....60 miles. It is 11 mi shorter but because of the two-lane road and hills it takes me longer going that route then going to Cheyenne and picking up I-25.
Laura
P. S. If was your company's routing, I don't have a clue. I've only driven for one company that routed you to hit their fuel stops.
Our company route will usually go shortest as well and will route for fuel. I just did that route last week. I usually try to drive 70 or 80 at night if I can. The winds are calmer and the thunderstorms look amazing. 70 right over the colorado line is horrendous. If youre continuing west after Denver, I prefer 70 to US6 for a route to SLC but its longer. Absolutely beautiful drive in the summer, terrifying in the winter. I just absolutely loathe 80 through WY. Especially if youre under 30k in the box. Again, if I have to do 80 there, I always try for night.
My company routes us to avoid tolls usually. For example, Chicago to PA: US30 to 71 to 76 to 80, instead of 80/90.
I usually try to follow their routing unless I've taken it before and know it adds too much time or is not truck-friendly.
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For you OTR guys, I have a route question. If you start a trip in Youngstown, OH and are going to Denver, would you choose to travel on I70 or I80? Which one and why?
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.