Winter Driving: Drive To Survive

After going well over a year without having to get off the road because of bad weather, today I shut ‘er down at Burlington, CO off of Interstate 70. I had over 6 hours of drive time left on my clock but that storm was very bad with the cross winds and blowing snow.

I drove the last approximately 30 miles at less than 40 mph in a line of trucks all traveling at the same speed. When I got off, about half of those trucks got off at the Love’s and about half kept going. I hope they made it safely, but I thought it was foolish to keep going.

Along the way, there were numerous cars in the ditches and two semi’s. One truck was a jackknife and one had hit a car. The car was crushed like a tin can. The damage was the worst at the driver compartment. If the driver survived, it was a miracle.

Just thought I would post this to encourage drivers to shut down rather than risk an accident. Don’t play Russian Roulette with your truck in really bad weather. Where I’m parked, there is a winter storm warning in effect until Wednesday morning, so I don’t know when I can get going again.

What weather apps do you use to monitor the weather along your route?

Also, what factors determine if you shut down due to weather?

With winter in full swing, be safe out there and make good decisions.

I have always looked at it if you have to chain up or cannot safely maintain 35-40 mph it is time to park it. Your not really getting anywhere and taking risks, and burning up your clock for no good reason.

Last year I shutdown in Effingham IL because of a bad storm. The next day by noon it was pretty clear and clean roads. Between Effingham and Champaigne , approx 70 miles, there were trucks in the ditch about every 1-2 miles. Very scary and not necessary in my opinion.

Some states will also not remove vehicles from running off the road until the weather clears, they tape them off showing the occupants are out of them. Then it is first come first serve. Your truck could be there several days.

Here's my list of what I use, as well as using AccuWeather.com. Google maps will give weather/storm warnings, so I look at that also.

Laura

When I was OTR my approach was to check the weather on the NOAA app. Then check roads through whichever state I was in. The company policy was to only use chains to get to a safe place to wait. If we couldn't go 35mph safely, consider parking. Always communicate with the DM.

Where I am now is much different. I pick up milk from the farm and deliver to a creamery. Local, hourly, daycab. We are expected to chain up and keep going. It's even more important to stay in touch with the dispatcher. If a facility is inaccessible we may be routed to the yard.

In the several ice and snow storms that I've worked here the approach has been, slow down. Communicate. Slow down some more. Keep chaining until you're out of chains. No need to rush, we're paid for all on-duty hours. When you get home, come back in 10 hours.

I found this one: Highway Weather.

A free app. Enter your route adjust for your start time, and you get a forecast based on your travel time!

Driveweather

Weather usa

Wyoming road conditions

All 511 sites

Caltrans

NOAA all hazards radio

NOAA regional forecasts

Weather nation TV for general overview

A few custom YouTube channels on meteorology

Local TV forecasts

Windy App

Willyweather USA

NOAA regional wind forecasts

In general, I keep an eye on regional trends for the week on TV. Whichever states I'm going to be traveling through, I check NOAA forecasts by googling areas, passes and cities on my route, then cross reference with Driveweather.

I find the time I'll be going through areas and see what the forecasts are.

Next line of defense is checking cameras. Usually quickest to just Google such as "colorado vail pass traffic cameras". It will pull up the 511 site for the state. Set your filters for desired info and you can quickly build a picture of your route.

Some trouble spots like donner or us 89 in Cali I use tge Caltrans map for chain laws and closures.

I rely extensively on Willyweather and windy app for Wyoming, SD, CO and the usual wind prone areas.

Using data from multiple sources and experience, that same storm system you hit, I was able to deliver from Loveland to Rapid City and then bobtail back down (400 miles). I picked a time with no snow and ice to bobtail but high winds. Too high to haul an empty in. On the way up, I traveled at at night, winds were high but NW and I had 43k in the box. Understanding wind speed, direction and forecasts are critical in planning for me.

Our trucks sacrifice safety for fuel economy and cost savings. If I have to chain, or even anticipate it, I'm sitting it out, and I'm getting paid for it.

Time and again I've made the conservative choice to shut down BEFORE I get to adverse weather and had safety compensate me and thank me for it. I've had numerous times where I've shut down and saw the wreckage of those who didn't.

W/ CRST, we got stranded during that bad snow storm 2020 @ the Loves, in Hutchins, Texas for 10 days, bobtail.. And NOT paid for any days grrrrr. Or the time at the stuck at TA, in Rawlins, WY.....Always hated getting stuck running back n forth across the 80 during wintertime....

But we survived being smart, and shutting down when we really should. Staying alive is more important than any amount of money, or load.

Seemed, we be routed more south on the I-40. Then we'd get routed up north, for 4-6+ weeks, runnin' the I-80. I used to joke with our DM , "dude, we're more southern runners, can ya help us out" lol

511 for every state I regularly run through. Have been stuck multiple times in Wyoming due to closed roads, and this helps me see when they open back up. Make use of the live camera feeds too - just because they open the roads doesn't mean they're safe to travel!

Windy.com app. This one is incredibly useful, not just for wind speed and direction, but it also has a full suite of other live and forecasted weather data available for free. During the winter months I especially love using the "New Snow" layer to quickly see at a glance how much snow accumulation is expected nationwide in the next 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days and 5 days. Absolutely invaluable!

I have another weather app I love and use regularly called "Trucking Weather, Traffic & Road Conditions," but unfortunately I can't recommend it as it's no longer available on the app store.

Thanks Errol🙏

I found this one: Highway Weather.

A free app. Enter your route adjust for your start time, and you get a forecast based on your travel time!