Stay out of Wyoming

 

Thats for sure!!! I've had runs across Nebraska and Wyoming on 80 when it was so windy...it was nearly impossible to keep my loaded trailer out of the fast lane even though my tractor was practically running in the breakdown lane....and yes, I did shut it down...as soon as I got to a safe place to park. Being up on Elk Mountain in the winter when its snowing, white-out, and really high winds....no fun at all......

On the original subject.... if you are pulling a light or high center of gravity load and it is really windy....slow down!! If you are pulling a fully loaded tanker...with 45K+ lbs of product in it...wind won't affect you to much... but if you are in a curve.... you had best bring the speed down...below the speed limit, and if its a deep curve that tightens up....especially a ramp, you had better jack it down quickly and get into a slow roll.... if you are moving too quickly and "the beast starts to climb the wall" you are going to find yourself rolling over and maybe keep right on rolling....

But never overestimate your abilities...even with a van or flatbed... because if a load shifts and you're in a curve....its going to shift to the outside of the curve...and you can't go very far that way to correct....so unless you are moving slow enough to correct the effects of the shift, you are about to have a really bad ending to your day!!

If you are coming off an interstate....you need to at least drop to 10 mph below the posted ramp speed, and if you are driving a tanker, maybe 15 to 20 mph below is in order, and if its a real tightly curved ramp....a speed known as "crawling" will do just fine 8)

 

good advice "skywalker" !!

being interested in tankers.....before i go out with a trainer, i want to get a jump on my education.................i found this dvd

http://safety.1800inet.com/product.p...ng-description

i know there is nothing like "real world" training..........i'm just trying to find aids that will help me" wrap my mind around" different techniques!!
what do you think??

ps....fleet week in new york......did a tour of the ships......awesome!!!!!
8)

 

It looks pretty impressive....though its not cheap. But on the other hand if you can afford it, it will definitely pay for itself in the long run. You might want to see if there are other sources for something like this, maybe at a little better price. I know some companies are using what is called "Tread 1" that is done on an Apple computer other, and is broken up into modules. I wonder if there is a source that would be public for this kind of thing.....

Sounds like fun!! 8)

 

Everyone seems to have hit the nail on the head. Raid isn't that big of a concern as long as its not standing on the roadway. I've only been driving for 6 months but I have no fear of driving thru a hard rain so long as its not pooling up on the road.

Wind is another game tho. I'll take my load into wind but at a slower pace. I have no problem with goin 10-15mph slower than posted limit in a heavy wind (even slower if i get to a really gusty section of a storm). I was goin thru kansas a month or so ago and the wind kicked up and the sky turned black. I thought it'd be ok to roll so I kept goin to my planned stop for the night (only 15 miles up the road)... it took me about 30 minutes to get there because the wind/rain were so bad. Just slow down and if you're goin to slow put on your 4 ways. Don't worry about any of the other trucks out there, the ones passing you at the posted speed limit in bad conditions are either super truckers or truckers that have no fear (or ones that have just been doing this since well... trucks were invented) and let them do they're thing. All you can do is worry about you and gettin your load from A to B safe, screw the rest of them.

Fog is a fun thing to play in tho, seen some thick fog that rivals my days in the Coast Guard. Again tho just slow down and kick on your 4ways to help people see you.

Truck driving isn't a hard thing at all... same basic concepts as driving a car just alot bigger and so you have to be alot more attentive. And the one thing my trainer told me that I'll never forget is that posted speeds are NOT for us... they're for the 4 wheelers. An off ramp says 35mph take it at 25-30 (or slower depending on the type of load you have). I have a habit of getting the paper roll loads (3 rolls, 45k lbs) and they're VERY top heavy... I take those 25mph ramps at 10-15. Again I'm worried about me getting from A to B safe not what the car behind me is yelling out his window.

If you're worried about people behind you getting upset just imagine how upset they'd be if you rolled and they were stuck for HOURS while you get rightside up.

-Chris

 

or they're just plain stupid.

 

I love this. I am going to be hitting the road sometime around June 8th. THinking I am going with FFE Transportation.

I have to go out with a trainer for six weeks, which is cool.

The funny part is that I have been TEACHING a CDL course here in Hutchinson, KS for a couple months. But, their equipment is second rate. A 1998 International Eagle with a 32 ft grain trailer.

I got spoiled for draggin a 32 ft trailer around. Hell, the entire length of my combination is the length of the trailer I used to pull at PRIME!!!

So, I may be munchin some curbs at first. And, since the Freights I'll be hoppin into have Straight 10's and I was drivin a Super 10 - I may have splitter fun too!

I really am looking forward to it though. You guys who posted replies - I thank you so much.

My dad was a truck driver for almost 12 years, but I never thought to ask him these questions. I didn't even have my CDL when he died, I didn't think I was going to want to do this.

Wishin I had asked him! :?

I appreciate all the help, and will check back in often.

Y'all - keep it safe out there. If ya ever get to Hutchinson and get lost or need directions - hollar at me. 620.200.7276 :arrow: