Truck Driving Jobs

scania · #1 02-14-2008, 01:46 AM

When you're fighting strong side winds with empty or lightly loaded trailer will simply slowing the truck down prevent you from turning over?
Or is it better to just stop and park?
I'm not talking about hurricane force winds of course,but I heard like 30 or 40 mph gusts can turn a truck over.
And again I also heard lot of these turnovers are caused by over correction of the driver.

I have a lot of questions I'm trying to learn as much as I can about this job,thanx for y'alls great advice I've got on here so far.

GMAN · #2 02-14-2008, 01:58 AM

I have been in some pretty heavy crosswinds. When you are driving out west, gusts can come up all of a sudden with no warning and broadside your truck. It can really rattle your cage, so to speak. If you are not paying attention it would be very easy to over correct or lose control of your truck. Some areas have wind socks alongside interstate highways to alert drivers to the unseen danger. Some states, such as Wyoming, will close roadways when winds become too fierce. Wyoming can have some very strong crosswinds.

redsfan · #3 02-14-2008, 02:01 AM

I agree with GMan, they can and will sneak up on you. Slowing down will certainly help, but what's always the safest thing to do when in doubt is to park it.

evertruckerr · #4 02-14-2008, 02:13 AM

GMAN said it, a good stiff cross wind gust can scare the crap out of you. It's like getting slapped with a concrete wall. The natural reaction is to over correct and I'm willing to bet more rollovers are caused by over reacting as opposed to the wind actually flipping the truck, although I'm not saying that doesn't happen.

Yeah, love that WY wind. It took me two days to get across there last week because of road closures and now I have to turn around and go back that way tomorrow.

Retirednavysnipe · #5 02-14-2008, 02:33 AM

Always slow down in heavy crosswinds and have a good grip on the steering wheel. Anticipate any changes that may happen and keep your distance away from other vehicles.

I will not drive in hurricane force winds at any time, regardless of weight. You just take to much of a chance of a screw up and ending up in the ditch.

Evertrucker, I too was stuck in that wind storm in Wyo last week, fierce winds and icy roads do not a good road make.

Be safe.

Mattangcobra · #6 02-14-2008, 09:33 AM

Watch the truck in front of you, in high winds if he makes a sudden movement left or right be ready for the same gust. So you don't over correct.

repete · #7 02-14-2008, 06:16 PM

It's not just out west, just the other night on Hwy 17 in NY I was East bound coming down a small grade about 55MPH with a car coming up behind and to the left of me, when all of a sudden a gust of wind hit me on the right side like a ton o bricks. The road at that point had some snow on it and my trl slide over into the left lane a little, the car decided not to pass me and followed me for about an hour :lol: That was just kinda of a freak thing made possible by the shape of the hills so watch out the hills can funnel the wind and really knock you fo a loop

Windwalker · #8 02-14-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evertruckerr

GMAN said it, a good stiff cross wind gust can scare the crap out of you. It's like getting slapped with a concrete wall. The natural reaction is to over correct and I'm willing to bet more rollovers are caused by over reacting as opposed to the wind actually flipping the truck, although I'm not saying that doesn't happen.

Yeah, love that WY wind. It took me two days to get across there last week because of road closures and now I have to turn around and go back that way tomorrow.

When You see a truck rolled over that was not even moving, it's not a matter of over-correcting. It's a matter of the wind is that strong. Around Los Angeles, when the "SANTA ANNA's are blowing, you may find "SUSTAINED WINDS of 80 to 90 mph, and gusts over 120 mph.

On a snow-covered road, you may see your trailer blown over into the other lane, or off onto the shoulder, but on a dry road, or a road that is just wet, it is possible to see one side of the trailer coming up off the ground. At that point, I would seriously recommend that you park it. A gust may lift the other five wheels (the tractor) off the ground and turn you over, over correct or not. YES, the winds CAN get that strong.

30 to 40 mph winds should keep you from falling asleep at the wheel, 60 to 70 should be more than you want to challenge. And it's not just WY. It's also CA, MT, NE, AZ, NM, IL, IN, OH, and TX. Pardon the pun, but UT can give you a pretty good "blow job" too.

bullhauler · #9 02-15-2008, 12:12 AM

I know with a bullrack, it will not take as much wind as a dry van, so if it tracks more than a foot, park.
Park nose into the wind, that is the way your rig was made to take wind.

Slimland · #10 02-15-2008, 12:47 AM

Just come drive in West Texas for a while. Here on the plains "Lubbock" I have seen the winds gust up to 80 mph, just here recently we where a sustained 30-40 with 60 mph gust. So Come drive down here where there's nothing to block the winds, then drop down into the canyons on your way to Dallas, and tast those crosswinds.