IKE
 

I am supposed to pull a light (15K lbs) into Dallas tomorrow (saturday) when Ike should be starting to blow through. Question is: With 40+ mph sustained winds forcasted, should this load even move. My gut says no. High end cars, two on top one on the bottom, with a tall racing trailer.

I say no, but i would like to know what you think.

Thanks!

PS. The origination point is about 15 miles away from downtown.

You're the driver. Go with your gut feeling.

If you dont have an appointment or set delivery time, why risk it.

Better safe than sorry,

I dont think 40mph is a big threat but I have had tall loads weighing 30k get pushed pretty good, not sure what the windspeed was but i guessing it was around 40-50

sorry missed the part about Saturday.

40+ mph sustained is a big deal. Gusts is a different story.

Re: IKE
 

Here is the current ( 11:15 PM) information, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/grap...?5day#contents

Tropical Storm tomorrow when IKE passes Dallas area...ain't no small wind storm.

I'm in Lafayette, and we are seeing bands every 15 to 20 minutes that are taking shingles off the roofs.

yup...my mind is made up.

Going to venture out for a 6:00 am cup of coffee, come back home and hang out on the couch.

Thanks guys.

Safety is still the driver's call. When they start to over-ride your call, tell them they also take on the responsibility in case something happens.

Even if the driver puts it in gear, and goes?

I've always wondered about that, and have been awarded some nasty loads, because of my refusal to move the truck, as ordered.

You tell dispatch in the QC that due to weather it is not safe to move the truck. If they have a problem with it, call your safety dept. on it. You do not move just because dispatch threatens you in any way. Instead you get in touch with safety on it. It is the driver's call because you are there in it, they aren't and safety will back you up on it.

I agree that it is the driver's responsibility to decide when it is safe and when it is time to shut it down due to weather. Some years ago, I was in some sleet and snow in Kentucky. I kept going until the wind started to blow my trailer back and forth on the ice. I came off the road and called dispatch. They weren't happy and told me that according to the weather on TV I should not have any problems. I told them that they weren't where I was and that until the plows and salt trucks cleared the road that I was going to sit. That is exactly what I did. I always leave it up to my drivers as to when to go and when to sit. It is foolish for any carrier to push drivers to run when the driver feels that it isn't safe to do so. I have driven in 50 mph winds and it requires you to be very cautious. A 50 mph wind can turn a truck over. Once it starts to roll there is usually little you can do. Keep in mind that it is the driver who will be held responsible for any accident, weather related or not. It is always better to get to your destination late than not arrive at all.