Quote:
Originally Posted by WildK9
Saw this a couple of years ago. I-30 westbound,about 20 miles west of Texarkana, and I stopped for a quick nap on the get on ramp behind a JB. Woke up to the wind really rocking the truck. Looked out and JB was on his side. Driver said he didn't wake up till he hit. He was empty and fortunately I wasn't, or I may have woke to the same problem. :shock:
Okay, this has been a humorous thread with lots of funnies.... but now for a serious answer.... sort of.
It's no secret that I am NOT a fan of shutting down on ANY ramp, but if you MUST....
If heading Westbound, stop on the get
OFF ramp if possible. Prevailing winds in this hemisphere come from the WEST and usually the Southwest. The DOWN ramp (get on) will be totally EXPOSED to these winds. The get
OFF ramp will be shielded by the bridge/overpass/hill itself from these winds. Obviously, if going East, the
ON RAMP will be the one "over the hill" and shielded.
Of course, I'm not a proponent of shutting down on ANY ramp, but if you MUST, take into consideration the oncoming weather conditions. Shield yourself from the winds at all costs. Remember, most "ramps" will have you leaning heavily to the right. If heading West, against the wind, and totally exposed, AND leaning to the right.... you are an easy target for a stationary "rollover." Your company will probably NOT understand why you didn't shut down in a truckstop or rest area, or somewhere more "sheltered" from the wind.
If possible, find a ramp situation that goes DOWN to a road that goes UNDER the freeway. That way you are below the hill, and under the wind. I see MANY "experienced" drivers shutting down on these LOW ramps.
If you're gonna shutdown on a ramp to an OVERpass..... make sure you are sheltered from the winds that come from the WEST. Not just the ones you feel right NOW.... but those that could come up overnight!
Watch any old "Cowboy movies" lately? Ever see them set up camp on a HILL??? NOPE!! Always in a gulley or somewhere sheltered by a rock formation from the winds that howl from the WEST! This is not just theatrics..... it is/was REALITY!!
To them, it was important to NOT have their "shelters" blown over by the wind, or to have their FIRES blown out by them. You will NEVER see them setup camp, or build a fire on the WESTERN side of a rock formation. Always on the "leeward" side!
There is much more to driving a truck than just "holding the wheel!"
You are being paid to protect the LOAD and the EQUIPMENT. Believe it or not, and maybe for the first time in your lives, you are being paid to THINK!!
I apologize if this is just TOO obvious for some of you. But, there ARE newbies reading this, and SOME of them have never experienced the howling winds of the West! 60-80 mph wind "gusts" are not uncommon, and that empty trailer is like a big sail on a sailboat!
Also remember that, IF you are driving in these conditions, your speed ADDS to the resistance/wind against your trailer. You can slow down to lessen the effect until you can get OFF the road!
And.... IF you ever feel your trailer "going over"...... don't try to turn INTO the wind. Turn DOWNWIND!! This MAY help you put your wheels back on the ground as you "run with the wind" so to speak. And, stay
OUT of the left lane to avoid being "blown" into a 4wheeler, unless the road is empty, in which case stay
IN the left lane to give yourself more "lattitude" than the sloped shoulder will provide!
[note: ALL or most of this assumes you are heading westbound. Eastbound rarely presents such problems.]