Guess now is a good time to ask. Blizzards.

You pull over before getting yourself into a bad situation. Once you have a good safe place to park, then you check road conditions and call your shipper/receiver. Also call your DM let them know the situation and talk it out with them. Don't ever risk it. Even if your DM insists you are the one who is out in it and knows the exact situation. If they still insist call safety.

 

First off remember that NO LOAD is worth the life of anyone. if they shut the roads down or there is a blizzard going on of course you park and sty the hell out of there. Make sure you communicate with dispatch tell them what is going on they will have to reschedule the drop, or if you drive for a small company you may have to reschedule the drop.

And as far as idleing goes you bet you bippee I 'll be idleing in -10 weather...I'm not gonna freeze or let my fuel gel up....F%^& that man

 

I wanted to post something on this,but it has all been said already!!

 

I always call ahead to get conditions at the shipper or consignee. If there is a storm between me and where I need to go I won't risk having an accident. I never travel when I am not comfortable with road conditions. Planning is key. I find it best to plan my trips so that I can find a place to park before conditions get too bad.

 

have dispatch call ahead and tell the customer you might be late.

find a place to "hunker down"...

the New Jersey Turnpike very often gets CLOSED DOWN, and they force you onto the state roads, and then, say your prayers.

i do not know about any other turnpike, but some highways may get shut down in emergency situations.

DO NOT, repeat DO NOT be a highway hero and try to prove something to anyone.......

i got caught in a raging blizzard many years ago going to Richmond, Va from Seekonk, MA.....usually a 9.5 hour drive.....

took me nearly 30 hours to do......

call ahead to the various state police if you want to ( i did) and ask if the major highway YOU WILL BE ON is closed....BUT what is open NOW.....in 5 minutes can be closed...!!1

truck stops, service plazas, rest areas, you name it, they will be FULL to over-capacity....!!! get into one ASAP.....

now also, DO NOT ALWAYS believe another trucker...!! if you do, they will have you stopping for a flurry...!!

get a weather radio, then LISTEN to AM/FM radio stations. if you work for a company that has other drivers you know of, ask THEM how things are.

but, just because the storm was behind them, doesn't mean its going to stay behind them....

i know from experience, and i know by todays blizzard...up here i just dug out of over a foot of snow, and 3 foot drifts, just in my yard alone.....and i am sore all over....!! snow blowers and all.....i'm still beat....

but at least i'm home.......

 

Been busy digging out here also..............

 

Or you can take your chances like this fellow whom didnt bother to chain up.




http://www.bangordailynews.com/stor...-big-rig-crashes-through-Newport-porch,162469

Yup some pretty chains you have there hanging off the trailer

 

Years ago I had a load of empty kegs to La Crosse from Benton Harbor with an appointment for the return load of beer. Although a storm was predicted, I thought lake-effect snow would dump on Indiana and Michigan. I was wrong. The wind was from the east, and I had to shut down at Madison, WI. The visibility was bad and the snow was so deep on the Interstate that I could not maintain 30 mph.

There were three truck stops at Madison. I got into one but there were no empty parking spaces, so I parked behind employees' cars. They were not leaving anyway. Trucks parked at the pumps were not moving either. Drivers were carrying diesel fuel to their tractors and reefers in 5 gallon cans. In the middle of the night, I felt a thump. Another driver had skidded while trying to squeeze into the truck stop. He knocked his mirror off when he slid past my trailer. The Interstate officially opened the next afternoon, but it took hours for the cluster in the truck stop to open up.

I apologized for missing my appointment, but the brewery had sent their employees home before the storm hit La Crosse.

 

that'll buff out