Storm shuts roads in Rockies

rookietrucker · Nov 24, 2010

Storm shuts roads in Rockies; Utah blizzard looms

In the western part of Utah on Tuesday, empty eastbound semitrailers on Interstate 80 were being held near the Nevada line to prevent them from tipping over in the windy salt flats.

SALT LAKE CITY A hectic, hard-hitting storm shut down Intersate highways in Idaho and Wyoming and threatened much of Utah with a blizzard Wednesday as travelers in the Rockies dealt with canceled flights and windy, snow-covered roads a day before Thanksgiving. Numerous schools, governments and businesses in Utah closed hours earlier than normal Tuesday because of the storm, with state traffic officials warning the evening commute could take four times longer than usual.
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more here >> Storm shuts roads in Rockies; Utah blizzard looms

rookietrucker · Nov 24, 2010

Snow Storm a Winter Test for Drivers

Courtesy: Nevada Highway Patrol

It isn't often you see trucks chaining up at Steamboat Springs, but that's what this brutal, frigid storm had truckers doing. Down the road, the Chocolate Factory prospector was panning for...snow. Then Washoe Valley, where good weather brings speeders, high winds push over semis, and snowstorms bring spinouts. We saw one car down the ditch off 395 near Bowers Mansion. NHP Sgt. Todd Hartline said, "that vehiclegoing too fast northbound, and slid off the road down into the ditch. He didn't hit anybody else." But plenty of other people did. Enough for the NHP to close 395 Washoe Valley in the morning, something they only do about 4 or 5 times a year. Sgt. Hartline said the reason was "several different spinouts and accidents. At that point you've got vehicles spread all over the highway."

Zero-visibilitya total whiteout, followed by a slippery surface. Bowers Mansion Road and Eastlake Boulevard took up the slack, while familiar warnings were repeated once again, "Please reduce your speed and slow down" because troopers still see examples of poor snow-driving behavior. The road reopened once plows got to work.

A bigger challenge was found on Mt. Rose Highway. Car after car was stuck fenders-high in snow. For tow truck driver Mike Chapman, it was a bounty of business: "This will be my fourth one, then I've got 3 more up there. Then some state police I have to go retrieve. So just, busy day."
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more here >> Snow Storm a Winter Test for Drivers

rookietrucker · Nov 24, 2010

Montana Highway Patrol responds to nearly 600 crashes

HELENA - The Montana Highway Patrol says the wintry weather that has buried much of the state resulted in nearly 600 crashes this weekend. The Department of Justice, which oversees the patrol, says officers responded to 596 crashes between Friday and Monday morning. Of those, two people died and 44 were inured.

The department says there was a crash every eight minutes.

The weather isn't letting up yet. Winter weather warnings and advisories are in effect for most of the state, and the ice and driving snow make for treacherous driving conditions.
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Montana Highway Patrol responds to nearly 600 crashes

123456 · Nov 24, 2010

Empty trailers were Not permitted to proceed.

Soooooo, how heavy do you think you need to be to proceed ??

10K in trailer, 20K ????

Brickman · Nov 27, 2010

Typically 10k plus. Depends on the conditions.

Wal Mart uses trailers with 10k ballast in them for running 25 thru WY.
They have concrete on pallets that can be moved to accommodate loading and get real unhappy if its left out.

123456 · Nov 27, 2010

Good info to know, thanx

Injun · Nov 27, 2010

Yepp! I remember this mess!

It's the reason I went south on I-5 to get to Phoenix instead of going east on 90, 82, 84 and then south on US93.

crc32 · Dec 1, 2010

I always get a little nervous this time of year. Right now, I am in Wichita, getting ready to take a 13k load to Cheyenne, WY. I've told my dispatch before, and I will tell him again, I dont chain, if its bad enough to chain, I stop. So, if he doesnt want me sitting, keep me south in the winter. I know this storm was days ago, but I am sure there will be more.

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