High Wind Driving

if you already have a wheel in the air--dont slow down--dont yank the wheel to compensate--just speed up and hopefully you will ride it out---

 

Hey Andy, I drive in southern Alberta regularly, and the winds come through the pass at 100-150kph. I have found through experience that you have very few options, as if you are light .the wind will blow over an empty rig. If you have to stop, either face the wind or arc your rig to the left so the wind is coming from the right. When i am running empty with a Reefer, i try and keep my speed up as this helps cut through the wind. I have had the Tractor in one lane and the Trailer in the other and the only way i kept the Chimney's pointed up was to apply about 8lbs of Trailer brake and keep the Hammer down. One thing to remember about Wind patterns, whether they be coming off the Great Lakes or the Bald ### Prairie, they generally have consistent patterns so when you are in these areas, remember where you were for the next time.
Regards,
Cranky

 

Cranky, I know this is the Canadian forum. But I've been following it just out of interest with the high winds.

While it's true that it is possible to gauge the winds on the prairie, down here in the mountains and valleys, there is just no way to do it. It will seem to be blowing from every direction at once, due to the geography.

 

If you are light and weight bias is not at issue I have found to stretch out your axles further back which will then lessen the pendulum affect.

With the axles further up the wind hitting the portion behind the axles will exert pressure on your connection with the truck in the opposite direction.

IE: if you have a wind from the left it will be pushing the rear of the trailer to the right.

Since your contact with the ground is in front of this area there will be pressure exerted at the king pin trying to push the rear of the tractor to the left.

I have found that its a much more stable ride across Wyoming after I stretch it out when I am lighter...

Good Luck, and know when to say when, because once your truck is sitting on its roof in the ditch its going to be a stressful phone call to the boss!

 

Hey Big Don. Spent as many years driving the rocks as i have the flatlands and all i,m saying is wind areas are wind areas.

 

Best control is proper speed in any situation...
The surface area of the trailer presents huge challenges... acts like a sail for crosswinds...
Lighter loads obviously provide less friction...
Turning into the direction of the tilt where the tractor is providing an opposite pulling effect makes sense and I've seen video of successful driver correction... nice job recovering... speed.. spacing... stay in your lane!

 

One other thing... direction and strength of winds can be anticipated through weather channels!

 

your boss is an idiot.

 

of course he wants you to ride it out and be a statistic, it's up to you to tell him when it's too unsafe

 

Sadly, the OP was so scared he hasn't left his couch in the over five years since this happened. If only you had posted back then, his career could have been saved.