driving in strong wind

It is not just driving. I have seen parked trailers sliding on ice at docks in heavy wind.

 

West Texas, my 3rd day otr. I just slowed down to about 50 and any time I came out from under a bridge, was passed or passed someone else, or make a curve/turn, I accounted for the gusts of wind. There is absolutely nothing at all to be ashamed of, take your foot off of the pedal. If you have a rollover, safety is hitting you with an at fault accident on your DAC. You should have been driving to the conditions. Let your dm and dispatch know that you will be late, or that your eta will need to be modified and let them know it's due to high winds, ice and snow, rain, traffic, whatever it is. They would rather the load get there in one piece and they would rather not pay out a claim. Protect your ### and protect your CDL.

 

You have the same options while in training as you do when on your own.
You are the captain of your truck, and YOU decide when it is safe to drive.

If you have an accident it will be you that takes the fall for it - not your trainer.
In fact, your trainer will probably be the first one to throw you under the bus.

Don't be intimidated by your trainer.
Know your rights and responsibilities.

You have the right to stop driving whenever YOU think it is not safe to drive.
That is also one of your responsibilities.
An on-time delivery NEVER comes first over safety!

 

If you are pulling a box and loaded light, your trailer tandems are probably all or most of the way forward. That's a bad position for dealing with big cross winds. The trailer is a big sail and all that air pressure behind the tandems is what causes the torque and initiates a rollover. Look at YouTube videos of rollovers from wind and you will see the back end of the trailer start getting turned off, twisting the trailer from the back side first.

Whenever I was dealing with big cross winds when I pulled a box the first thing I would do is stop and set the trailer tandems ALL the way back. In Wyoming and other states with notorious wind conditions that is legal. Take advantage of this to increase your control and safety.

 

Sometimes it doesn't matter how fast or slow you are going. If you get on ice you're going for a ride with high winds.

 

Sometimes you don't even need ice!