Beginning the Long Awaited CDL Process

Ice Ain't Nice.

Hello Everyone.

I didn't want any of you wondering if I jumped off the edge of some building or up and quit. Much has happened this week, so first I'll pick up where I left off.

We started day 2 in Boonville, MO and headed our way up to I80, stopped for fuel in Aurora, Nebraska. I took over driving duties and we continued west into Wyoming. After about 7 hrs. into my shift, we ran into high winds with gusts exceeding 40 mph. We had about 27k in the box, but the wind gusts still moved us around quite a bit. At first, passing trucks was no big deal, but as we approached the mountains, the temperature dropped and the wind shear increased. We were certainly in for an interesting evening.

I couldn't continue to run flat out anymore, so I hunkered down with everyone else into an unplanned convoy. The best speed I could manage was around 55. Once it was dark, I ran into a black ice warning coming off the back side of a hill (more fun). Everyone continued to reduce speed, as the wind gusts with potential ice on the road didn't make for a relaxed evening drive.
A short while later, somewhere between Laramie and Rawlins (I don't remember exactly where) a portion of I80 was shut down due to the ice, and we were diverted off of the highway (break time!). There was a Pilot T/S close by, so I pulled in through the pumps and shut her down. We checked the weather, and it was going to get worse before it got better. The original objective was for me to run my full 11 and then the trainer would take over for the final leg of the run (he only had about 6 hrs left on his 70). With the deteriorating weather conditions, the trainer decided he would start driving now, and I would climb into the sleeper and get some rest.

With the wind still pushing us around, sleep was near to impossible, but I did manage to get in a few power naps. After about 3 hrs, I checked in on the trainer. He was getting tired driving at these reduced speeds and fighting the windy conditions. I noticed about 1/2 mile ahead of us that the state sanding crews were making sure the roads were safe for all the trucks behind them. We continued on for another hour and then we pulled into a parking area and decided we had enough for one day.

In the morning we headed out and down the mountain. The high wind warning was still in effect, but the temperature had increased so we weren't to worried about ice. We were red lighted into a scale (seems they were concerned about those who may have been running light). We scaled out and then headed toward SLC.

We arrived at the receiver just as the trainers 70 ran out. I ran in with the manifest and they signed off on the cargo, which meant (in this case) we could drop the box, and bug out. The Central terminal was only about 5 minutes away. I couldn't wait to hit the showers.

So my first haul is in the books, 1,879 miles. Pretty good for right out of the gate.

After we got cleaned up, I went in to get some chow and relax for a while. I'll be back with another update.

Thanks for reading

-Wedge

 

Thanks chompi.

Our "convoy" was very spread out. With the high wind everybody slowed down, and we kept a safe following distance (scouts honor). Once we hit the ice it thinned out even more. From what I could see in my mirrors everyone was doing it right. Once the road got shut down, that was it, time for a break.

The trainer I had from Conley to SLC, was the same guy. I changed trainers before I left Conley. I'm home right now and will be changing trainers before I head out again. I'll write a post and bring everyone up to speed as to why the change in trainers (it's complicated).

 

Yes we did. My trainer wasn't the type that volunteered information, so it wasn't until the second night that I found out when we left Conley, his 70 was running out. Once I settled in, I didn't have any problem running hard. We did shut down early the first night. Had I known about his hours I would have suggested that we continue for at least 2 more hours.

I've been reading about you, buddy. Take good care of that truck. It's going to be your home away from home.

You stay safe out there.

 

It was a good run. There are plenty of new drivers that would prefer to avoid training in the winter months, I would prefer to have exposure to all types of driving situations during training. Just like a training camp, because that's really what this is.

If the weather held up, I think we would have delivered early, or at least arrived ahead of schedule. Considering all that I had to deal with, it was a good start.