Cross winds

If you're going to stop due to high/gusty winds, try and park parallel with the wind direction to reduce the amount of vehicle rocking as you're trying to relax. The odds of getting blown over while sitting still are significantly less then if moving. Use the crown of the road and lower shoulders to try and lean into the wind where feasible. Some trucks deal with wind better than others. A 53' empty dry van or reefer trailer in a crosswind situation with higher gusts to exceed 45 MPH may justify shutting down if you can't alter your direction (route) to head into or with the wind or a road with high trees near the roadway.

On very windy days, always be wary when you're in the plains region and passing by a large set of grain silos or elevators, or come out of sweeping turns back into a cross-wind situation. You'll know when it's maybe prudent to stop but until then, do not catch yourself drifting and rapidly correct to get back in the lane if it means leaning WITH the wind. One moment of inattention can be real trouble in a severe winds situation.

 

true we did BUT you're an o/o I think,not a new driver.I figured you'd be use to the heavy winds.My company won't tolerate shutting down due to high winds.They'll tell you to find another line of work.But I do see where you're coming from,you have to pay for the fuel

 

Shouldn't have mattered.

A driver deemed it unsafe and unneeded to continue in an unfavorable condition. We should all have sat back and looked at "why".

So you would have pushed on last week even AFTER the DOT closed the road due to high winds. I drove through that very area the day before and it was NOT fun. How many trucks got laid over because companies said, "run" when they should have shut it down.

Same thing last week as it was a month ago. There have been abnormally high winds this fall. The NOAA records are proving that out all to well.

 

I'm glad the company my hubby drives for has the attitude of 'if the driver doesn't feel safe rolling then it's their call' . . .