driving in strong wind

I heard that nearly 70 tornado's hit that area today, with massive damage.

 

I once asked at the scale house what 'they' considered a 'light trailer'... They said, if you get blown off the road, or blown over, your trailer was too light... They wouldn't give me a number...

 

WYDOT will post a No Light Trailer message on the information systems when the wind gusts are greater than 50 mph with ANY road conditions.

This advisory pertains to trailers of any size (commercial and non-commercial) and to other vehicles such as recreational vehicles which are loaded with light materials (or are empty) and have a profile that is subject to wind gusts. Drivers of such vehicles are advised not to travel when a "no light trailers' advisory is posted as they can anticipate strong gusts of wind which may result in the loss of control of their vehicle or the potential for their vehicle to completely blow over.

Blow-overs of light trailers are very common in Wyoming. Controlling a vehicle during a strong wind event can be even more difficult when slick road conditions are present.

There is no specific research that has been done to study at what wind speeds and what load weights trucks will blow over. Therefore, WYDOT cannot provide a specific weight or wind speed that will cause a trailer to blow over.

Any driver who fails to comply with the "no light trailer" advisory and who is involved in a crash may be subject to a fine and can expect to pay the cleanup costs and fees associated with repairing any damage caused to public and/or private property.

http://www.wyoroad.info/Highway/definitions.html

 

I would not drive in 50 mph winds with any less than 75k lb gross (40k lb load).

Over 50 mph probably wouldn't drive with any load.

It does depend though, direction of the wind, and the direction of driving.

Is it really worth having rolled over truck on your record?

I'd rather enjoy sitting down at a restaurant, watch some tv, etc, and wait it out.

You could ask the company (dispatch, safety, etc) if they are willing to not hold you liable and not put anything on your record if the truck rolls over, but you know how that will play out. Even if they promise, they will still fire you and give you a bad record.

 

Last 3 years I've been running Sacramento to Denver 2x a week. Ive been through there as light as 1500 pounds of foam in the box with 65mph winds no exediration either. One thing I'll tell you is the lighter you are the slower you drive.

I've never pulled over as long as the road was open I was rolling. Also 50mph is just a advisory in reality its only like 30mph winds which is harmless

 

We run from Denver to Rocklin weekly ourselves... Which route(s) do you take?

 

yesterday they still had wind advisories in wy
but there wasn't much wind
common sense needs to be applied always

 

That's about what I was going to add. When conditions are bad you will usually see more than one truck blown over. So if the winds are kicking and one sees a truck layed over first thoughts should be helping the driver and second thoughts should be parking your own rig. Wind direction plays a role. Valleys and passes the wind increases. It's called the Bernoulli principle. It normally relates to fluids or how an airplane wing works but it's the same thing with wind. You take a large volume of wind and try to squeeze it through a mountain pass or valley the speed is going to increase a bunch. So if one is in an open area and thinks it's doable don't let your guard down if the terrain is about to change.

 

80 straight to i25 but depending on the condition of parleys summit I go around through 84 and back on i80.

I'm guessing u guys deliver to unifi?

 

I think its safe to say its not the wind its the driver every time