Dumb question from a noob

Yes, and Large Marge found out she wasn’t in charge.

 

Note that while we all make mistakes, parking and sleeping in the chain-up lane often forces other drivers to chain up in the traveled way, putting their lives at risk, and slows down the operation of plows and other services which will help get the road in better shape.

While it takes time to learn, weather monitoring and trip planning are how you avoid this. While §395.1(b)(1) changed to rule to add 2 hours to both clocks for adverse weather last year, carriers/driver are obligated to make sure the adverse conditions were unknowable at the time of dispatch.

Motor carriers and drivers should be checking traffic and weather conditions before starting a run, and while it may not be popular with your dispatcher you should check the weather and shut down early.

Sitting on the side of a slick freeway is a very dangerous thing to do, don't make dispatches mistake, to cause you to end up with a ticket, an accident, or worse an injury/death.

Trip planning and saying 'no' are two of the hardest things for new drivers to learn to do well. But dispatch and your company safety officer aren't there to protect your health and your livelihood, they just want to mitigate their risk and make money.

This storm wasn't a surprise and I would point you at the windy app to start learning how to improve your trip planning.

Note I am trying to be helpful here, but CDL schools and carriers don't really teach this well but you need to get good at it and quick so brutal honesty is the best way I have to try and help.

Best of luck with this brutal and steep winter time driving learning curve.

 

There is almost nowhere to park between Stockton and Reno/Sparks until you get into NV.

 

Yes, more visibility is always a good idea.

Parking in a chain up area. not a good idea. When the snow plows come by they don't have time to deal with you. They will plow snow right around you and block you in.
Hope you have a shovel...

 

I've actually found two hidey holes between Auburn and Truckee, California. Not easy to find, but I found one while waiting for the chain restriction to lift.

 

Even the hidey holes are filled in the first 30 minutes of a snowfall, in my experience.

 

Do some drivers not carry a shovel?

I wouldn't leave the yard without a shovel on my truck.

 

The new drivers just use their phone or a flip-flop for EVERYTHING.

 

I don't...
But I do have a hard hat that can scoop fairly well.

 

You’re funny!

More than a few won’t have anything more substantial to wear on their feet than tennis shoes, or even more than knit gloves.

It’s a sad world out there.