Tips for the new guys on highwind driving

I mentioned this at my school the day of my road test. We had 65 mph wind gusts but they refused to move the tandems since they wanted the turns to be easier for the guys that didn't learn well. They must have forgotten the section of raised highway that we also have to drive on. Oh well. That school was loaded with shortcomings

 

Back in '87 a guy called me on the CB while driving thru Indy: "Hey Prime, which lane you wanna drive in?" Knowing we had a fast crosswind and I was empty, I looked back at my wagon to discover that I was in one lane and the wagon was COMPLETELY in the other!
(I sorta thot that she was a bit squirrely...)

 

That explanation is all fine and good, but it only relates to keeping the truck in the lane. It totally forgets about the rolling part. The author even acknowledges that in this statement:

 

Just a story related to the topic. My Dad and I were west bound on I78 in PA on thursday. There were gusts of 50 to 60mph...and more...winds coming out of the north. I was going around a CR England truck, and just coming up onto his tractor tandems, when a gust of wind hit, and I really thought he was going over, and we would be flattened in my Dad's GMC Canyon. I could actually see the cab move and tilt in our direction...i think that is when my heart skipped a couple of beats. How the driver kept it in his lane, i'll never know...i'm sure he soiled his shorts. You can say all the bad things you want about CR England drivers, but this one was really an exception. Maybe it was Grandma Debi and Virgil?

 

The longer wheel base is simply more stable, will not whip around as easy resulting in more control to the driver.

 

If it's that bad. Pull over and wait. Read my signature and you'll understand.

 

If your trailer/wagon is blown over while you are driving is this a preventable? Starting school in 2.5 weeks.

 

That would depend on a multitude of factors IMO. Still, I wouldn't be surprised to see a company somehow blame it on a driver, claiming bad driving as causation. They need more students.
It occurs to me that trucks should be allowed to stretch out when running strong crosswinds...giving a break in the parachute effect of that 70' wall of truck. Slower speed will create less bouncing, and give less lift for the wind to work on, as I found out. Opening the D.S. window would give you more 'feel' of what's happening. Watching other trucks and their trailers will give visual clues, as well as treetops, but some trees will fool you, bigtime. It's a good time to turn on the CB and listen to the chatter.
And lastly, if your wipers cross in .5 seconds and take 4 seconds to return, you probably have a crosswind.

 

To all the misinformed rumors about hauling more than one trailer, I've had less trouble with three trailers in the wind than one long one. I would pull out of Las Vegas at night going up US 95 north and I can tell you the wind really blows there at times. I've never had the last box cross over into the other lane and it would wiggle just a little. Of course it had to be hooked and loaded right or you would have some real problems. I enjoyed pulling three trailers and if I didn't go to a better job (tankers) I'd still be doing it. Even in the snow and ice.

 

That was interesting and unexpected.
So....you didn't wiggle yer wagons? Heheh.
That supports my position that a 'windbreak' in the 'wall' relieves pressure, but I didn't expect it to work on multiples...but it makes sense. What do you mean by 'hooked right'?
Loading I understand.