Wake up call

Drivers, if you have any ideas about this, please share them.

I had a really exciting experience last Saturday, let me share with you. I was heading south on I-35, around yardstick 40, for a 10:00am delivery in Laredo, very light load, 6,000lbs. Heavy rain shower at 08:45, heavy wind from the east/left side, 30mph with strong gusts. I was cruising in the slow lane @60mph, the roadway is heavily rutted there, and got some above normal fishtailing, so I slowed to 55mph.

Suddenly, about half a heartbeat, my truck turned left, sliding sideways, and I was heading to the median at a 45degree angle to the roadway, sliding down the freeway at 55 miles an hour! Boys and girls, I was wide awake at that point, let me tell you. Heavy rain, high wind, in a full slide going down the fast lane with my trailer still in the slow lane. I turned into the slide, fed a little fuel, lightly pulsed the brakes to scrub speed, truck started to come around the other way. I cut back into it, still pulsing the brakes, did that a couple more times and got it under control and headed for the shoulder. Parked, inspected, nothing I could see was wrong. Tires, I'd checked pressures that morning, all good. Suspension, steering, locking jaw, all good. I learned one thing - adrenaline is a great stimulant. Wow.

I think I got in a perfect storm, and I'm now very aware, even more aware, that these things can happen to us any time. I think there was a wind gust just as my wheels ran over the ridges in those rutted tracks. I think I might have also got a little hydroplane action even at 55mph. (super singles on trailer) Whatever it was, it was really fortunate that no one was next to me in the left lane when this happened.

A couple of points of interest. I had the cruise control on, and I would again, but in those conditions I will shut it off for a few miles. Wind gusts can't be predicted, but they do happen. And, I believe that if I'd been pushing around 70mph, I'd be writing a different story, one with a sad ending. Last, driving a big truck involves dealing with some really crazy stuff, and we just can't be too careful, too well rested, or too lucky. Like I said, any ideas will be useful, thanks in advance.

Final entry. I'd been so grateful to escape unharmed, I put my flashers on and hit the exit about 1/2 mile farther down the road. Texas has those nice frontage roads along the interstate system, and I figured it might be a good idea to go slow for a while and check things out before resuming highway speed. Well, for some reason, I came around a turn and the frontage road ended, with a barricade in the middle! I could see where drivers, probably oil field trucks, lots of them in that region, had passed the barrier on the right side and drove about 100yds on the dirt, back onto I-35. Not wanting to back 2 miles to the previous onramp, I knew I was going to run that dirt road, even though it was puddled and obviously mud now, from all the rain. So, slowed, dropped into 3rd gear, lined it up, hit the ATC control, and punched it at around 1,600rpm! That part was fun, DD60 14L rumbling, fishtailing thru the mud, dragging the 53' thru there, made it, too. Reminded of taking my 4x Silverado on a fishing trip. Another great day driving a big rig!

Signed: Ol' Glad To Be Here Jim

 

I think so too, Derailed. I have to say, the things I did were pretty much instinct response more than considered stategies. The comments about cruise control? I take them for what they're worth. I do those things in traffic or snow/ice, but cruising down an open road on Saturday morning? What I learned was pretty strong, though, especially about light loads and road conditions. I'll be listening to my satellite radio most of the time.