What to do when they shut down interstates?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by dogchimp, Nov 16, 2013.

  1. Wolfyinc

    Wolfyinc Road Train Member

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    I would fire up my butane stove first for heat, I know when I cook or boil water it sure warms up the truck same with my portable oven.

    But unless I run out of fuel, webasto heater dies, etc then I wont need to go snuggle up :p
     
  2. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    The blizzard of 93. That was a lot of fun. We were without power for a week but we had a great time! We're overdue for another big one. I have a feeling this is the year. Well around Feb. :)
     
  3. dogchimp

    dogchimp Medium Load Member

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    Well glad I checked the road report before I ran today, they shut down i80 past exit 348 in Wyo for trucks due to the wind
     
  4. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Where did you get stuck in 93?

    Remember that monster that hit in 87? It snowed 24 inches in Chattanooga, melted down to about 18 inches THEN the deep freeze that stuck around for 3 weeks!

    Point is this, people... quite a few drivers (lease drivers in particular) buy just enough fuel to get from point A to point B. I personally think it is a bad habit because it leaves you vulnerable when crap hits the fan, but to each their own. If that's the way you want to operate, at least protect yourself and keep an eye out for the weather. You can't always avoid bad weather. I listed 3 times of getting stuck since 1987. Most of the time, I have been able to arrange my affairs to get the heck out of Dodge. So, the odds that nothing will happen to you are pretty good. But when bad things happen, they happen quickly.

    That storm in 93 started off as rain. It was cold and dry for a couple days, started off as rain, then suddenly changed to snow. The first warning was the ice building up in the wipers. Black ice as far as the eye could see. THEN the snow. I had fueled up in Baton Rouge, and everything was fine. The weather got nasty around Meridian, Mississippi. I stopped and topped off in Meridian. Glad I did.

    "So, what do you do while you're waiting out a storm?"

    I shared a motel room with another driver. Then we got jobs at the Huddle House(their workers couldn't come in, so we worked for food). The motel filled up with workers who couldn't come home and drivers, and one state trooper. We had loads of fun.
     
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  5. Skull_Leader

    Skull_Leader Light Load Member

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    what do you guys use to find the road/ weather report? I have the weather bug app, but it tells me the weather where I am, not the weather of where I'm going
     
  6. Florida Playboy

    Florida Playboy Road Train Member

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    Chicago had one in February 2011. I actually drove home 40 miles in it and got stuck literally 1/4 mile from my house.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_31_–_February_2,_2011_North_American_blizzard
     
  7. HalpinUout

    HalpinUout Road Train Member

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    If your heading west into SLC you will wanna use 84 im sure on 80 they will be requiring chains...In trucking make your money in the summer and take it easy in the winter... No need to be like some guys and play super trucker and end up either jack-Knifed or down in a ditch not worth it... If weathers bad and you cant continue, just the nature of the beast... You work for prime which has wide singles I would be even more careful... Stay safe... BTW the little America in Cheyenne has the best Prime Rib ive ever had... Not a bad place to get stuck at :biggrin_2551:
     
  8. bigkev1115

    bigkev1115 Road Train Member

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    I use the NOAA weather band station, or I go online to check the weather where I m heading
     
  9. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    That might explain the heavier than usual amount of trucks running 40 west of Oklahoma City. Routing around that mess to get to California.
     
  10. Wolfyinc

    Wolfyinc Road Train Member

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    Company is the same at times, I always lie about how much fuel I have left and the system will give me a fuel stop even when im half full or more. Sometimes if you tell the truth on fuel you might just run out before getting to a fuel stop, i remember one time I had 1/8 and they gave me a fuel stop almost 400 miles away....dont think so, so now I just lie and never get too low.