First Snow, Frozen Rain, Sleet And Blowing Snow All In One

I have 3 loads all stacked up, between KC, Iowa and Missouri and back. All of them have comfortable time on them though, all windows for delivery.

I monitor the weather with a bunch of apps, and generally obsess on it anyway. So it didn't surprise me.

I just marked out places to pull off and back ups in case they were full. When the temp got down to 34 and the roads started looking wet, rain and snow frozen on the front of the mirrors, I pulled off. Not a lot of snow, but the frozen rain could be bad. And NOAA specifically mentioned bridges and elevated areas freezing as well as likely black ice in the area so I pulled off for the night.

I suppose it might have been too soon, for some, but Im comfortable with it. I don't feel like gambling with a frozen bridge or black ice. Why risk it. I'm trying to learn to trust that gut instinct on when to shut it down, ego or pride seems to fight with it at times.

I would not have shut down, at 34° its not cold enough to freeze. Usually it has to be below freezing for a while for the roads to get cold enough to freeze due to stored heat. That being said, you did right by shutting down since you didn't feel safe. Better to shut down early 1000 times than run after you should have shut down once.

I agree with Mikey, 27° seems to be the magic point when the roads will start to freeze over quickly.

But I agree if you do not feel comfortable do not run, ice is not to be messed with.

You did the right thing based on your experience. Excellent judgement !

That was a good decision on your own. I shut down yesterday morning in Fountain, CO for high winds and sideways snow with an empty trailer. I made it back to the Cheyenne DC after dark, and amazingly Walmart did not go out of business because of it.

Road surfaces don't need to be frozen or borderline questionable to become an unsafe situation, especially when you throw terrain, external wind, and unknown areas in the mix. I've never seen a parked semi slide into a ditch.

*Pearl* "If ever in doubt, there is no doubt"

I agree with Mikey, 27° seems to be the magic point when the roads will start to freeze over quickly.

But I agree if you do not feel comfortable do not run, ice is not to be messed with.

I thought about that but the dynamics of this storm we're odd. 30 miles north, where my delivery was, it was 26 and freezing hard in the roads, so I chose to shut down just before there. As it was, it was sticking to the bridges pretty good. In guessing that over time with experience, I'll be able to judge it more accurately. For now though, I error on the side of caution.

I did play with the truck in the snow at the DC, seeing where and how it would bust loose and how to get it back under control. It was really empty there. All at low speeds though. Also to practice backing on snow and ice.

Good decision! I know the feeling being a new driver, you want the experience but then again erring on the side of caution goes a long way. I am pretty new with the wiggle wagons and have only been driving them for a month now. I had that experience this morning at 2am. 40mph winds and blowing snow, my regular route was canceled and they wanted me to take another load to IL. Never been to that terminal and the current conditions were about the same. I decided not to go. Dispatch said no worries they understand. I felt bad inside for not going, but at the same time I would much rather be safe than wising that I was in someplace safe on the middle of nowhere!

Good decision! I know the feeling being a new driver, you want the experience but then again erring on the side of caution goes a long way. I am pretty new with the wiggle wagons and have only been driving them for a month now. I had that experience this morning at 2am. 40mph winds and blowing snow, my regular route was canceled and they wanted me to take another load to IL. Never been to that terminal and the current conditions were about the same. I decided not to go. Dispatch said no worries they understand. I felt bad inside for not going, but at the same time I would much rather be safe than wising that I was in someplace safe on the middle of nowhere!

Tom's company wanted him to 'perhaps, please?!? ' pull an extra run, intrastate , today. Good extra pay, sure! And then this; which may or may not be one of his companies' trucks. It was a 'nope' from the get go, and all we have in Ohio is 60/70 mph gusts (up by the lakes, anyway.)

12/10 & 12/11 .... Governor speaks out.

The damage in our own yard is minimal; just a bunch of fell trees, we will probably pay someone to firewood for us.

Definitely NOT a good day to sing THIS song: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" (Y'all are too young, haha!)

I agree with Mikey, 27° seems to be the magic point when the roads will start to freeze over quickly.

But I agree if you do not feel comfortable do not run, ice is not to be messed with.

I thought about that but the dynamics of this storm we're odd. 30 miles north, where my delivery was, it was 26 and freezing hard in the roads, so I chose to shut down just before there. As it was, it was sticking to the bridges pretty good. In guessing that over time with experience, I'll be able to judge it more accurately. For now though, I error on the side of caution.

I did play with the truck in the snow at the DC, seeing where and how it would bust loose and how to get it back under control. It was really empty there. All at low speeds though. Also to practice backing on snow and ice.

Again, all we have in Ohio is wind, no expected snow soon, but . . . storm fronts are 'flippy' at BEST with this one. Some of our friends down the road STILL have no electricity, and our pal that does GFS/linehaul in CMH isn't risking it, either.

Good decisions, guys. IMHO and his.

~ Anne ~

Thanks! It is good to hear that from seasoned drivers that it is ok to make that decision. That part of me inside feels like I need to do it to help the company and be the best that I can... but the realistic part of me says its not worth it. Thanks for the validation.

40mph winds and blowing snow, my regular route was canceled and they wanted me to take another load to IL

Which terminal here? if I was a betting man I'd say RKI.

I've been doing this 4 years and would have called off just like you did. Try and survive your first winter and then next year you will feel more comfortable in worse weather.