18 Mph Winds

I am getting unloaded at Wal-mart in grandveiw wa. Then headed empty 50 miles to the loves in prosser wa. Still new only 3 months. I think I can make it slow 45mph. Just asking for a little advice

18 mph should hardly be felt, but just go only as fast as you're comfort level allows. Nobody started out as an experienced professional driver. You're going to be okay!

PackRat is right, it should be fine. However just because another driver is ok running it, doesn't mean that you should, or "have to" run it.

A lot of wind speed is dependant on the direction the wind is hitting the trailer. Obviously a headwind or tailwind is best case scenario.

I use this chart as one of the tools for decision making. I caution that it is NOT gospel, and is only a starting point to make an informed choice.

To be clear, this is a more general statement regarding driving to YOUR abilities, and not trying to keep up with some other random driver because you feel pressured to out drive your abilities.

However just because another driver is ok running it, doesn't mean that you should, or "have to" run it.

High winds are one of my biggest fears. I really only get nervous about it when I have to drive with under 15,000lbs and gusts are approaching the high 30's(mph). Especially if winds are coming from the sides and I have to cross a bridge. At that speed you can definitely feel the wind pushing you around. Like PackRat said, 18mph shouldn't be a problem. And as both PackRat and NaeNae pointed out it's ultimately up to you to decide what conditions you feel safe driving in.

Roger, are you dry van or refrigerated? You can withstand more wind speed with the heavier refrigerated trailer, even when empty. One advantage of doing refrigerated freight. I do reefer and 18 mph winds would not concern me.

18 mph should by all means be fine. It's vital to understand direction and gust speeds as well as average sustained though. Wind is a dynamic force that constantly changes.

Many of our trucks radios have NOAA all hazards weather radio, if not many CBs have it. It's my goto for weather info.

I frequently get very light loads into known high wind areas. I just simply google cities/towns along my route with the words wind speed. Willyweather will come up, it's real time based off noaa. Gives gust and mean average plus direction. I do this in the trip planning phase, before I start out.

Another app I use is driveweather. Gives you temp, storms, wind speed along your route adjusts by time you will be on the route. 7 bucks a year. Again this is done during the planning and recon phase for me. This app usually says the wind speed as lower than noaa.

Below is a sample of willyweather on a town i came through and a sample of driveweather for my trip tomorrow. I often trip plan the night before and check again before I leave.

... headed empty 50 miles to the loves in prosser wa.

Only if you take a side trip to Yakima. The distance between the Walmart DC in Grandview (546 Woodall Rd, Grandview, WA 98930) to the Love's in Prosser (546 Woodall Rd, Grandview, WA 98930) is only 8.8 miles on I-82.

You'll be fine going through South Central Washington. The winds are pretty uniform because it's flat country. You have to watch out in Wyoming and Colorado because the mountains on either side of the road will protect you until you reach a valley on either side of the road then your truck gets hit with a BLAST of wind after you've been driving for miles with barely any.

My first time hauling doubles it was 70 mile gusts and 3 trucks were on their sides I ended up going like 25 the whole day. But all that matters is that you get there in one piece, the journey in between doesn't have to look pretty.