Question:
I've seen a number of posts that address snow and ice, braking, etc. But I can't recall seeing anything that deals with driving in the wind. Maybe some of you would like to discuss this. It's been a difficult area that I've had to deal with and maybe now that I have a better understanding of the dynamics, I can help you a little.
So - it's windy outside. Can you drive in it safely? Well that depends on a number of factors. Here they are:
1. Wind speed. A wind of 20 mph is reported to be strong enough to blow over an empty trailer. So keep that speed in mind as we go through this discussion.
20 miles per hour is also the speed it takes to hold a standard sized flag fully unfurled.
2. Wind direction. If you are on a parallel travel path relative to the direction of the wind, it doesn't matter what the wind speed is, generally. You aren't going to get blown over sideways by a wind that's bypassing you in the next lane.
3 Gust ratios. If the wind is steady at 15 mph, but gusting at 32, that's over 15 mph in the gusts. That's a pretty high ratio, and could be a problem. However, a steady wind at 32 could be safer than the gusty situation I just described.
4. Your weight. No, not YOUR weight, but your truck and trailer. The lighter you are the easier it is to be affected by the wind.
5. Other factors: rain, ice, road surface (such as a milled asphalt).
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Things to do; things to avoid....
1. Watch for cues. Look at the flags, look at the trees, the grasses, the bushes, even debris on the road that's blowing in the wind. See what direction and with what force those items are being blown. Watch for "dust devils" (as we call them in the west); these are miniature tornadoes that swirl around at high speeds. If you get into one it can really jar you.
2. Listen to the weather reports on NOAA. As weird-sounding as that computer generated voice is, you get pretty good info from that channel.
3. Don't grip the wheel tightly. Keep a light touch on the wheel, but be firm in the direction you want to travel. You don't want to get fatigued, and you don't want to overreact. You are GUIDING your trailer, not forcing it.
4. Don't jerk the wheel. This is a very easy way for your trailer to topple. When the wind blows you to one side, gently turn your vehicle back to your lane, but don't snap it back towards the lane.
5. Try to maintain a steady speed. Don't vary your speed too much; doing this can alter the way your vehicle behaves in unexpected ways. You can set your cruise to help accomplish this.
6. Don't let other drivers make your decisions for you. Just because another driver seems to be doing okay with the conditions doesn't mean you should be able to as well. He is driving a different truck, he has a different load. He may have more skills, or he may be an idiot. Make your own decisions, and use your own judgement. And stand your ground if dispatch tries to cajole you, threaten you, intimidate you, or otherwise tries to get you to drive in what you consider unsafe conditions.
7. If you have to stop because of unsafe conditions, try to park in a wind-protected area, if possible. Or park in the same direction the wind is travelling.
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There are some different theories I have heard regarding how to manage your truck in windy conditions. Some people theorize that if you exceed the wind speed, you can "outrun" the wind simply by overcoming the force of the wind. Others follow more conventional wisdom, one that is usually supported by the safety department at most companies, and that is to slow down. By driving slower, you have more time to respond to whatever is happening on the road.
Basic rules of strategy: if it's windy and you barely notice it, you're probably okay to drive. Keep an eye on what your trailer is doing, how it is reacting to the wind. If you have to work to maintain control, it's probably still okay. Just slow down and exercise patience. If you are fighting for control of your vehicle, it's time to think about pulling off the road. The next level is a complete loss of control, and that, my friend, is too late.
Driving in windy conditions can require all the concentration of an orange juice factory, and all the patience of a kindergarten teacher with a bunch of 5 year olds on a field trip. If you find yourself in the wind, remember this: no storm ever lasted forever.

Answer:
If you see Dorothy and Toto....Park


Answer:
Wind/weather, good topic.
I pull a tanker, fully loaded, wind doesn't affect me too much. Empty is another story. I Dead Head quite a bit.
When the wind starts to pick up, many time this is an indicator there is a storm somewhere. That storm can be as far away as 300 miles, sometimes more, or, it can be right in your area heading your way and you'll feel the effects of it even though there is not a cloud in the sky.
Sometimes you literally drive into a wall of wind. It can happen that fast. The filp side, you can drive out of the wind that fast too!
High winds raise holly hell with van type trailers and some flatbed loads. A good gust of wind can turn over a trailer "FAST" I saw a video someone took driving in a car behind a rig, over it went. The driver should have known, his trailer was moving side to side pretty darn good in the video, he just kept going until it blew over. Dumb, $100,000 plus rig.
Just about every year rigs get blown over. Not all are a drivers fault. Some winds are known as a rogue wind. A wind can blow out of nowhere, especially driving out west. I've been hit by a rogue wind several times over the years. You say to yourself, "where in the hell did that come from".
Driving through canyons, you can get hit hit with terrific winds that tunnel like a wind tunnel through the canyon walls. A 30mph wind can become a 70mph wind blowing through the narrows.
Years ago, one of our drivers was hit by such a wind going through Texas canyon in AZ. It flipped the empty lowboy trailer .
If it starts to get windy, look for a storm, the higher the wind the bigger and more powerful the storm. The pressure drop from a powerful storm raises hell with the atmosphere far out from the storms center.
Last summer there was a big storm heading east near the I-80 corrider, west, CA , NV and Ut area. The winds from that storm reached all the way down to I-10 in AZ and NM. The winds in Mojave were gusting at 70mph. (clear sky)
Where the two weather fronts meet, hot air, high pressure system/cold air, a low pressure system is what usually causes the winds. Over the years you will often drive through these weather fronts and can see them and in many cases, feel it. Driving in vast open areas like the mid west and west, you can see great distances.
Knowing this, you can often drive out of the wind when you see clear skies off in the distance. Once you start to get into the clear skies, (high pressure system), the winds will eventually subside or drop off altogether.
Slowing your rig to a crawl will help prevent a turn over until you can get to a safe place to park.
Winds on ice/snow will blow/slide the trailer into a jackknife. It can blow the trailer right into the other lane. and hit a car or a truck along side of you. Knocking them off the road too! I saw this in SD on I-90 this past winter, luckily the driver gased on it and managed to pull the trailer out of a 30 degree angle. Fortunately, I was behind him, not along side of him. The road was covered with snow.
Running with a loaded tanker, I can drive through near hurricane force winds. I've run through a number of tropical storms heading in and out of FL over the years. My carrier is based in FL.
In bad weather, snow/wind, mountain snows, give me a loaded tanker with 48,000 to 50,000 lbs in it.

Answer:
hey, dak1, i agree totally about the weight. I would rather have a heavy load in windy conditions than run empty or light. You really added a lot of valuable info to this discussion. I have come out from underpasses that act as wind barriers, only to be hit again, just as if I had exited a tunnel.
Lately, I've had a run of light loads in windy conditions. I will run as long as I know I'm able to control the vehicle. But like you, if it's a matter of fighting for that control, I'm pulling into a safe place to stop.
How aggravating it is to be running slow to maintain control with a 6000 lb load, and have other drivers offer derisive comments about your skills, while they are claiming to be running empty at 5 above the speed limit.
Fortunately my dispatcher doesn't give me a hard time about my judgement. I received a qualcomm message once thanking me for putting safety first! It was a light load and could have easily toppled in the wind.