Shortly after delivering my load of Nintendo freight to the UPS facility in Maumee, Ohio, the snow started falling. The massive weather system had been right behind us for the prior several hours. The snow fell heavily and accumulated to surprising depths on the interstate travel lane. Such weather is especially perilous for a bobtail tractor - as we have 10 wheels so evenly distributing our weight, with very little to pull the tire treads to bare asphalt.
I had a little trouble stopping at the end of a freeway exit ramp, as I was on my way to Lowe's to pick up an empty trailer. I did manage to come to a complete stop before the intersection, however. My rig had significantly more traction after I was connected to the empty trailer. For a while, only a freight train & a state trooper were as daring as I was to be out in the driving snow.
I drove about 30 miles south on I-75, keeping my speed close to 40mph. A fellow trucker chose to follow me, as I kept a pretty good path on the indistinguishable lanes. Sometimes the rumble strips helped me regain my bearings. I wrapped up my work day near Lima, Ohio - parking on a downslope, near the exit. I usually frown on drivers who park here, but I wanted to make absolutely sure that my co-driver wouldn't be unnecessarily stuck when he went to leave. Rigs with empty trailers don't get much traction either, although it is an improvement over being bobtail. 5 inches of snow had already fallen & it was the slippery kind. Mr. H had to linger for a few hours,at the truckstop, to meet our customer's appointment time.
After enjoying a McDonald's happy meal for dinner, I went to bed without worrying about anything. (Yes, a Happy Meal :-))
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