Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/287940
to Trucking Introduction 8 www.studentdriverplacement.com April '14 by Tim Brady S pring's sprung and with April showers comes severe weather. Let's check with our two still-learning truckers to see how they deal with this time of year OTR. What sources do you use to determine the weather along the route you'll take for a load? Naomi: Routing; then we look at Mycast and WeatherBug applications. Ben: I check online weather reports for the areas in which I'm traveling. I also have my girlfriend watch the Weather Channel and keep me updated. Do you have a severe weather alert system in your truck: weather radio, app on your phone, or ? Which do you fi nd most depend- able and why? Naomi: We have Weather Radio in the truck, and WeatherBug and Mycast have notifi cations for severe weather. I was a storm spotter for 9 years in Oklahoma, and I'm licensed for ham radio so I use it too. There's nothing better than the eye to ob- serve what a storm is actually doing. Ben: I have a weather band on my AM/FM. I also have a 'radar now' app on my phone that sends me weather alerts when the weather deteriorates within the area that I'm in. What if the area you're in is under a Tornado Watch? What if it turns into a Warning? Naomi: Watch: I keep a watchful eye. I turn off Sirius; tune in local radio. I jump on my ham radio and start asking and listening. Warning: I will pull over and go inside a building; watch local weather and possibly wait out the storm. Ben: During a watch I keep my CB on. I keep an eye out for tornadoes. I haven't been anywhere where there was a warn- ing, but if I was I would try to fi nd a sturdy building to get in if I have the time. If not, I'd fi nd a ditch to lay in if there isn't fl ood- ing. Avoid getting under overpasses. Ev- erything gets sucked under them. What's the worst spring storm you've ex- perienced OTR? What did you do to protect yourself? Naomi: A tornado in Rochelle .... I was at the Petro, already parked for the day. Si- rens were going off, so I went inside. High winds, rain, large hail but I was safe. I'd called my then-fi ancé so he knew where I was and what was going on, and promised I'd call as soon as the storm passed. And yes, I called him afterwards. Ben: Worst 'spring storm' I've been in was Hurricane Isaac. I was in Southern Louisi- ana. There was a lot of bad wind and rain. What It's Really Like Trucking, Part 28 April showers bring Spring's severe weather! Continued on page 12... intro trucking 0414.indd 1 3/20/14 1:47 PM