Winter Storm Fern and How it Impacts Trucking
A major storm named Fern is brewing, which is expected to cover the United States’ landmass housing over 220 million people. Here are the details you need to know.
Emergency Declarations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is already on the case, declaring a State of Emergency for states affected by Fern:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The list is expansive, and drivers hauling essential goods such as heating oils and blankets are exempt from the hours-of-service rule until they feel the need to take a break or complete a delivery. More information can be found on the FMCSA Declaration’s webpage.
Safety
This is not the first time that chilling temperatures have brought on driver exemptions, but it is important to once again stress the importance of “winterizing” your truck. Basic tips to help you succeed in making deliveries include:
- Avoid driving at night when possible. Not only is it naturally colder, but the darkness can combine with snowy conditions to make it difficult to see.
- Drive below the speed limit. Speed limits posted on highways assume optimal weather conditions. Depending on how icy the road is, it is imperative to drive five to twenty miles per hour slower.
- Have an emergency kit. If the worst-case scenario happens and you find yourself trapped in your truck while waiting for help, a box containing blankets, non-perishable food, water, and some sort of entertainment such as a book can make all the difference.
Conclusion
With 220 million Americans boxing themselves into their houses for the foreseeable future to protect themselves against the wind chill, it is up to America’s truckers to get vital goods to their destinations so as to keep the nation up and running. This is not the first time we have seen such conditions, and likely will not be the last, so it is best to be prepared each winter for when the time comes.
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