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General Science / Re: When driving a truck in windy conditions, what speed is safest?
« on: 03/12/2015 03:48:39 »
I'm sorry, but you are over thinking it! Truckers don't need an answer that is exact...we just need a "ballpark" answer to help us evaluate the situation that we are currently experiencing.... forget adding/dropping partial amounts....forget road direction and wind direction....just figure on an absolutely perpendicular wind force. For instance... I know from experience that a 35mph wind can blow over an empty 53 ft. trailer that is attached to a truck......but what if the trailer has 25,000 lbs. of freight?....What is the wind speed that will blow it over?...and how do you figure it? We aren't mathematicians... and we know the formula won't be an exact numerical statement.....even our Bills of Lading that show a stated weight are commonly fabrications given to garner a specific price for shipping......rarely do any of us actually get to go over a scale other that the ones at ports of entry.....all we do is a best guess....If I think my weight is "x" lbs....how much wind speed in miles per hour will it take to blow me over if I am standing still?