Midwest Truckers Back On Road

by Ashley Kringen, Reporter
February 11, 2013 9:36 PM


Blizzard conditions over the weekend shut down sections of interstates throughout South Dakota.

For truck drivers hauling different items across the country, they rely on weather to do their job.

When weather is bad, this puts a damper on truck drivers hauling heavy weight on the road.

There are rules and regulations for truck drivers operating over-sized and regular sized trucks, when snow and rain are falling and roads are slick.

For some drivers, they're happy to be back working and hope to avoid any upcoming winter storms.

"I was fighting the snow weather," said Weelborg.

Michael Weelborg, originally from Iowa, hauls special equipment such as combines and tractors across the country.

Weelborg's truck is considered oversized, meaning wider or taller than regular trucks.

He was one of the drivers caught in the Midwest storm over the weekend.

"When the condition hits and we're out in it. Best thing we can do is slow down and try to avoid the traffic as much as we can," said Weelborg.

"I missed this storm here," said Struwve.

Jerry Struwve, from Minnesota, has been a truck driver for 35 years, transporting frozen products or fresh produce state-to-state.

Luckily he was at home when the wicked weather hit the Midwest, but recalls a recent storm in Minnesota that caused him quite the headache.

"I got stuck in our own lot picking up my truck and then when I went to pick up the road I got stuck," said Struwve.

Now, Struwve is heading to Salt Lake City, UT dreaming of sunshine and nice weather.

Weelborg is heading to Colorado and he's just hoping to miss any more storms on the way.

"I tell all the truck drivers to be careful out there and use your head," said Weelborg.

Some of the drivers in the Midwest use 511 to get current road conditions and construction projects for South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana and Kansas.

While sections of 1-90 and 1-29 were shut down during the storm, the Department of Transportation has now completely re-opened both interstates.