Friday, February 22, 2013

The re-opening of Interstate 70 through the western half of Kansas meant back to work for many truck drivers Friday.

However, getting back to work after a weather delay is not as simple as just jumping in the truck and moving.

"It started getting bad and I had plenty of time to make it to my delivery and then that backfired," said truck driver Minda Kenner.

She pulled into a Salina truck stop Tuesday afternoon. Her delivery was scheduled for 10 p.m. Thursday in Longmont, Colo., but because the weather forced the closure of I-70, it didn't happen.

The delivery has been rescheduled for early monday morning, so now Kenner is in a holding pattern.

"And a non-paid holding pattern, so that's a downfall," she said.

That's what makes weather delays so frustrating for truck drivers, but Kenner said there is not much truckers can do except try to make the best of those delays.

"Get lots of rest and just try to stay positive," she said. "Try to turn off the CB because that's when everybody's talking negative."

For drivers who were able to get back on the road, conditions on I-70 and on I-135 were improving rapidly Friday.

"It seems like we're on the road to recovery, but my understanding is we've got some more storms coming this Sunday," said Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Ben Gardner. "We'll get ready and prepared for the next event."

The potential for that next event has Kenner worried. It is forecast to arrive about the time she needs to hit the road to make her Colorado delivery.

"It's not looking any better," she said. "I just can't wait until spring."