Stopped for the night at MM 152 on 1-90 in SD!

I didn't like this morning, not at all!  Once I hit Crow Territory just before leaving Montana, the roads became nasty with ice and flying snow.  I am finding out that the reservations are a little slow in taking care of the freeways that go through their land.  I came across a FedEx tractor with two trailers off the road, a flipped over pickup truck and yet, here I am going 40 miles an hour while all these idiots are passing me!  I was at my wits end when I got an urgent message on the computer and pulled over at the first truck stop.

Low and behold, the company wanted me to swap loads.....with another driver who could not go into Canada.  And we are not talking at the border but 600 miles north of the border!  I called my dispatcher and stated I could NOT take the load.  She stated that we run in all weather conditions.  I stated that I past a flipped pickup and a tractor/trailer off the road, I was driving on ice and it was snowing.......and no chains!  I then started crying (gads) and told her I was too scared and unprepared to take a load north.  Shit!  I have only been driving since March, I am hauling a extremely light load and have never put on chains.  Talk about taking me from the frying pan directly to the fire!

While trying to calm down, a fellow driver stopped to ask me if I knew anything about the storm as he was heading north.  He saw my tears and asked if I was ok.  I stated what I told you all and never putting on chains that I don't have.  He stood there and smiled.......and asked "Wanna learn?"

He reminded me of what I learned in school which seems years ago and I chained one tired.  He then asked if I was feeling better.  I was and thank the dear boy (he was around Jame's age).  When I got back to the truck, that load to Canada was cancelled and I could proceed with my load.  When I returned to the freeway, the plows had been through and I stayed ahead of the storm......expecting clear roads in the morning.  YEEHAW!

I am off to bed shortly as we will lose an hour tomorrow........and dang nab it, they better keep me south as this stress is not worth 26 cents a mile!