In this ever-changing environment, on a planet with it’s own agenda, what was once so hard to predict has evolved into what falls short of Headline news, but over these last few years, seems to be just shy of being top story headlines on page one. The weather has always had a place of discussion in our daily lives, and for what now seems like a short period of time; it was the weatherman who was considered wrong again, along with grief of late postal deliveries. Looking
back, I think we simply needed something to direct our impatience and lack of understanding at. Today, it has been replaced with “Rushing the Microwave” and how slow things happen on the internet highway.

Today, the weatherman has so many resources of electronic monitoring devices that enhance the barometer, temperature, and wind currents, it no longer can be ignored; by not tuning in, the focus on why we got caught in the rain unprepared falls on self-reflection. So much of our daily planning now has little reason not to include checking the weather, not only before you go, but to know as you go. In
many ways, even logistics looks good on paper, but the results will lead to many lateness’s in changing seasons if it doesn’t conform to the weather, and the other environment…Construction.

During this winter season of January and February, the first thing done while putting on my boots was tune into the local weather (stated purposely, to bring out importance over the local news). Ice stops the operation of transportation,
snow delays the trip, and rain still brings the need to limit one’s speed. So, by knowing what I awoke to meant whether my next move was to go for breakfast, or call first and know about an appending delay. Not everyone heads the focus
on managing their day by using the resources of the weather, and they will deal with the issues as they arise. For the late risers, it’s the traffic trapped on roadways that tell them to stay put, and an appreciation of those who chose to go first, and deal with that rising issue of being trapped.

Thanks to many broadcasts that even go to great lengths to explain the appending change of weather, the concept of wanting to understand the storm track, and
temperature change in fronts have gained an interest, especially in the business of transportation. Then again, if you just travel locally, or to neighboring counties or states, the amount of information needed is limited to just that area, and at that moment. My point is that it is now the viewer who
chooses to be ill-informed and not the weather crew and staff. Strangely enough, the weather can be seen and planned for days in advance, and looking beyond the locality of the working location needs to become the introduction of
understanding. Yes, the five-day forecast is locally forecasted, but if viewed to what is happening thousands of miles ahead today, may now make us choose to predict what will occur a few days later, when it gets here.

Like monitoring a bank account, tuning in on a daily basis, and even twice a day, will help us build a conclusion of how to deal with it when it does arrive, and take notice of how it changed as it passed from one region to another. The
direction of a storm is not always a straight line, and the changing weather fronts can force it out of our way, and later redirect it in out path. As it comes closer to us, it will take an understanding of how much we need to tune in to see if it grew or weakened, and as it arrived, check the status every
other hour; since a rainstorm in magnitude may be a wet day, but in small “cells” may include violence of wind and electricity. All this comes with self-education and understand, and then, through practice and routine.

Some time last year, I started just twittering the words, “Know as You Go”, and a quick info text of what I saw coming my way. It was more like a nudge to give a simple awareness to what may come in my direction in a matter of the next days
to follow. As winter season draws to its conclusion, I decided to keep watching the weather as my traveling (work related) routine. And still, being new to my new practice (unlicensed and experimental), I submitted my usual text surmising
my awareness that with all the snow melting, and the days of rain coming there might be some areas of flooding, and to be vigilant. As the days passed, the headlines would certainly be about the Mississippi River swelling, to include levies opened from Kentucky through specific areas and finally to Baton Rouge.

In between the snow and the 2011 spring flood, we all became aware of the amount of tornados, with what seemed like one night of lacking awareness that would take lives from Tuscaloosa to Atlanta. Even I saw the news after it occurred. I guess the importance of the weather fell lower on my agenda, since it is the snow and ice that most certainly slows down my load plans. I also became less attentive, since when the snow season ended, “construction season” began, and I was taken off guard on one load from Illinois to Pennsylvania, with a charted route along I-70. And in comparison to a Christmas movie, “Yes Virginia, there is a ““Construction Season””.

I also know my awareness to the importance of this novice routine began when I started commercial driving, but even then, I was still part of the “in crowd” who dealt with it as it crossed my path. It has been only the last 20 months that
focusing on how to use the weather forecasts as part of my routine trip planning, lead me to speak of this revelation, and inform others of what may be approaching. So now, the bets on how accurate the weatherman will be wrong, just might sway to this “Know As You Go” driver, but don’t kill the messenger, I am only relaying what I heard and see. That flood notice really brought importance to me. I mean, I only relied on what has occurred about this time from the years before, but like a Farmers’ Almanac, I didn’t know the gravity
the situation to become. I did know how to avoid it though. Trucks don’t float. Although in moving lines of water, they can be taken away.

I still have not found a key resource on how to plan on construction sites, except to make note to refer back to upon second and third trips, and a search will go on throughout the year to seek a site or two that will serve my purpose in
planning. In the meantime, the Know As You Go texts will continue. Looking back at years past, we have an undetermined period of calming weather…before storm
season (which in my youth I referred to as hurricane season) arrives. Some Weather reporters chose a calendar date of June 1^st, as a guideline, and I am right there with them. And although the strength of the season brings more chances of lightning storms, and hurricanes, around August and September, but it starts in June when the small “cells” race by and take certain areas by surprise. We dress for sunshine, and roam trails and fields, and plan on trips to visit family and friends. And a storm cloud catches what seems a very few by
surprise…but with damaging and tragic results.

The weather remains unpredictable and ever-changing, and for so many, it is still the last two parts of the nightly news. But building an understanding of looking beyond what may occur for the next day may actually become a practice and exercise that helps us prepare, delay, and even move up plans in the future. After all, we all do become experts at “dealing with it as it comes”. Advancing to planning to avoid it may be the next trend to develop.

So, without stealing the thunder of all those professional weather forecaster, but joining a team of messengers, I’ll continue with a quick “heads up” text. Do as you wish with it. Maybe you’ll even challenge yourself to make part of your daily activity. Knowing that there is a change in the weather does not always mean cancellation, rather, arriving earlier. Knowing two hours before it arrives
will also help in focusing on the activity, or taking it indoors, with plenty of time to gather your belongings as well.

Stay safe. Stay well. Stay informed; and know as you go.