Since monsoonal rains drenched western Colorado this summer, trucking companies have been scrambling to dig themselves out of a hole.
The storms hit during the year’s generally dry months, causing severe mudslides that shut down a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 70 in the Glenwood Canyon area, some 160 miles west of Denver, many times. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, this is part of a critical corridor for long-haul freight and agricultural products (CDOT).
Denney Transport’s sales manager, Erica Denney, described the situation as “unique” for Colorado carriers. It’s been particularly challenging for companies like hers who operate fleets of refrigerated trailers; she told FreightWaves.
“We have deadlines and a limited shelf life.” Denney added, “We have to keep things at a certain temperature.” “That was an additional battle we had to fight against versus a dry shipment that might arrive late but won’t spoil.”
Denney Transport mainly transports perishable goods. Erica has worked for her father’s company for the past six years. She’s worked in the trucking industry her entire life.
Denney Transport hauls around 75% of its freight down I-70 from Denver to Southern California. There was no way around the closures without incurring a hit, unfortunately.
Due to mudslides and debris flows, CDOT had to shut down the route seven times between late June and mid-August. The most extended shut-down lasted just over two weeks.
“We were always in contact with our shippers, saying, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on, this is what’s occurring.'” “Those who have been excellent partners with us have paid us a little bit extra over some time,” Denney added.
Denney went on to say that the corporation tried to split the difference whenever possible.
To keep drivers going, they were rerouted to either Interstate 80 or 40, but time was lost getting a product delivered and drivers to their subsequent loads. Other regional alternatives, which are primarily county roads, would take even longer. As Denney put it, efficiency was “out the window.”
Despite government waivers addressing electronic logging devices and hours of service requirements, the corporation didn’t want drivers staying on the road too long and becoming weary of making up for a missed time.
Denney management tried to accommodate unhappy drivers by redirecting them to easterly routes to escape the Glenwood Canyon closures. However, because these hauls account for a considerably smaller portion of the revenue, some drivers eventually leave.
Denney said she couldn’t estimate how much money the company had lost because of the many aspects involved, including extra miles and gasoline, missed time, additional truck maintenance, and the loss of a few drivers. But it’s been a rough road.
“We took a pounding. “At the end of the day, we took a significant hit, and it was quite irritating for a time when it was constant,” Denney said.
Rainfall totaled over 10 inches in areas of the Glenwood Canyon from late June to early July and late July to early August. This wiped out vast swaths of land, including the mountain above where the Grizzly Creek fire raged last year. Almost everything that held the mountain together crumbled, resulting in mudslides and debris from the fire’s burn scar.
CDOT has maintained continuing rockfall protection measures in Glenwood Canyon for several years and anticipated debris flows owing to the burn scar, according to Elise Thatcher, a CDOT communications manager. CDOT constructed extra rockfall barriers in the fall of 2020 to prepare.
“It’s crucial to remember that the materials flow that occurred this summer… were exacerbated by a large amount of rain in a short period in one location.” There was at least one spot where rain dropped near the burn scar but not on it, and there was a substantial flow of rocks,” Thatcher added. “This suggests that weather, not simply the burn scar, will play a substantial role in future material flows.”
CDOT also put shredded wood straw mulch over 29 acres of scorched soil next to I-70 and within the CDOT right-of-way, a limited footprint along the canyon bottom, after the Grizzly Creek fire.
The US Forest Service is in charge of long-term stabilization solutions for Glenwood Canyon. According to Thatcher, flooding occurrences in other sections of the state affecting CDOT roads had improved stabilization after four to five years.
Because there is more trash to clear up and more road damage to repair, CDOT regularly closes lanes. Weather permitting, the next closure will be from 10 p.m. CT Thursday until 6 a.m. CT Friday. I-70’s eastbound lanes will be closed between exits 116 and 133. The westbound lanes will not be completed. When the National Weather Service issues a flash flood warning for the area, CDOT also conducts preemptive closures.
Denney is pleased with the CDOT’s accomplishments and values the excellent communication between the Colorado Motor Carriers Association and its members and between the CDOT and the CMCA.
“We’re relieved that the worst is hopefully behind us,” Denney remarked.
