Most mornings, when Tommy Lee turns the ignition and waits while his giant, 40 ton semi-truck groans to life, his breath is still visible. He then clocks in using an electronic log on his dashboard and begins his journey up I-70 from Denver to Grand Junction.
Lee drives this route at least four days a week in the winter, hauling food to McDonald’s restaurants on the Western Slope. The trip usually falls to him because he’s the most experienced driver at his company, and no other drivers want to do it.
“If you’re up [I-70] and you’re not prepared, it can be an absolute nightmare for you,” Lee said. “This can be the worst drive of your life.”…