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Semi-truck drivers struggle through winter conditions

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OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Off Interstate 80, westward just outside the metro, semi drivers from Idaho to Michagan are passing through with little trouble Sunday afternoon.

One trucker from Utah says she's seen it all.

"I drive all 48 states so I'm everywhere all the time, you get used to the weather," Sabrina Bradley said.

Bradley is driving westbound on Interstate 80, the same way another driver was heading when road conditions caused the truck to slide and jackknife. The driver was okay, the accident delayed traffic for nearly two hours.

"I heard about it as i was driving through town," Bradley said. "Driving too fast for conditions--that's usually why these things happen."

Bradley says courtesy can go a long way. Don't get too eager to pass a semi.

Speeding up to pass a semi can make things tricky for a driver pulling a lot of weight. Sabrina had a close call last night when snow started to fall in Omaha.

This is a lot of weight, this is a big machine," Bradley said. "I had people passing me last night in the snow and they were passing on the shoulder because you couldn't see the road--it hadn't been plowed yet."

Other troubles come from cars on the shoulder. Bradley pointed to one car that seemed to be abandoned on I-80.

"If snow's falling and you're pulled over like that, we can't see you," Bradley said. "We don't know to move over and get out of your way."

"We're responsible for driving for everyone out here. We have to drive for everyone else on the road because they don't know how to react to us."