I wanted to repost this from last year this was my first blog on Chicken Trucker. I have seen a few trucks laying on their sides or the front end smashed in. With winter getting close to ending and spring Thunderstorms on the way this might be a good reminder to all of us to slow down increase falling distance.
April 9, 2008
I wanted to pass this on mostly for new drivers, maybe a reminder for the experience drivers. Last October I was involved in an accident after picking up a load. I wanted to share this experience with you with hopes you wont do the same dump mistake I did.
My co-driver (trainee) and I picked up a load at K-mart in Mira Loma, California that needed to be delivered in Brighton, Colorado. After we picked up the load I drove for a while then he took over. At 9:00 pm I went on duty the night before at 9:00 pm the load was delivered around 2:00 am. After I did the drop went to the nearest truck stop and went to sleep at about 3:00 am. At 7:00 am we received a pre-plan to pickup back at the K-mart DC going to Richfield, Utah. After checking the weather conditions to Utah we found a chain law was in effect on I70. We decided I would drive to the Denver terminal to fuel up (to add a little weight). Also wanted to wait out the storm up the hill.
We picked up the 15,000 pound load at 8:30 am headed west on 76. While I was traveling on the west bound I76 just approached US 85 at about 60 miles an hour the trailer began to drift to the right according to my co-driver I made a slight correction but it was to late. Lost complete control of the trailer, and the tractor followed suit. We hydroplaned across the freeway ending in the median. As we entered the median the truck started to roll over at this point I was looking up at my trainee with the sky behind him and he was looking down at me and the ground below me. At this point the words plow through came to mind so I stepped on the throttle and held onto the steering wheel tight. We "plowed" through the mud and came to a stop just prior to the EB side of the highway when we jacked-knifed. My first thought when we stop was I am such an idiot! Damaged the tractor and punched a hole in the right fuel tank which leaked about 20 - 25 gallons of fuel (per fire dept) the trailer was not damaged. DOT inspection showed no issues with the tractor or trailer.
I know the first thing everyone is thinking is I was going to fast for conditions which I was. With the heavy rains happening now I want to encourage everyone to slow down when conditions warrant. What is more important getting home to your family and delivering the load safely, or chancing not making the delivery or the return home? No load is that important I should have driven slower I had plenty of time for the delivery. Maybe even let my co-driver drive as he had his 10 hours off-duty he was more rested then I was.
2/26/09
Something I noticed the past couple of weeks how many of you while climbing a steep grade with a heavy load try to speed up more by trying to push the pedal through the floor of the truck? I noticed that after climbing a hill my right leg was a bit tired and sore? I started to pay attention to what I was doing and I realized I was pushing the throttle a little harder (to no avail) to get more speed. Since then my legs are no longer hurting after a climb and my speed has not changed.
Tags: Safety
