Everyone knows that trucking is a tough job. Not just driving, but every aspect of trucking can be dangerous, so it’s always important for drivers to be alert and aware of their surroundings. Unfortunately, when something does go wrong, keeping your head about you is always even more difficult.
On December 21st, a driver by the name of Nathan Tobias was killed while putting out warning triangles around his vehicle. He had just been rear-ended by another tractor trailer, so he did what he was supposed to do and went to place warning triangles to warn other drivers and keep them safe. According to a news release from the Louisiana State Police, the initial accident occurred at 1:45am.
While he was placing the triangles, a 19-year old driving in the opposite direction in a pickup truck accidentally hit and killed Tobias. Trooper Jared Sandifer of the Louisiana State Police said that there was no sign of alcohol impairment, nor were any of the drivers over hours. The driver that initially rear-ended Tobias was cited for careless operation and the teenager was charged with negligent homicide and careless operation.
Nathan Tobias was following all the rules, but sometimes even when you do everything right, something can go horribly wrong. As always, stay sharp, keep your head on a swivel, and be safe out there.
Next Story: Brake Failure Leads To Manslaughter Conviction, Appeal
Source: landline, theadvocate
Trucker says
When? Let’s get this strike going and shut it down, the only way we are going to get what we deserve. Pick a date
Dan M says
Nobody is going to shut down the transportation industry because a truck driver carelessly set out his triangles. (Get real)! You are probably thinking about the old days when that sort of uncontrolled action could happen. Besides, the CSA would not allow it to happen and you are dreaming to think that old control method would ever work again. The CSA has taken that sort of control action away from you and you just don’t know it yet. LOL.
What ever happened to the MOVEOVER law? I always slow down and move over to the next lane.
Sorry the driver lost his life in this accident.
Jason says
I think what the problem is, Is that laws for 4wlrs are severely advantaged towards trucks. The organazations and companies don’t fight they are useless in Washington as they are in the trucking industry. AtA, what is it they do? I hear all the time Ata is helping to make drivers safe by changing the HOS rules. It seems log books are the only concern. What about the discrimination we see in certain states. And the behavior of drivers being overlooked while a big truck can face major fines. Professional drivers? If you have a licenses you should be considered professional or responsible for your actions. The investigations always lean to 4wlr when 90% of the time it’s the 4wlrs fault. But law enforcement doesn’t see laws broke, (when you race ahead and jump in front of a truck and pound the brakes it should be endangering the public, or texting or typing on laptops and reading paper, left leg out drivers window, not leaving trucks room to stop or to maintain a safe distance, merging at low speeds on on ramps, improper lane changes, erratic lane changes, no signaling, lights not working, agressive driving, jumping 2-4 lanes of traffic cause ur exit is near, or construction zones when it say right lane closed 1mile and every asshole races up to that mile to force their way in). Thats just a few. And we see these on daily basis, What laws are commonly broke to pull a driver over? Lights, random, improper lane, or change, speeding, failure to indicate turn or my favorite failure to observe traffic control device. My point is that laws are made up by useless cowards who hide behind titles, have no on contesting the rediculous laws and if we want to stand a chance drivers then do what is the new way to show strength by numbers and for a drivers protection service to fight in Washington for better rights, better civil liberties, stop with discrimination and start fighting for better over the road laws concerning trucking companies and other drivers, and the general public. Who do we have to fight for us? ATA yeah sure have money to slide in their pockets? All these other organazations what do they do? Nothing!
Jason says
Well said Jason. Well said.
Paul says
Why call it strike? Vacations are not illegal.
RIP Nathan Tobias.
Greg Lightning says
I’d like to pay my respects to Nathan Tobias..The road is a cold unforgiving place where mental midgets roam with weapons on 4 wheels…It’s a shame what 4 wheelers get away with every day from the little things like using a turn signal to nearly running us over at 90 mph when we are on the shoulder getting a flat fixed…I’ve been on the side of the road many times and very rarely does a cop stop to see if I’m ok..
I would think to even consider such a thing ,strike / vacation , whatever you want to call it all truckers/CDL holders would all have to be on the same page…I hate the nasty word “Union”…But possibly a Co-Op CDL holders Union organization of sorts where we all have a say and Im sure most of us would say the same thing..A little respect, maybe let up with all the regulation on the law abiding rigs an go after the junk patrol 18 wheelers, Lower the cost of fuel and raise the rates so we can actually make a living…The big challenge is company drivers who will scab away for fear of job loss and the already financially choked Owner-Op’s struggling to make it an can’t quit..It’s the way the Corporate Political Puppet Control America wants us…Down and needy , Oppression & fear is their main tools, It keeps us stupid truckers in line…right?…When in reality they need us, Everything you consume, use, throwaway and even drive is more than likely moved by a truck. You seriously don’t think they are going to leave their cushy desk job where they get to go home each day to do what we do on the highways as modern cowboys..Consider the ramification’s to the country if every truck stopped right where they were no matter where it was blocking the highways or the loading docks for just 1 day..This country would go into overload..Now consider doing it for a month..Think they might wanna talk to us an work out a living relationship? I bet they would…So until we can all get on the same page nothing will change, That’s the reality of it like it or not
Rest in Peace Nathan
Scott says
Dan is right but here in Texas they have the move over law for Emergency Vehicles you either get in that left lane or slow down to 35mph My buddy and me drive @a freight company and he was trapped in the right lane but didnt bother slowing down because they were off in the ditch conducting business,Next thing ol boy knows woo woo woo He was getting them legs strapped,You cant trust know one in todays world and especially not on the shoulder of the road,You hear about it at least every morning on the news here in Houston about somebody getting plowed that was on the shoulder,You know that ol break down lane? The people nowadays get a license way too easily because if they had to clear the hurdles and red tape and get medically certified the road would look much different,Its as you know a revenue thing,The states want their money and let the public and the insurance deal with the dummies and their distractions,We live and operate in a hypocritical country!
Kevin says
Something has to be done shortly, they are just getting further and further out of hand with us. It is a shame when in certain states, Ohio being one, that you feel like a criminal driving down the road, you pass a officer going the other direction and they stare at you like you are a criminal. So many of the accidents on the highway are caused by the 4 wheelers but the trucks take the blame because that’s the way they have made it, and a lot of the general public know this and its like handing them a free pass to drive like idiots. Come on guys, it would only take a couple days and we would have a lot better life doing our jobs, this country can not survive without us, you know it, I know it, and so do they. Lets pick a date and actually do it this time, not just threaten, but do it, again it would only take 2 to 3 days max and they would be at our mercy, all we would need is 70% of us on board, that would be enough to make a statement. If we don’t do something soon, our industry and lively hoods are going to be in grave danger, then we are all going to wish we would of did something about it. Lets pick a day and make it happen…………