Run away trucks

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by ISLAND WARRIOR, Jun 5, 2009.

  1. ISLAND WARRIOR

    ISLAND WARRIOR Bobtail Member

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    Apr 3, 2009
    MAMI FLORIDA
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    I see a lot of run away truck ramps i hawaii and california. My question...have you ever had to utilize the run away truck ramp, and do the cables actually stope the trucks or do the weight and speed of the trucks snap the cables like rubberbands??
     
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  3. leannamarie

    leannamarie "California Girl"

    The truck ramps here coming off of Donner Summit work. Trucks sink in the deep gravel. Very expensive tow bill to get pulled out. The second ramp though sometimes doesn't stop the trucks. Twice in recent history I can remember a runaway truck running all the way to the end, dropping off onto the train track below, and then getting hit by a train.
     
  4. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,677
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    Sep 18, 2006
    the road less travelled
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    They must work, there is one I know of near here, it's lit at night, too.

    Around here, they use sand,or fine pea gravel(looks about like sand)
     
  5. Truck Driver

    Truck Driver Medium Load Member

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    Sacramento, CA
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    I'd have to loose it right in front of the ramp to ever hope I could get it in there. I'd probably have to lay down it in the least dangerous spot I could find and hope I don't drown in mag chloride or something. One guy told me after he almost lost it that he was hanging out the door with one foot on the running board looking for a place to ditch and it just so happend that he ran out of hill before he could. More than brake fade, the worst danger for me is coming down just a little to fast and rolling it on a curve.
     
  6. gixxer32404

    gixxer32404 Light Load Member

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    Florida
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  7. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    Oct 23, 2005
    Vegas/Jersey
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    I've seen a few trucks in them and even talked to a driver that had to use one. If they have the gravel and soft sand they should stop the truck but if the ground is hard the truck will fly right through it.

    But let me tell you this. If you do find yourself without brakes (which is stupid in the first place) you'd better take the ramp because you will be held liable for what that truck does. If it goes on and kills someone you'll be charged. The courts will look at the case as you had a chance to stop but didn't take it.

    You'll also pay alot for the towing and if a LEO comes along the ticket is costly too. But still much better than sitting in jail or going through civil and criminal court.
     
  8. 1nonly

    1nonly tease-y-ness

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    The burning sands of the SW
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    The only time I was on a truck ramp was on a simulator. The controller disabled my brakes, and I had completely lost control by the time I got to the ramp, and I hit it sideways and rolled the truck, which was quite interesting seeing the world turn on it's side with no sensation of tipping over :D

    The worst part was when the controller told me that he'd had a number of drivers who pass the ramp thinking they can regain control while going downhill with no brakes. That's scary.
     
  9. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Rosamond, SoCal
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    You wont use them twice.
     
  10. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    May 6, 2007
    Mississippi
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    Cables ???

    I've never noticed any cables ??

    I have seen my share of frame polishing ramps, with trucks parked on them though. Some even had motorhomes parked there.
     
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