New truck driver training has been a point of fierce debate for longer than most truckers have been on the road, with many worried that new drivers are learning only enough to pass a test and nothing else. It seems that at least one new driver could have benefitted from better training after she destroyed a bridge with a max weight of 6 tons by driving her truck with 43,000lbs of cargo over it. Her reason? She didn’t know how much a ton weighs in pounds.
Mary Lambright, a 23-year-old trucker who has had her CDL since May of 2015, was driving a 2015 Volvo with a trailer hauling 43,000 pounds of bottled water when she missed a turn. She was in an area she knew and had driven in many times before in her personal vehicle, so she knew she could circle back another way over a bridge.
When she reached the bridge however, she saw signage that prohibited trucks and advised of the 6 ton weight limit. Unfortunately, Lambright admitted later that she didn’t know what that was in pounds – otherwise she would have known that she exceeded the limit by more than 20 tons. To add to the issue, Lambright told police that she “wasn’t comfortable backing the semi up,” and so instead elected to drive over the bridge.
The truck almost immediately became caught on the top of the bridge, and –unsurprisingly– the 135-year-old bridge collapsed under the weight of the truck.
Both Lambright and her 17-year-old cousin who was riding with her at the time were able to get out of the truck unharmed, but both the cab and the trailer were brought to a local wrecking service and the bridge will likely cost an incredible amount to fix.
Supporters of stricter entry-level driver training requirements are pointing to this incident as a prime example of why new driver training needs to focus more on actual skills and knowledge needed to drive safely in the real world, and less on just being able to pass an exam.
Source: overdrive, fleetowner, dailymail, nypost, nydailynews
Image Source: Orange County Sheriff photo
No good
That’s a shame
You get what you pay for!Until the trucking industry is able to pay their drivers more money they will not be able to retain their more experienced drivers and their turnover rate will exceed other occupations.A typical OTR driver is in the truck and responsible for said truck for at least a week which equates to 168 hours for that week.Divide 168 hrs into weekly pay avg 800 to a 1000 dollars a week and you have a very low paid employee.
Duh. This should have been learned in basic math while in grade skool. Did she even graduate from high school? And how about her “cousin”? Are they just as dumb? I remember when I was a newbie. For the first month I had to read every sign out to my trainer and tell him what they meant……and I better not have missed one or I got yelled at! Sad sad sad what comes out of the CDL skools…..uh, I mean CDL “mills” now.
Well said, and it’s a shame the name of her CDL mill wasn’t mentioned in the article like it should have been (IMO).
Actually I didn’t know how many lbs 6 tons were until I read this story to my 9 yrs old and he quickly said that it was 12,000 lbs. I said how do you know ? He said because 1 ton is 2000 lbs. He said we learned that in school. At that point I know how slow I was lol
I also remember having to read out the signs as we came to them. Now I think about it that’s probably the exact reason I pay so much attention to them!
I agree. Knowing what a ton is and equal to should be basic general knowledge. The primary education system failed these two long before the CDL mills failed to properly train the driver.
That is what I told my husband who been a driver for 20yrs and I have been a driver for 15yrs . Now the school I went to for my class – A license I would never recommend them they are named CDS tractor trailer training 6200 Jefferson Davis hwy woodford,va 22580 that is a place that will teach you enough to get your license, but want to charge you $3 to $4 thousand dollars. My husband taught me everything I needed to know about trucking. They need to have DOT supervisors to sit in on those schools as a student just to what kind of drivers are being released to the roads. That young lady that made that mistake don’t fault her fault her teacher because that should have been discussed by her trainer, then her backing the truck up she said she wasn’t comfortable! Her teacher should have known that!!!!
I think education failed her, and that 17 year old cousin of hers, long before she went to truck driving school! I knew in at least the 4th or 5th grade that a ton was 2,000 lbs, and if you can’t multiply 2,000 x 6 to get to 12,000 lbs, I wonder how she even graduated high school! My husband and I attended different truck driving schools. I went to one in Georgia, graduated in July, 2000, and my husband went to one in Alabama, graduated February, 2001, (we met while we were driving semis). I agree that the truck driving schools don’t give them a real good education, but we knew enough to know we couldn’t go across a bridge with a 6 ton weight limit and we couldn’t go under an overpass that was 13’9″ or less. I guess the driving schools are even worse, now.
I hope the driver shortage does not force companies to lower minimum standards in their desperation to fill driver spots. This incident also highlights the fact that American education at the elementary and high school level is failing. A “ton” is a unit conversion that has been in our English system for hundreds of years and is taught in the 5th grade. This “driver” and countless others like her are on the roadways endangering the lives of responsible motorists around her. Her poor judgment, lack of knowledge in basic math and physics, and immaturity will cost her company, the local municipality and economy, and our trucking industry millions of dollars and negative press for years to come.
No company is forced to do anything, but the standard has already been scraping the bottom for years. This is just an example that makes the news so the public pretends to be all up in arms about it. Car drivers AND many new truck drivers are equally clueless. This is nothing new.
Trucking is considered by Uncle Sam as ‘unskilled labor’ and how the public perceives truck drivers unfortunately. THis incident doesn’t help.
It’s sad to say the least.
Truckers get a bad rap but in the last 20 years the quality, training and pure common sense of the driver has diminished considerably because of companies need to ‘get butts in the seats’ at all costs while the level of ignorance among the driving profession has significantly increased IMO.
I’ve been driving on and off since 1984 and there are more ignorant and inconsiderate fools driving now days than any time I can remember overall. I don’t know know this particular woman’s story but clearly the company that hired her didn’t train her adequately enough just to get a ‘butt in the seat’ but basic math should come long before she even set foot in a training classroom.
There is absolutely nothing unskilled about driving a rig and anyone who has spent any time doing so knows that. That Gov’t classification of truck drivers being ‘unskilled labor’ is one reason why wages are so low and have been forever and hiring prerequisites by companies are comparable to hiring a ditch digger with a 3rd grade education except for the 10 years of work history and mounds of unnecessary paperwork involved in a hiring process.
hey Glenn…I’ve been around trucks since 1979, and my step father used to drive OTR OD/OS….as far as I remember, the training, until as recently as 10 years ago, was…’you know how to drive that thing? Here’s the keys, a few log books, a bag of pep pills, and a “you’ll figure it out as you go”‘…..yes, the ‘drivers’ nowadays are a bunch of morons, and rely too much on technology, but how brilliant were we when we started?
I’m sorry, even though I might be a newbie to trucking, I do not reply on technology for getting to my destinations. I actually still read for maps. No, not giving a sarcastic back.
@ James:… That’s total B.S. what your spewing forth. Comments like yours is another reason that the public looks at us with distaste . I have driven 3,000,000 + miles never touched pill. I can assure there are many, many more like me, 36 years in the saddle and running legal, I am an O/O.
Yes, unskilled indeed. I move 18 wheels (or more) every day in city streets and there is nothing unskilled about it.
Thanks for your comment.
Hi Glenn, I agree with you and alot of others here. If we, as professional truck drivers are “unskilled labor”, then why do we need to go through a DOT physical once a year, have to know and understand driver logs, and have to be better drivers out there than the average 4 wheelers? I was shocked when I read this article that this person didn’t understand tonnage vs. pounds. I mean come on, this is something you learn in high school. Don’t companies ask for at least a GED? I know they do in PA. This was a case of total stupidity.
There should be a general knowledge skills test in math and weights and measures as part of the written test.
I agree, but to be honest I think she just told them she didn’t know how much a ton was to play dumb hoping she wouldn’t get in so much trouble. Hell even my 10 year old daughter knows how much a ton is lol!!
I don’t think she was playing dumb. I think she truly didn’t know how many pounds comstitute a ton.
Think about it. That girl has grown up during a time when teaching common sense at home or in school is avoided; academic excellence is not required; personal responsibility is brushed aside along with work ethic and self dicipline. And don’t EVEN get me started on being PC to save someone from the life-long trauma of being offeeeeeeeended.
This girl was destined for failure, and nobody in her little world recognized the symptoms.
I agree, well written I’ve been in and around trucking and logging my whole life and have been a cdl driver for over 20 years. I recall in early 90’s after I started driving for a living all the same problems then it goes to show how it all repeats itself.
UH – doesn’t matter if the driver didn’t know a ton from a lb. The “no trucks” sign should have been enough. The Carriers insurance company is going to get one heck of a bill – wonder if the standard 1,000,000 CSL will be enough.
Yeah I agree. I started in 1994 and still remember how uncanny it seemed to me at the time just how easy it was—starting from scratch—to get behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler. I mostly saw it as a plus though, because as a result I (correctly) saw trucking as an easy way to finally start making some money in my mid-30s, after being a professional student for most of my adult life until then. (Not only did I know what a ton is, I also knew lots of other fun facts.)
The girl was raised in an Amish home nearby. I wouldn’t know what level of education that girls in that culture receive, but she was clearly out of her league.
Does it not seem blatantly ironic to posit the degradation of personal responsibility and simultaneously attempt to blame everyone but the driver for the error/s of that driver?
I would generally agree with you, however…I’m local to this event and there’s more to this story. This woman grew up in the old order Amish community. She was a member of this community until just a few years ago. This community is very, very rural and sheltered. When she obtained her CDL, she had just met the one year requirement of having a regular driver’s license.
So here we have a woman who never lived in a household with a vehicle, never rode in a vehicle, let alone drove a vehicle, didn’t grow up hearing anything about vehicles, probably has no clue about the basic mechanics of a vehicle, was homeschooled to old order Amish standards, and she’s given permission to drive a tractor trailer just one year after she takes the seat in a passenger vehicle.
Personal responsibility, work ethic, and discipline are all part of the Amish community. She was probably raised with more ethics and morals than anyone commenting on this post. The issue is that giving this particular woman a CDL was akin to giving your average 16 year old a CDL, and not only was it legally given to her, but somewhere along the line a “trainer” found her driving and knowledge to be acceptable.
And from sources I’ve read they only go to school as far as eighth grade.
Yes. That puts a whole new light on the situation. The trainer and the company holds just as much responsibility thinking she was ready.
Well said friend and true
totally agree ,this it taught in school called math academics. School failed. Also along the same line when I started in 1996 the owner handed me a atlas gave me a pick up point and drop point then ask how to get there. Great tool
Got that right!
You’re exactly correct with what you said. Ask an 18 year old to open a book, they’ll say tablet!
I read this story to my mom, and she admitted at 58 that she didn’t know how much a ton was. Granted my mother isn’t a CDL holder, and hasn’t driven anything heavier than a half ton truck ever.
Myself on the other hand, am a CDL holder, and I see weight limit signs, I instantly figure out the load limit in my head.
I can agree some basic math should be involved in the tests, load limit signs are basic multiplication so that’s 3rd or 4th grade math. If you can’t do that level of math, you darn sure don’t need an advanced license. The backing skills and other parts play into geometry and algebra, so that’s 7th to 9th grade math. I’m not a math genius, but I can do some math to get me going.
The story states, she was uncomfortable backing the rig and trailer, well how in the hell did she pass her skills test?
I agree…she knew full well she was too heavy…She was too tall for that bridge also….23 too young….25 should be minimum age to drive Class A
I disagree not agree…
its that “New core math” !
Hey driver. Get this. I was training some years ago when a new “driver” could not fill out his logs cause he couldnt read a analog clock. All he knew was digital. Maybe she really dont know. But then the no trucks sign was a dead give away.
ikr, didnt we all learn this in school? 2000lbs per ton. its very easy and basic math to know 43000 > 6 tons (12,000).
AND they should be able to read and write in English.
If government run schools would stop teaching”social justice” and all the garbage that entails, and got back to graduating kids with a basic knowledge of reading, writing, and math this wouldn’t have happened. 23 yrs old and couldn’t recognize just at a glance that what she was contemplating was a very bad idea? The powers that be want to bring 18 yr olds into the mix now too?
She had a passenger that could have helped her back up but said she wasnt comfortable backing up lol wtf
If she wasn’t comfortable as the driver backing up she’s not going to put her “17” yr old cousin. Out there there by making them even more responsible for an accident in the rear by maybe hitting something. It’s not like backing up a car. You should know that.
Totally agree
I just don’t get what actual “part” of not backing up she wasn’t comfortable. My guess: inexperience of backing manuevers.
I do believe more tranning wouldn’t have help her that simple math should have been drilled in her in elementary school!! Or it was when I grew up!
basic math..taught in school..blaming the trucking industry for somebodies lack of education is non-sense..cant fix stupid..2 people in a truck,1 sitting in the jumpseat..that person could have got out and guided the driver back..
I wouldn’t trust a 17 yr old to “help” me back up either.
Yes and I a 20+ year Vet. got stopped yesterday for absolute no reason at 5:45 am for DOT inspection by Ohio Highway patrol and promptly was put out of service for 10 hrs. for not having my log book up to date I had been off for 2 weeks I was less than 2mi. from my destination of P/U origin could not move from my spot could not p/u my load which had a p/u by noon lost load, unhappy customer, no revenue no food on the table for this day no taxes to pay on load, for state or fed. govt. slowly being driven out of trucking so a Dumb ### that does not know what a ton weighs can take my job SHE can have it.
Don’t complain if you can’t make 2 weeks of off duty vacation logbook entries as required. That makes you dumb and lazy, she was just dumb.
Sorry to hear about all that mess.
@ Zoran Spasic :So it’s DOT fault & everyone else cause you broke a law & thought it was ok to update your logs down the road …. How hard was it to draw a straight line each morning while drinking your coffee & you wonder why the government wants their hands in everything trucking !!!!
Well if you’ve been driving that long you should know the log book laws,I’m just saying that was your own fault.
Thats all good. Still have to keep your Log book up to date to the last change…………You knew that.
Yup , you know that …
Don’t blame others for being lazy
Should have updated your logbook since you have all that experience an all.
Hahaha. Dudes kill me wining about their poor decisions.
Come to jersey most lenient state to my knowledge my 4 years of driving I’ve never seen a DOT officer
Should have had you logbook current you moron! Your shove big yourself out of the industry.
So everyone was wrong in your mind except you? Interesting!
Well a 20 year vet should know to keep ur log book up to date. Thats the reason there pushing e logs so hard
I have been a part of the trucking business for 16 years and I too know how hard DOT inspections can be. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be tough, but some agents take that to the extreme. As for this woman…doesn’t the CDL test ask questions pertaining to weights and measures?? Besides, if she couldn’t back it up, she had no business driving it!! Where does common sense come into play?? From the look of this bridge, you should realize you car and a loaded tractor trailer is an extreme difference to a 5 year old. I certainly hope she lost her License or suspend it until she got certified instruction for as many hours as needed, retake CDL, and make restitution for bridge and truck damage!! That was just plain stupidity!!
I don’t want to upset you, but I too have been at this for over 16 years. You Sir should have known better an drew your line in your book. Everyone knows that… Everything is subject to change–if you know what I mean..
Should’ve had a log book ur fault be a man and accept when you’re in the wrong instead of blaming the officer because you was to lazy to take the time to catch your book up.
First of all you were pulled over for something not nothing. It’s called a random roadside inspection. You were put out of service for a log violation. It’s no ones fault but yours for loosing the load. Thanks for helping us all get e-logs. Hard to believe you have 20 years of experience.
BB,
Not to pick on the person who thinks log books are a waste of time. My father is a retired carpenter, as such, I learned quite a few things about carpentry work. When you live in a remodel all your life…..etc. I went to work as a tile setter assistant. The tile setter owned the business, had 25 years experience, done many big jobs, etc. etc. Did not know the difference between ‘plumb and level’ and ‘perpendicular, straight and square’. I was ashamed to be associated with his work. I was expressing this to my father. He explained it this way.
“Some people have 25 years of experience.
Some people have 1 years experience 25 times.”
Always start log. Your bad day is a result of your attempt to cheat on your log later in the day. You and only you are to blame for your situation. I agree 100% on your aggravation but, an ounce of prevention goes a long way.
So instead of taking responsibility for not updating your log book, it’s DOTs fault you were put out of service and missed your load. Man, you need to take responsibility for your own actions. Customer has a rigjt to be mad at you.
What a whiner, you get punished for your lack of responsibility which you deserved. You know the ruless and not being prepared got you this.
He had a reason to pull you over, he was doing his job to check if you were doing yours correctly. You weren’t. Good riddance, trucking doesn’t need drivers like you.
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
Its bs. Her cousin or herself had to have a cell phone to look it up and I’m sure there were no truck signs everywhere. You cant teach common sense.
No test or training will fix stupidity! I am not stupid I am just dumb! All drivers make mistakes no matter how much experience. Some make them bigger than others. Have you driven a 80,000 lb truck over a 58,0000 lb bridge? Did it collapse. These old fart drivers are dying like WW2 vets!
Zoran,
20+ years? You should know better to have that log book up to date. Your mistake! You deal with it!
Log books keep the road safe. This trucking business isn’t run like the Wild West no more. Better learn to play by the rules.
Sounds like you’re a Super Trucker that never makes a mistake.
Sorry WayneO, usually I take the side of the Victim but in this case I have to disagree…this was no mistake this was a case of “Ah heck I’ll skip the Paperwork til’ I get Home”…costly decision on His part…
Ok that’s not right I’ve seen your posts before and nobodies perfect. Your obliviously awsome Zoran. It is clear your a troll and a know it all this driver was doing what every other driver does and he wasn’t driving like a cowboy!….
Log books don’t keep the road safe. They are revenue generators for DOT. Zoran what planet has people with that name. Please don’t be offended, just curious.
That’s how I feel, I got shutdown in my early career of driving and got a $1000 fine to go with it. Learned my lesson really fast.
Come on truckers; we all are guilty of driving with or log book out of…. Stop judging.
Log books keep the road safe?!??????
I sincerely hope you don’t consider yourself a “professional driver”. Log books were invented to protect railroads from competition and to raise revenue for states. BTW, a ton is usually 2,000 pounds.
usually 2000 pounds??? in my 59 years on this planet it’s always been 2000 pounds = 1 ton —
You apparently haven’t been to many shippers if you haven’t loaded 30k pounds (according to the shippers bol) only to find your truck weighed way over 80K pounds when you found a certified scale.
Yes, I have been in that situation more than once. ALWAYS scale loads from unfamiliar shippers. To some, a ton is about 5,000 pounds (e.g. 50k lbs of freight is only 10 tons)
🙂
Log books are not safe cause too many drivers cheat and run illegally and we act surprised when they cause a fatality accident and make the rest of us look bad. I for one will be glad when everyone has to run elogs and play by the rules
Zoran Spasic, if you’ve been driving for twenty plus years, you should have been placed out of service! Basic stuff!
But something has to be done about the training in our industry, companies have 3 month veterans training students and in some cases students training students! And we all know that everyone doesn’t need to be driving a truck, like this woman for example!
If they start letting 18 year olds drive over the road it’ll be worse than the Wild West, more like demolishion derby!
Swift truck demo derby, now there’s an idea.
Or just go to one of their terminal lots with a bucket of popcorn, someone is bound to hit something.
Swift is getting paid by our tax dollars to be in on 18year old pilot program. Bam bam bang em up. More bad news on truckers, don’t we have bad enough rap. Pay the old timers to stay and leave us alone
It is not the age as in Canada it has always been 18 for a CDL, and it is not even knowing tons or lbs or that this was a no truck route. There was also a low height on the bridge sign AND after the trailer hit the bridge she kept going as half the trailer was across the bridge before it collapsed. There were so many violations and problems so how did this person ever get a license? Do they just hand them out like a lottery?
Yeah you can get them in a Cracker Jack box down here! Crst it takes a week to go from classroom to road
snicker…..Yeah A person can get a CDL in Canada at 18 but almost nobody will hire till he is 25
Wow that’s interesting about Canada’s age always being 18. I didn’t know that! I’ve heard (and experienced firsthand) that America’s K-12 has always been at least a little inferior to what’s found elsewhere in the world. America’s higher education ranks among the best, but unfortunately we Americans who attend it must begin at a comparative disadvantage against the zillions of non-Americans who still flock here to benefit from it. (I’ve experienced THAT firsthand, too.)
She knew she traveled the road in her personal car. The not comfortable backing the truck up I believe. Been driving 24 years and I make mistakes but nothing like this. Commen sense is gone I know new drivers have to start somewhere but 3-4 weeks in a truck driving school I feel is not enough.
The company bears some responsibility for this. They should evaluate drivers for their strengths and weaknesses in problem solving. Some drivers are fit only for dedicated routes, as they may not have the mental acuity to handle unexpected problems and situations OTR.
Problem solving should be taught if possible.
Unfortunately the trucking industry, as a whole, revolves around manipulation. The “dummies” are more easily manipulated by the companies.
Trainers oft times dont teach but count the “free” miles and extra money.
Its survival of the fittest out there and the young lady didnt make the cut.
Either did the poor bridge, may it rest its 135 year old bones in peace.
Which adds more regulations. Looking at news driver can’t play spid or lack of knowledge, 6 ton posted and right beside it a no truck sign. She did not want to back up case of lazy. Could have been good backing experience
It’s all about the EEOC/PC thing now. Never mind if they are capable of doing a job properly, just make sure the right boxes are ticked by the recruiter/interviewer. Female? Disabled? Bi-lingual? GLBT? ZIP code? National Origin?
Just look at the proposals for bids on government contracts; many of them have the disclaimer at the end that says female and minority firms will get preference in the bidding selection.
A friend of mine works in a factory and the thing now is all these minorities and women. He told me they can’t do half of the jobs they were hired for and that someone else has to stop their work to help them. I said, yeah, but it looks real good that you have all these women and minorities on the payroll.
TRUE STORY #1: I worked back in the ’80’s & ’90’s for a messenger company. We had a print shop for a customer. Lots of the boxes were ticked for this one: Black, female, one of the worst ZIP codes in town (she ran it out of her basement-real fun to get that dolly down those stairs), hired Black women on welfare. Any print shop owner would have sold their mother to get these accounts: Telephone Co., City Hall, Municipal Court, utility co’s.
TRUE STORY #2: I live in a mixed neighbourhood. The current trend for the stores is to make sure the clerks are bi-lingual. The clerks all have a little label on their name-tag that says they speak Spanish, Arabic, Hmong, Laotian, etc. Never mind most of them are about as intelligent as a box of rocks–hey, they’re bi-lingual One store even has a big sign back by the restrooms that says “We Speak Your Language” on top and there’s pictures of the employees that are bi-lingual with their language posted below it.
TRUE STORY #3: Back in the ’80’s, my husband applied for a job with the city. The application asked if you lived in a City Housing Authority property. My question was, “so how does living in a Housing Authority property make a person a better typist/nurse/trash collector/file clerk?” Oh, I see–another box to be ticked off.
Sorry this was so long, but it does irritate me that it’s no longer your qualifications for a job, but are the right boxes ticked?
Oh, by the way…did anyone at her Company know her under-age cousin was tagging along?
You have places now like out in Arizona that have a 3 day CDL course. You also have companies like CR England that just push students through a course and stick them with what they call a trainer for a week or two. The trainers themselves only have a few weeks experience above the students or they put two students that have no experience other than a classroom and a week with the trainer in the same truck. I’ve personally seen that one. Then they get out on the road and have no clue as to what they’re doing. I’m not saying that it isn’t their fault also for not wanting to get the skill set for the career they’ve chosen but more blame needs to be on a company side as they thought it would be ok to train a person and left them out there with no skills and give them what could potentially be a big weapon or destructive tool. I know everyone makes mistakes I’ve made my share too however when I decided to take this career I did everything I could to learn as much as I could even choosing not to go to a CDL factory like you’re seeing now days. New drivers in companies alike need to realize that making drivers the way they are now is only hurting the reputation that drivers have in causing unneeded burdens on the industry.
I’m going to point the blame squarely at the department of education for this one.
It’s obvious THEY were the biggest point of failure here.
And I’d point out that 43k in the box, usually means the truck is maxed out at 80k (empty trucks are about 18 tons alone) so the writer of the article screwed up “teh maths” as well. It would be aprox 34 tons over the limit. Or more dramatically 600% more than the bridge can handle.
That’s perfectly fine, bridge is meant to handle 600% extra, that’s a sweet spot, still should be perfectly fine to drive.
Good for the residents there, they got rid of a unsafe bridge, time for new one
She didn’t go to school! She recently left her Amish community earlier in the year before the crash. Please read the links provided….SMH
If you read the whole article at the sheriffs dept website: there was a whole lot of things that led to this.. The 23 yr old woman had very limited driving experience period.. She had recently left the Amish.. The Amish have very limited education system.. Especially for girls..
I stopped training after many years with my previous company because they put a girl in my truck who had never driven a car before she was led to a fly by the night 2 week truck driving school.. Of course that school did what they needed to do to make sure she got thru the program in 5 weeks…. And in my truck my company put her.. It was insane: I told them no life, no freight, was worth this and refused to train her.. They insisted I do so: I refused and left them.. This was Werner: I had been with them almost 6 years… Not anymore.. The whole system sucks and needs major reform.. The emphasis needs to be on keeping and retaining good drivers with additional pay and incentives and hiring the best few needed after that.. But, the large companies want to keep pay suppressed and this is the crap out here.. It’s so frustrating..
The chick couldn’t back a truck! Should not have had a job. I was taught for a year by one of the best drivers I know. After that year I went to driving school and knew more about handling the truck than the instructors at the school.14 years without an at fault accident.
The obvious point people is if in fact this young lady didn’t really know how many pounds were in a ton then someone obviously dropped the ball somewhere in her training. Either before trucking or during. That’s all any of us knows although so many are sure they have it all figured out based on some of these comments. Glad the lady and her passenger got out safe though. Bet she knows how much a ton is now though.
Can’t tell you how many bridges I’ve HAD to go over, overweight, and so has EVERYONE else who has had to drive country roads, but this could have EASILY been prevented by the local yokels with a height bar solidly welded to the frame of the bridge on both sides.
Any driver who says he’s never crossed a bridge overweight probably hasn’t been driving very long, or hasn’t been paying attention. Granted, the small country bridges are only taking a fraction of the load as you pass over, but I’ve had to hold my breath on some longer ones.
Unfortunate that this young lady has to be the example because of lack of training and education. Maybe they should have named the school she attended and not just the trucking school. Someone failed her a long time ago. If you knew better, you would do better. Won’t be the last time we see this.
Dave…BINGO!!!
Age has everything to do with this.
The issue here is age and brain development. The prefrontal cortex is NOT fully developed in a youngster -I think full development comes at the age of 25.
The military loves molding young minds when the lobe is malleable. They can easley train a kid to go to the front line of fire and do a job, but try telling me at 48 years old to do the same task…hell no, I’m programmed to stay safe.
Without even doing the math that I learned in 4th grade, I would take one look at the bridge and think to my self…hell no! Experience, and logic is very important in the trucking business and it only comes with age. Exceptions to the rule? Yes of course. Some develope earlier then others, but…now we’re talking percentages. I know farm boys that have been driving cars since they were 12 years old.
I wish our rule makers would consider this for the industry and screen out the failures and have them stay away from the business until they fully ripen, then come back and try it again.
Wikipedia definition of prefrontal cortex:
Many authors have indicated an integral link between a person’s personality and the functions of the prefrontal cortex.[1] This brain region has been implicated in planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behavior.[2] The basic activity of this brain region is considered to be orchestration of thoughts and actions in accordance with internal goals.[3]
The most typical psychological term for functions carried out by the prefrontal cortex area is executive function. Executive function relates to abilities to differentiate among conflicting thoughts, determine good and bad, better and best, same and different, future consequences of current activities, working toward a defined goal, prediction of outcomes, expectation based on actions, and social “control” (the ability to suppress urges that, if not suppressed, could lead to socially unacceptable outcomes).
We don’t need anymore testing or training. We need to enforce existing rules starting with 1) Commercial operators MUST be able to read, write, and understand English!
There were two signs before that bridge. One for NO Trucks, the other with the 6 ton weight limit. Driver ignored both!
True story: A grown woman, mother of 4, said to me with a straight face “California? That’s next to Florida, Right? They grow oranges there” NOT KIDDING. The “I didn’t know what a ton is” defense stands.
23? And to think- these are the future leaders of our nation. WHAT a comforting thought
Really? You never did anything stupid when you were 23?
I could easily do math when I was 23 Tom.
I got married.. That kinda speaks for itself doesn’t it.
What speaks more and louder is, “Are you still married to the same person?”
les_gvt: kinda sounds like what the ‘great generation’ had to say about the baby boomers, and the boomers about gen. x and y.
But at least we got educations- not the indoctrination kids get now. When we got out of school, most of us knew at least the basics- and could do it without a computer to tell us everything
I have 20 years experience driving which is good for about 2 million miles. No accidents or tickets. Left trucking, went back to college, finished my degree and took a management job which in turn led to another management job. I set up an office for a large refrigerated carrier that had a contract with a third party school. Some of the people that were brought in were so dumb, I don’t think they had a third grade education. So when she says she did not know, I believe her. One thing I did when they came to me for hire was go over trucking basics such as how many pounds are in a ton, how tall is your semi? what the maximum axle weight is, etc. The company I worked for just wanted to get a body in a seat. We had students that could not pass a state permit test after taking it over and over six or seven times. Even then the company wanted them to remain until they passed. The 3rd party school and I worked together to set a limit which was six times. Even then the company wanted them to stay but we did not listen. We would send them to Swift. As a result my office had the least accidents per mile driven in the company. You can make drivers safer but at the same time, weed the idiots out.
The girl had no business behind the wheel! There are too many untrained Kids on the road in 4 wheelers for there to be one in a big rig!! As for the cowboy who got shut down for his logs not being up to date. That was your fault! You know the rules and you ignored them! You got busted, deal with it! Hey just get E-Logs and you wont have to worry anymore!
You can neglect or make a mistake or CHEAT an e-log just as you can a paper log. E-logs encourage ignorance, apathy and complaency. They don’t save time, money or anything. They are a feel good unnecessary money making burden.
What about the sign that said no trucks
Had to type the above quick, when I say I would send them to Swift, it was no disrespect to Swift. They were up the street and some did not want to give up. I figured a few more weeks getting trained by them may be what they needed. Our program was only three weeks long after you passed the permit test. If you could not pass the permit test after three weeks, well, do you get my point? In the beginning these individuals were the types that had the most accidents. Once the same formula for accidents was identified, we weeded out the ones that fell into that category. As I said above, the end result was fewest accidents per mile in the whole company.
Oh this is the norm & its getting worse. FMCSA spending way to much focusing on the size of my ass than at least adequate training . The drivers w/a million miles of safe driving are being pushed out to make room for those who will work for 31cpm etc so these big companies can grease their pockets a little more. Its about revenue not safety
The answer lies with the customer booking loads for the lowest price. Here’s a thought; stop requiring trucks to have cargo insurance. Require the shipper or consignee to take the hit for a lost load, and if they want to buy insurance, they can shop around for the best price.
Watch how fast things improve.
Wait….what’s that sound? Oh, right…..the alarm clock.
I agree with you.
The federal gov’t (and satellites) totally ruined what used to be an interesting job. IF I had wanted to work at a desk with some kid standing over my shoulder pretending he knew what he’s talking about, I would have never even considered otr. I had enough of that in 2008 and retired after a few million miles of accident (chargeable) free driving all lower 48 and Canada in all kinds of weather, mostly bad. I no longer care to drive due in large part to these “professionals” who need a babysitter to get from point A to point B. Or, with anyone who truly believes a log book keeps highways safe. (God help us all.)
Exactly.. I drove my last mile this past summer… All about the government generating revenue and the companies washing their hands of any responsibility so the working man, the driver, takes the burden of everything and is expected to run illegally at times or find another job. Trucking doesn’t compute when suits get involved.
.31 cpm? Wow, where can I get in on that deal?
I disagree with Mike. My Wife, who is 45yrs old and massively talented and smart in a great many ways, mostly artistic, would love to have the ability to join me as a co-driver our here. And while I’m sure she could eventually learn the hands on skills, she is 100% hopeless when it comes to math. And really, if you think about it, besides twitching a steering wheel every few seconds, trucking is math, math and more math. No, my wife’s best destiny due to her strengths, and weaknesses, is to stay with being the Beautician. And let me be the Beast.
The most pertinent problem I experienced was what they called “trainer’s”. I came into the industry with 23 years experience in ground operations for a major air carrier. I operated heavy equipment and drove semi fuel tenders before they had underground fueling at the airports. I never drove anything over the road but I had to operate in congested airport environments so I knew how to maneuver semi tankers and heavy equipment quite well.
My 1st “trainer” was a highly capable and responsible professional who took me through the paces the way it should be done but that was only because of who he was, not because of what the company required. My training with him was all done in the rockies through the winter. Mostly Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.
My second “trainer” was more the company standard. He barely had 3 months over the road and was a lot less competent than I was when I began. That environment was in the midwest. I’m afraid he would of done what this young lady did if I had not been in the truck with him. He was about the same age as her. I guess the trucking companies are willing to pay the insurance premiums more than the are willing to pay what it takes to do it right. Thier idea of training is two rookies team driving as long as they can lease a truck to one of them. She had to be a new lease driver. How else could she have gotten into a 2015 Volvo?
I’ve never looked into the numbers but I’m guessing the leaseback companies like Swift, England, etc… make as much on their leases and truck sales as they do on their freight.
You can’t just post a sign on an outdated rusty old bridge and expect it to be idiot proof.
The thing should have been relegated to the scrap heap years ago.
Dont know how many times i have had to use the internet t convert metric into pounds.
pretty simple she was not doing her job, did she not scale? weights are right one your scale ticket.
Driving a big rig is serious. Knowing tons to pounds was basic math that way tought in grade school to high school. I feel that most truck driving schools r owned and run by the major truck companies. These companies r only concerned about the money they can make with a new driver pay them cheap seat money. When i went to school i paid for it 5 thosand dollars 6 weeks 40 hrs a week . Learned how to work on the truck adjust brakes basics of how a truck mechanically operates. The federal regulators need to look more into how a new driver it trained in a school. I’ve heard of 8 day school’s not enough in my opinion.
This also sounds like her community school system should have done a better job in teaching the basics. I knew what a ton is when I was still in grammar school.
Training schools don’t care about the new drivers they care about the money they bring in. 1 week or 2 week course won’t learn you shut about driving trucks. I’ve been driving 8 yrs and when I started truck driving school it took 4 months 600 hours of training and tests before they let you take final exam. Training schools today show only basics to pass exam nothing more.the industry will only get worst sad to say
I went to a 3 week school in 1995, passed the test and was off to the races. However, I knew quite a bit about driving including how to drive because I had been around it from the time I was young. A friend of mine went through school with me but had never been in a truck until that class. It took him 4 tries to pass the test and then he proceeded to pretty much ruin his career early on because of mistakes and carelessness on his part. Really smart guy but it wasn’t meant to be.
Your training sounds like it was very comprehensive and all-inclusive, that’s probably what the majority of newbies should be getting. I didn’t have that kind of time, at the time, to put in like you did but I certainly wouldn’t have been opposed to it had that been the standard at that time..
People try and get into this field just for a check and end up not making money because they have no skill…they don’t want to learn the proper mechanics to driving a truck and the teachers at these schools can’t even drive..I know a man that was driving 20yrs and didn’t know he was in a 13spd….smh so some of this is experience a lot of it is what your able to retain. I have 1.8 million miles safe driving..11yrs experience and my loads are mostly over 140K so when I see these new drivers I try to stay away because I can’t afford to screw up
It’s not just a lack of driver training. She obviously has not received an adequate basic education at public school.
So true! And it has nothing to do with her personally, just what she’s been taught this late in life. Coming from the community she comes from she probably just received her regular driving license. That’s why Louisville Logistics should be ashamed of themselves. If she had killed someone they’d be more liable IMO due to the fact she’d had little to no regular driving experience at all.
Because she never attended a public school, she was in the Amish community until the few years ago and they school their own children.
She claims she didn’t know what a ton was.
But did she know how tall her trailer was? Is she going to claim ignorance of FEET and INCHES, also???
Newbie or not, throw the book at her.
This is again what happens. The truck today has become nothing more than a living space to house, in this case the stupid. Where’s the rest of the story. Because you know outside of the 17 year old there has to be either a smelly cat, old blind dog, parrot,or ferret . It (the truck) is not a piece of equipment to make money with anymore. And why today it (the truck, and driver) is so over regulated. Wake up people…Your spending 168, 336,504 hours in a truck to squeak out what someone making minimum wage is paid..
Northstar,
Your math seems to be a bit fuzzy. Stay away from bridges!
If you actually got paid for hours on the job instead of CPM minimum wage would be a raise. Truckers do a heck of a lot more than just drive. They have to plan routes, balance CGs, supervise loads, keep logs, do safety checks, service truck, chain tires, verify Bill of Ladings, etc, etc, etc… This poor girl was way over her head and no one told her that before they turned her loose. Driver are charged with preventable accidents. In this case it was on the company to prevent this accident. The driver didn’t have a clue all of the things that she didn’t know that she needed to…
Click the links under the photo and you will get the rest of the story. Who she drives for (used to), her pic and where she’s from which should explain.
We are held on a “professional ” level. How is that exactly professional? Goes to say if you can’t read, write and speak our English language, then please don’t drive an 80,000 pound weapon down our freeways. Same goes for not being able to do “basic” math. Calculating tons to pounds is exactly that. This will be an expensive lesson for this driver. Not to mention possible loss of job. Meanwhile, Us drivers that have been doing this for many years try not to look too stupid as people like this shouldn’t even be behind the wheel of these rigs.
As a former driver of 32 years,and 8 to 10 years as an instructor I can’t begin to tell you how many could hardly spell their own name. There is not nearly enough training going into new drivers. there should be some kind of academic testing to be sure people looking to operate a class 8 vehicle have the ability to do so. Furthermore lowering the age requirement for CDL holders is irresponsible and is only sought after by companies whose only concern is to put a body behind the wheel so their freight gets delivered. Maturity is required to operate a class 8 vehicle,I personally would endorse a 25 year old age requirement for CDL holders. I’m not even touching that log book issue that driver had except to say C’MON MAN!
I make more than a minimum wage worker. I need a job that pays me $20 an hour for 40 hours of work to make the same money. Plus, I like my job. I enjoy driving. If you don’t like what you get paid, fix it.
Go get your own authority. That way you can pay yourself what you think your worth. Stop crying.
Sad thing is if you broke it down pay per hour you are actually in that truck you would come out as really cheap labor for such a large responsibility!! Like less than minimum wage!!
The only good thing here is that she did not kill herself or anyone else. You know the old saying. You can’t fix stupid.
I caught an owner operator going over a five ton bridge just down the street from our yard. When I spoke with her, she said she’d been using it since we picked her up in September. Full-sized sleeper; she’s been driving 9 years, and she obviously didn’t know wtf a “ton” was. We’ve had other drivers coming to our yard get stopped by Chesapeake Police. The ticket for that starts at $13k and goes up based on weight.
Like someone wrote earlier – it IS the school system. This is truly the “dumbest generation”!
Of course is drivers fault no doubt about it. But why on earth all signs aren’t posted in pounds? ….6 Tons = 6000kg (in metric system) = 13,224 LB
I was told by some a smart one that here in the great land USA, 6 Tons = 6000 LB. Very confusing issue but that driver has no excuse either way you’re looking at.
Any smart one up here can clear this up? maybe DOT or FMCSA will take a note and fix this issue.
Same goes for measuring height on bridges on east coast.
The girl had recently left the Amish Order. That explains her lack of education. From what I researched about this incident, the Amish only teach up to 8th grade levels. Still, anybody should know how many pounds are in a ton by the 8th grade.
Being that she was “formerly ” Amish is no excuse. She needs to know all the rules or don’t play the game. There’s a HUGE responsibility getting behind the wheel of these rigs. Not like the horse n buggies of her home. God help her. She has a lot on her plate!!
I was 18 when I started Driving large Cars ( also Known as a Semi Truck for those that don’t know ) in State .
At 21 ( 1977 ) I went back to School at Washington Holmes Vol Tech Chipley Fl Comm.Truck Driving .
The Course was 6 Months long Cost $105.00 Dollars
They did it right you had to pass each part of the Course to progress to the next part .
when Completed you were Certified in Dot Regs /Safety / First aid / Backing up Jack Knife Docking Off set Alley / 100 ft alley /PowerTrain / Weight /Hazmat / Insp / and Drove Min of 600 Miles with instructor on road trips.
Today it cost $ 3000 or more for School 2 weeks Long.
so one can pass CDL.
This type of Trucking Course / Instruction / Training is how Drivers should Train for the safety of the Truck Driver & Gen Public on the Hwy of this Nation.
This should not cost an Arm / Leg /and first born just to learn a trade .
I saw pictures of that wreck. She should have known better. New drivers are poorly trained.
This is something she should have learned in school, before she even considered learning to drive…weights and measures are learned in grade school…
The trucking industry turn over rate is so high because companies hire anybody they can to fill a seat and hold a steering wheel. Also because they get federal tax incentives for hiring X amount of employees per year and extra credit for hiring veteran’s. Their only concern is with the bottom dollar and that is ok because in the real world companies and people of prominent get rich off the back of the working class here in America. Untrained and poorly trained Drivers equal accidents, lives lost, careers ruined and perpetuate the high turnover rates that are the root of the nation wide Driver shortages. If
Which adds more regulations
She must have skipped school the day they were teaching how much a ton
is.
I saw something like this years ago up in Mt. Pleasant Iowa. Driver was taking a load to the Walmart DC there. He got lost and was given directions by his dispatcher via GPS. They told him to cross a 3 ton wooden bridge. He went nose first into the creek. You could see the tail of the trailer sticking up from the highway. Fortunately he didn’t get hurt so we can laugh about it.
After 20 years otr I bailed on the circus act, no moving violations, no reportable accidents, good luck to all involved.
Truck driving isn’t just going forward…..not comfortable backing up???? Who gave her a CDL?? Perfect example of what’s out there today with a steering wheel in their hands, scary stuff.
All the training in the world cant fix stupid and teach common sense!
WOW…Total devastation! Looking at the links provided, the pics shows she should not have been driving…period. Louisville Logistics should be ashamed of themselves! Thankfully she did not kill anyone there or on the road since she was not comfortable with backing. Hopefully this has scared her out of trucking and she’s back in her community……SMH
Forget not knowing how much a ton is in pounds, the sign said ‘NO TRUCKS!’ And not knowing how to back a truck, give me a break!
Maybe she can come to Colo and truck in a blizzard. Cross 3 passes in day wonder what would happen?
A little more to this story. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3377107/Mary-Lambright-s-truck-destroys-Old-Iron-Bridge-Paoli-Indiana-Christmas.html
The driver grew up in an Amish community. My guess is she may have been home schooled there. Also the bridge has a no truck sign next to the 6 ton sign.
By the way how many drivers know the difference between a “ton”(2000 lbs) and a “tonne”(1000 kg).
A lot of posters have posted comments without reading the “links” provided to know more information about the driver. If they would have, they’d know that the driver didn’t attend a regular school system and that she just started driving altogether…i.e (car) less than a year.
Look at that bridge… it says no trucks… bridge is not only light its also less then 13.6
What an excuse to give to a cops.. She could call same cops and tell them that she is stuck in front of a bridge so they could help her backing up .. ive done that before… all cops are nice about it and will help becouse they know how hard it is for a semi drivers to do that..
Just a bad mistake, we all have made them learning this career.
If she was reluctant of backing up, Than that means she knew what 10 tons is. I been in her situation about 5 times , all you have to do is call police and they always helped backing me up
It’s all about money. In driving school they rushed us through to get us where we could pass the written and driving test as quick as possible to get us out the door collecting our money and get the next paying class in the door. I sucked at backing because we spent all of one day, 15 minutes each, backing between cones. I begged for more backing as was told they couldn’t stay over to show me. When I was hired by a trucking company in Dallas, I told them about I sucked at backing and I wanted to spend a little time learning it. I was told “you just got to get out there and do it. I had a local trainer for several weeks and every time I had difficulty backing, he would take over because” time is money”. I then was paired with a OTR owner/operator who again didn’t have just one afternoon or morning to show me how to do the setup and back. Again “if we’re not moving, we’re not making money”. The whole problem is “MONEY”
Is this proof of common core math? If one cant do simple math.. Can they read? And if they cant.. Who gave them the written driving test?
She is not stupid or ignorant to the facts nor am I. At 53 company finally got me off the old flip to a smart phone 1 year ago good idea. Now a 23 and 17 year old is highly knowledge able on these and all they had to so is ask Google and most likely did. She knew and her statement she did feel like backing up.
She knows the area ,been over the bridge many times in her car and a short cut to save time. She is playing dumb hoping for empathy from justice
She has a cell phone that has A calculator. Bills that show weight. Do the math. Also she should know weight of truck. Again do math. Don’t just blame the training facilities. Blame our failing education system if this girl does not know what a ton is. But again she has a phone to loom up what a ton .
Knowing how many pounds in a ton or not, she clearly reached a decision point where she chose to go ahead because she didn’t feel comfortable backing up. That was a risk/reward choice at which she failed miserably. I know the feeling: once up a time, waaay back when, I mistook the ramp up to the MBTA bus terminal in Boston for an entry ramp to I-93. When I got to the top of the ramp there was the bus barn–too low for me to pull in and turn around. Talk about a kerfuffle! They had to stop incoming bus traffic so I could back down the ramp–about 75 twisting yards–and then stop traffic so I could back out onto the street below and get headed out. Fortunately the real ramp to the Interstate was about 3 blocks away so I couldn’t do much more damage. Although the BPD go involved to stop traffic below I didn’t get a ticket to memorialize my screw up. Live and learn.
I would say that is the average intelligence of today’s driver pool!! trucking Industry will put anything behind the wheel today! Look around truckstops at what these Idiots have run over, look at the customers yards and plants where these Idiots have hit gates, fences, run through ditches, hit doors, Amazing how these companies keep insurance!
And just think, they are cutting training time in half and pushing the age limit for OTR to 18yrs old, now do you feel safe?
I bet she had an electronic log, and on that note a smart phone. The way that drivers are ‘trained’ now it almost does not seem as though the training schools expect them to drive, much less back their rig up. America should focus on ACTUAL safety rather than VIRTUAL illusions of safety that satisfies government officials who could not drive a tractor trailer if their lives depended on it. Common sense PLEASE!!
It’s sad but true and its compounded when crossing international borders.
Canada uses metric. Imperial isn’t taught. Weight and height conversion miscalculations have caught many drivers at scales and underpasses completely by surprise.
Come on she has to go back at school to learn how much is the ton in pounds. This is just an excuse or she is stupid.
I love how the article starts off “new driver training” and every one follows that line of thought like well trained sheep. Fact is nobody knows if her “training” is just a scapegoat for not having a very high IQ. It’s not just trucking, but all walks of life. There’s even a police officer that shot himself in the foot IN A SCHOOL CLASSROOM while teaching “gun safety”. It’s on YouTube.
I don’t know about you, but my training was “good-as-you-make-it” deal, but no matter how poor training is, I would never dream of driving over a bridge that looks like that!
You have to be severly distraacted or incredibly obtuse from an intelligence standpoint to approach that kind of bridge and almost instinctively (if not consciously) get out of the truck and investigate before proceeding. I mean the thing LOOKS unstable, nevermind signage.
I don’t think we can blame “training” in this one. Watch the movie “Idiocracy”. It’s about future breeding habits among Americans resulting in an ever decreasing mental capacity.
Enough, is Enough. Oh like when you all started out you never made a mistake. No one was born in the driver’s seat of their rig. I hate when these old guys give me crap about something I’ve done wrong. Mistakes are going to be made.
Most important thing was, did you learn from it. I am also sick of hearing about how many miles you’ve driven without an accident. I bet you’ve had close calls, you know you were just lucky.
. I hope she gets back in the seat and keeps trying.
As far as backing goes, a lot of people have a hard time with it. There have been times I have been asked to back another guys truck for them. It is all practice. Without a good spotter watching for traffic I feel uncomfortable doing it too.
As far as logs go, won’t matter soon, we will all have to have data recorders. No longer will we be able to run 24 hours, 7 days a week. Unless you can hack the computers. Where I was working you just go off duty, unhook the dome on the roof, and keep rolling.
. Good luck to you guys out there. Learn from your mistakes, don’t dwell on the past.
Thank you.NOW can my pay go up?
At 17 I was asked if I wanted to drive semi, New 1941 Chev truck 30ft tlr. Load with lumber from Longview Wa. to Bend Or. 40 top speed, Willamet pass in Oregon 3 mi. hr. 2 days hard driving. no logs. That was 1942. Logs at times like most loged to make more miles..left driving to be a mechanic. Then driving 1975 again , In early years single sticks, 2stik {called brownie} 3rd for 2-3 speed rear ends. A12 speed Spicer 1stik air shifted, A sweet tranney to drive but heavier Than Ranger To the guy bitching about logs, He knew better. In 1985 I brought my log up 20min later had a car pass on median [left] side lost control crossed in front contact middle bumper. There was a fatality I was found not at fault If my log hadn’t been to time. Major trouble, The Gal should have known better She probly had never been told that the pounds related to tons. Most B/L list as thousands pounds not tons.
Did anyone take the time to look at the door to see wose flag she was operating under? It clearly says, “Penske”. I’ve read a few article about this wreck but have never read if she worled for Penske or was just driving a leased truck. Either way, her employer should have made sure she was capable of driving.
I spent two years as an instructor at the old Chauffeurs Training School in Detroit. I ahd students like this driver who made me want to give up my operator’s license and walk. I had other students who I would trust at the wheel from the start. Some people just should NOT be in this industry.
She knew what a ton weighted. Pick up trucks are 2.000 pounds. Equal one ton
Hands,
We see this kind of stupidity everyday, especially with 4 wheelers. Name me any state with 20 driving questions that states anything about trucks even formal drivers education or defensive driving schools. It’s a shame when you our drivers making mistakes, but how many of you have seen inclement weather and trucks maxing out speed limits less than a cab length from each others bumpers. I believe we’re seeing new drivers that think their in a overstated PICKUP and drive like it.
Some would say they have a schedule to keep and that my friends are the reasons why electronic logs (as proven) are causing drivers to take chances even if they are skilled. Going to pass and take a chance, or are you going to wait for a better scenario that has more distance.
I’m hopeful that the requirements stiffin up because look around, there are to many trucks on the road now. There is no shortage of drivers, just greed of big companies with equipment reducing what they should be paying professional drivers to get the job done safely!
Marcel Dunant
The article says she exceeded the limit by over 20 tons. She weighed 44000. A short ton is equal to 2200 pds. So the limit would be 13200 pounds, minus 13200 pounds, the legal
Limit.Now divide it by 2200 and you get 14 tons.
That’s not 20 tons. I think I missed something . Can someone please explain?
In other words she would’ve had to weigh more than 44000 on order to be “20 tons” over the “6 ton” limit as the article asserts.
Could someone please corroborate or refute this? Is my math wrong??
I think the point is that she was excessively over the limit. A loaded tractor trailer can leagally weight 80,000 lbs so that would be 40 tons or 34 tons over the 6 ton limit posted on the bridge sign. It doesn’t really matter what the exact weight was. It was WAAAYYYY too much
Yet another example of “you get what you pay for” Obviously some blame rests on the driver here, however whatever school she attended to get her CDL should be closely examined. Also Companies hiring drivers straight out driving “school” ( I use the term loosely) are attempting to save money. It always comes back to money unfortunately. It starts with the rates!! RAISE the rates and stick to it! Get quality drivers back on the road! Drivers should be standing united for better pay- not cutting each others throat to see who can drive for nothing!! This is the result! It is plain as day. Lets get with it! refuse cheap freight!!
Wow I feel sorry for her ,but I have to say just seeing that bridge is enough to know is not build for passing trucks . I hope this incident make some of the reckless drivers to take signs more seriously . God bless all professional drivers specially safe one .
She knows what a ton is. Guessing she thinks playing stupidity is going to help her. NOT
this is just one more reason that the legal system needs to pull its neck ties on more and punish the seasoned driver more. if you think Im being sarcastic well yup after 30 years of driving i still am learning and take the time to train a new driver when i can, i do believe that these new drivers should be in a training program for a minimum of 6 months like a welder,mechanics ,plumber or anyone like that. these drivers need a chance to get the proper info and not like the big box company’s say just get in and you will learn on the go even if it could cost a life. I feel real sorry for all these new drivers and for the lack of safety on the road because of the stupid law makes that think they have all the right answers and they cannt see the best way to get the right answers
Well….are you not a smart individual….
Punish the seasoned driver more. Did you take drugs to get this smart? or is it just natural?
Punish the seasoned driver for the mistakes made by inexperienced drivers. Man I wish I was as smart as you.
NOT!!!!
I have tried to tell inexperienced drivers what they are doing wrong so many time I’ve lost count. Most of their replies are “you drive your truck, I’ll drive mine.
I can’t believe someone who actually has 30 years driving experience would actually make that statement. or did you mean 30 days???
Here is perfect proof the ELD’s will not make the roads safe.
Hiring real truck drivers will make the road safe.
I hear England has now gotten permission to put a driver with a learner permit in a truck with a driver who is SUPPOSED TO BE QUALIFIED AS AN INSTRUCTOR, who probably has no more than a year or two experience at the most. AND the instructor can be in the sleeper sleeping, running the truck as a team. STUPID!!! You cant even put a person in a car with a learners permit and have the legal driver in the back seat!! Besides…..who qualified the guy as an INSTRUCTOR, England?
Big corporations with big bucks (JB Hunt, Swift, England, CRST, Werner,and all of the other idiots out there) shoved into the hands of greedy congressmen is our problem.
End of story!
This driver graduated from a truck driving school full of college grads and experienced driver. She had a driver trainer that was supposed to be a professional and experienced driver. She applied at a company full of college grads and experienced drivers and hired by this company. She was given a road test a by college grad and/or experienced driver. She was given a tractor from one of the largest leasing companies full of college grads and experienced drivers. These same college grads and supposedly professional and experienced drivers sit around and “think” that we might have a problem with the training of new drivers. The driver shortage and the poor training of new drivers happen by the ignorance and the “talk” but “do nothing” attitude of the leadership of the transportation industry and helped along by industry newspapers and magazines that are afraid of printing the truth and naming names of incompetent leaders and the lack of common sense among drivers today.
And only a moron would think that this was caused by a driver with a smartphone or using ELD’s.
Anyone this stupid should never have been considered for employment let alone be a truck driver.
Just remember when you pay peanuts you get monkeys
You just took the words right out of the mouth of the man behind the Smart Trucking Youtube channel. I agree 100% with the 2 of you on that very point.
The old corporate push and the blind leading the blind.
I’m not one for more government regulation for anything. That being said, its always troubled me as a 22 year class A hazmat veteran driver that any person with a class “C” license (regular drivers license) can rent a 24 foot box truck (uhaul) and car trailer with a car on it and drive 70 mph down the highway, when the largest vehicle they’ve ever driven is a honda. I agree that there should be more than just a multiple choice test to determine a driver’s eligibility to drive an 80,000 lb (that’s 40 tons if you don’t know lol) articulating vehicle surrounded by cars that on average only weigh less than a 20th (thats 1 out of 20) of your truck/trailer weight. Also there should be different skills tests for different types of trucking, like a stepdeck/flatbed driver should have to pass a chaining/rigging/binding/tarping test. I’m surprised how many people I see who don’t know how to use a chain and binder properly to secure a load.
That just sounds like a poor excuse to me. She probably wasn’t paying attention and when she was confronted with her f up she gave em the first excuse that came to mind. I don’t think poor training is to blame here, because no amount of quality training could fix that brand of stupid.
I can’t believe a 23 year old person wouldn’t know how much 6 tons is. It almost seems like this girl thought she could get out of trouble by “playing dumb” and just made herself along with the rest of us look like idiots. Rant over!
You can give new students all the education in the world but it doesn’t mean anything if they choose not to retain the information.
I am glad this happened to her… It probably saved her from a future rollover and the possibility of killing herself and someone else
I see a lot of comments about CDL schools. I’m no veteran driver. I’ve been driving just over 4 years and still learning. These schools only teach the bare minimum to pass a Commercial Drivers test. The real failure is at the carrier’s level. Many of these mega carriers train as little as 3 or 4 weeks before turning a newbie loose. It’s all about the money for them. Steering wheel holders, not truck drivers. I just signed on with Jim Palmer trucking and will be training my wife for 4 months before we start team driving. She just came out of a driving school.
driving mills… got that right. she said that she was “uncomfortable backing up” which I could understand if you only relied on training from schools. For example, when I went to truck driving school, we pulled out of the hole and then right back into the hole. There is no teaching about maneuvering or lining up to the hole.
in hindsight, what she could have done was have her 17-year-old cousin spot her or call the police to help.
I was in a area once when I was new where I could not make it around the block because there were cars on both sides of the road and not enough room to complete the turn and I had to back out.
course no one would help. so I would back up about 10 feet, get out and look, reposition, and back another 10 feet. it took about 45 minutes, but I did not hit anything either.
This doesn’t say too much in favor of the American education system. This is the only country on the planet which still doesn’t use the metric system. Not that it would help here; this was clearly a judgment/decision making disability on behalf of the girl. In addition, it shines a light on the industries greed. Just to fill a seat, they’ll put in anyone who fogs a mirror.
Most of the scoops only teach enough for a student to get their cdl. Company mentors, teachers ect.. Are who is supposed to take a student and teach them what they need to know, so they can safely operate a truck
Ok fine truck driving school might not always prepare people best but in my opinion this article shouldnt even be about truck driving school.
But about the fact that we cant agree on any units of messsurement in freakin north america.
Im canadian, 24 and have been driving my big rig safely for over 2 years.
The first the I came up to a bridge with a weight limit sign in tons I had to pull out my phone and figure out what tons are in pounds. Never ever have i needed tons as a unit in my life before. I gotta know pounds for the us and kg for canada. I tell my boss my engine temp is 75°C and he tells me what it should be in freakin fahrenheit. And then the ton, is it an imperical ton or not cause that makes a difference. So if I know 36tons are good in canada, a 36ton bridge wont do me any good if i’m fully loaded in the US.
Oh yea and when someone sellls you a freakin truck up here and tells you the fuel economy in mpg, noone knows if thats a US gallon or an imperical gallon!
So my point is maybe north america could agree on what units of measurement to use.
And lastly why post to signs in freakin tons when every other time you come in contact with weights its in pounds.