Police pulled over a trucker who claims that he didn’t realize that he was dragging two large 1,000-pound boulders underneath his trailer.
New York State trucker Samuel Daniels of Buffalo, New York was driving in the city of Tonawanda when he cut a corner too sharply and damaged a fire hydrant. Unfortunately for Daniels, he also managed to somehow snag two large thousand-pound boulders underneath his trailer, lifting the left rear wheel entirely off the ground.
Daniels was able to drive for about a mile before he was pulled over by police.
According to authorities, Daniels claims that though he thought his truck was driving awkwardly, he didn’t notice the boulders.
To remove them, a heavy duty tow truck had to be called to lift the trailer off of the boulder.
Daniels has been ordered to appear in court and charged with taking an improper turn, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to use a truck route.
Source: buffalonews, truckersnews, wkbw, wivb
M.B says
Yup those are the new age drivers we have to look forward to.
Andrew Hunt says
Yeah some don’t understand those thingies that stick out on both sides of the doors that enables them to see what’s going on around them.
Gary says
seems to me that driver ran over a fire hydrant and was trying to flee the scene after snagging a boulder which was probably placed to protect the fire plug. Trailers do off-track, and that is a common mistake, but why not stop and man up instead of running?
2yrs in says
M.B….. HE HAD 15yrs UNDER HIM ! I guess you get to judge us newbees and talkin on your C.B. like you know everything ? .. I hate these old timers (not all) who think they are better than everyone else. Most are totally out of shape “Fat” and at risk of a heart attack while driving, putting other drivers at risk.. these “old timers” don’t have the balls to say anything to our face, they are the ones who think if you drive for CRST, KNIGHT or SWIFT then you must be an idiot, like it or not? we are all on the same team. Yee Haw
Paul Logan says
As I have said before. I can teach you how to drive a truck in a couple of hours, BUT that trailer will screw you up EVERY TIME. It takes only a few weeks to teach you to DRIVE a CMV,BUT it takes YEARS to teach you to OPERATE a CMV.
Maria says
Amen brother !
ZEE says
WELL SAID!
Donald Mickunas says
LMAO…. without the right attitude, years of experience and training is a waste of time. Read some of the comments here and the bad attitude is revealed very quickly. I found that a good attitude is even more important in trucking than in sales.
Boob says
Sadly we are seeing things like this more and more and everyone’s fast to pile on all truck drivers and damn the industry, But nobody ever seems to question the states that “rubber stamp” their license after a mile and half ride in a day cab pulling a pup trailer 🤔
Kevin says
It occurs to me that automating trucks might not be a totally bad thing.
D says
If you don’t like your job, it’s time to find a different one…..
William C Leach says
Yeah but computers fail, what happens when the computer on an automated truck fails and the things starts driving on the wrong side of the road or worse through someone living room
two_thermos says
I hate to say it, but, somehow, I think the automated truck computers will fail a lot less.
Donald Mickunas says
You have a point. My concern is where they are going to find the technicians to maintain them given the current shortage of technicians for modern day trucks. Imagine the carnage resulting from a poorly maintained automated truck.
Rick says
Boulders….lol had a new graduate from trucking school drag the trailer without releasing the brakes…$400/tire way to go steering wheel holder
Driver says
You cant fix stupid, but yet, truck driving schools can give it a cdl..what a joke.
Chad Carter says
Dear Truckers Report please don’t call this idiot a trucker. A trucker is a professional and loves his profession. I grew up wanting to be a trucker it’s in my blood and I take a lot of pride doing my job well. The morons that you usually report on are just drivers and just barely qualified to start the truck. I know some of you that reads this will be offended by that, oh well if the shoe fits wear it, you might be the “driver” that I had to wait on 15 minutes last week at the T/A to try to back into parking spot. Traffic was cussing you on the CB. You surrendered and I went to the pumps and watched a Trucker blindside his extended hood Freightliner into that same spot in about 30 seconds. His truck was faded and showed signs of its age, but not a scratch or ding on it. He got out wearing jeans and looked clean and well groomed. He represented the image of an old school Trucker well and I felt a sense of pride from him. I went in to pay for my fuel and on my way out I was instantly disappointed again looking at all the trucks at the pumps and in the lot, almost new equipment with bumpers missing big gashes in the fenders, steps held on with bungee cords and all I could think is if driving is that difficut maybe they ought to go back to flipping burgers. I didn’t go up the road 45 minutes and there in the ditch on its side was another mega carrier, a white one from Arizona and looked as if he just fell asleep and took a right into the woods. The industry is suffering because of too many Drivers and not enough Truckers. I make an effort each day behind the wheel to be professional. Please drivers make an effort to be a Trucker and just not a driver. And thank you to all that is setting the professional example for us to follow ..Merry Christmas to all an be safe out there!
David Blais says
Right on
Carl Hollis says
Very well stated sir. I couldn’t have stated any better. I feel sorry for our industry as it is in bad shape. Myself, having been driving for 47 years and spent some time with a mega carrier, I have tried to help some of the new drivers. Boy, some of them really need some road time.
R. H. says
So wait you were never new at this? 47 years is a long time and that is awesome. You’ve seen some incredible things I’m sure. How did you acquire your cdl well you probably didn’t need one when you started your journey down this road. What was your training program if I may ask? These guys getting cdl’s in This era seem to actually be getting trained. More training than I had as I practiced driving trucks from their parking spot to our wash bay and back to the spot. I went thru one of the mini megas a red one to get my class A. I’d been driving for years in a “B” truck runnin Pennsylvania fracking machines. Got a ton of off-road experience. Sorry I started to ramble…
I’m just saying that some days I drive way better and some days I take way too long to park.
I’d only ask you to remember back 47 years ago or more when you first sat in that seat. How “professional” were you.
Stay safe driver and all you drivers out there. We all do this for a reason. Most is to provide a better life for our families.
claude heck says
R . H you made a statement about training that the drivers were getting to day , I take it you think that today the driver is better trained, would you please tell me were they are being trained at, would it be that 3 weeks class they take to get a c d l , then turned lose on the road with a truck, maybe it is the one that can’t stay in their lane or park or put it to the dock. are those the ones that are better trained to drive ?
Red says
Amen!!
Awesome Bill from Dawsonville says
You waited 15 minutes for him to park. That’s cool… could have maybe been 5 minutes if you, super trucker, could have helped him. But I understand; it’s rough getting out of your truck.
Marla says
The only thing wrong with that statement, is if you are helping, and the driver doesn’t listen and hits something or someone- guess who else can be held liable?? Saw this happen at a dock years ago, and the “helpers” company was also held financially responsible for the damage. No thanks……
Sandman says
Thank you driver for that statement, I feel the same. Merry Christmas
Kat says
Frankly new drivers are released into a precise and dangerous situations without proper training.
Longer, better training would prevent new drivers from having to learn on the fly.
Max says
Experience only comes with time. And some of the best teaching moments come from our errors. I remember my ‘bonehead’ mistake when I started driving in 1972. I failed to chalk the tires of my rear trailer after unhooking it, and failed to remember I had locked the airline valve underneath. I watched my empty roll across the dock into Elliott Bay.
I used that story many times to encourage new drivers.
“No matter how bad you screw up, you’ve got a long ways to go to match my ‘new driver’ screw up!”
Just remember….most of us have a newbie story…we just tend to forget them.
Raymond says
Before spring brakes came along. I remember
Virginia says
Unfortunately when they put new drivers in with a mentor for up to five weeks it’s the mentors to blame. A small percentage of mentors take the time to train them to back and park at shippers, truck stops, and terminals. The majority of the mentors only use the trainee to drive the miles but hold their hand when it comes to parking and backing. I told my mentor let me try to back truck up without you outside telling me when to turn. They would say I will make time but every time I asked I got an excuse. It seems most of these mentors do it to fatten up their wallets and the big companies let them. I complained and the companies excuse was that it is all about the time and delivery. I shook my head and said ok I will be the new driver who is always asking for help till I get enough training OTR. But in the end I get less showers because I can’t back into the last spot at a truck stop so I park at rest stops and on ramps. SMH!!!
Hagarcobra says
Thank you
Jim says
Your analogy of flipping burgers showes your only at best qualified to drive . I owned a chain of restaurants before selling them to retire. I went into trucking about 5 years ago hauling explosive hazmat cargo across the country . I can honesty tell you flipping burgers through a 3 k rush with every asshole wanting their burger made special is much harder than driving a rig down the highway and backing into a parking space. A true pride shouldn’t have to cut an occupation down to make himself look large
Jim says
Your analogy of flipping burgers showes your only at best qualified to drive . I owned a chain of restaurants before selling them to retire. I went into trucking about 5 years ago hauling explosive hazmat cargo across the country . I can honesty tell you flipping burgers through a 3 k rush with every asshole wanting their burger made special is much harder than driving a rig down the highway and backing into a parking space. A true professional shouldn’t have to cut an occupation down to make himself look large
Donald says
And then when you talk to them on the cb you call them a driver not hey trucker so whats your point swift trucker
Glenn says
Yep well said. Im old school as well. Back when the ‘big orange ball in the sky’ was the primary fuel stop, when the ‘Monfort lane’ was the fast lane, when an ‘old hand’ was someone you could rely on. Those days are long gone sadly. As are cowboy hats & ball caps replaced with somberos & towels. And courtesy & respect for your fellow driver. Gone. I try to set a professional example as well, clean clothes, etc. Ive been driving for over 18 yrs with a 14 yr hiatus from trucking & why i still have a majority of my sanity & my good looks.
mousekiller says
Blaming the drive is not facing/ blaming the real issue. It is where, how the driver was trained. A driving school owned by a mega carrier.? You do know that Werner owns 2 of the largest truck driving schools in the country. Ever wonder why? Many schools are subsidized by the mega carries that hire from said schools. Do it our way or we won’t use your graduates. What are they to do.What the carriers want. So many of todays drivers shouldn’t be. We see that everyday. It seems they have a problem observing any thing, cant see to either side, depends on the GPS 100 % to get them down the road. cant seem to remember they have a 52 foot trailer on when turning too tight coming out of at truck stop or customer dropping the trailer in a ditch. NOne of us are perfect but at least we try . some of the new breed are lacking in so many areas..
Donald Mickunas says
Hmmmmn…. one might look at our society in general for the blame. Take a look at how people are raised in general. Is it any wonder that we are seeing a general decline in excellence, not only in trucking, but across the board.
Kelly says
You’re telling the difference between someone that operates safely, efficient, and profitably. The same guy can does an excellent job of maintaining the truck and rarely breaks down either You’re correct there’s a huge difference.
Maria says
Awesome comment, right on !
two_thermos says
Well said!
MartyM says
This is all irrelevant when you are in an industry that wants slaves, and a corrupt government that gives these big carriers subsides to train people. If it weren’t for the corrupt government these companies would have to actually pay for experienced drivers, which the industry did it’s best to get rid of.
Steve P says
Must have left one heck of a scrape mark on the pavement behind him.
Uncle Prol says
He could very well be a veteran driver whose body and mind deteriorate rapidly after years of abusing them in a truck. But most likely he just wanted to shake those boulders off and run. And who could blame him. A few of these incidents can end a career so to speak, and nobody else will be in a rush to hire an older used up driver. Investing years in an abusive unhealthy line of work that can end in a few seconds is not smart. Younger folks with any, no matter how small, options in life please stay away from trucking.
David says
And don’t forget trucking robs you of years of having a normal life. Some of us can’t see it but the damage is real.
two_thermos says
Younger folks won’t do well in this job because, frankly, they don’t have much of a work ethic. I’ve been doing this for 37 years. Good job, pays the bills, got two kids raised up, and most days I enjoy it. But, then, I’m not running for one of these mega-carriers, either.
John says
Did that Yahoo ever do his circle check? Even a very short one would have seen that!
Thomas says
Hey Guys I’m 38 and wrapping up my first year of driving. I got 11 years as a fleet manager and ops supervisor for three previous carriers. I take pride in my career and am used to being a slow truck in the right lane. I flash cars and trucks once safely clear of me. I slow down for struggling trucks passing me with only two miles an hour faster so not to hang up the hammer lane. I take my time and am professional and courteous every moment of every day. Despite my efforts and patience I found myself in a minor traffic accident in which I wasn’t cited yet the company called preventable. The road is a tough ruthless teacher and I aim to learn from my lesson and only get better. I truly believe the roads are safer with me being out there with the countless accidents I have prevented and potential lives saved. Please don’t give up on new drivers we watch the veterans to learn from and want to get better. My company didn’t terminate me because they know I am a good safe driver for them and mistakes do happen. I actually care about others and doing my job safely and effectively.
Buckey says
E- logs and speed limiters will prevent this type of thing from reoccurring. Not more driver training or any of the common sense solutions.
Chad Carter says
You’re kidding right??
STEVEN Wiseman says
Circle check??? , i think he did it turning a corner and kept going , not prior to doing a PRE-TRIP INSPECTION.
STEVEN Wiseman says
Problem is most of these idiots drive thinking the only thing that there responsible for is that tractor, dont need to worry about that 53 ft trailer behind them .
Jerry says
You can’t tell your dragging 1000 pound boulders u Der your trailer…lmao…ha ha ha..lmao…he was trying to escape the scene/damage he did…sad m as n sad!!!!
Dan says
I am not condoning his actions or excuses as he should have stopped and checked for damage immediately after dragging the trailer up over these obstacles, but on snow and ice there is not going to be much resistance to going down the road until he hits bare pavement and if he was empty I can see how he may not notice the rear axle had a problem.
So the problem here is why did he not stop after cutting the corner when he did realize the trailer had hit something whether he could see it or not. There is no way he did not know something happened no matter what he says..
Jeff MacGregor says
I hope it gets worse just love what the feds are doing to our industry, I can’t wait until I can get out , to many restrictions and compliance mandates putting undue pressure on drivers to safely do there job efficiently , note to the law we are only human and deserve to make a living not squeezed into a perfect driver
thomas says
you wright the politican have a agenda.they put us out business to make way for the driveless truck it all a plot
Les_gvt says
Gove the guy a break. He finally figured out how to get cheap gravel for his personal driveway at home
just a trucker says
in my 35+years i have seen this way of life called trucking go from a respected way to make a living and support your family and see this beautiful country go straight down the tubes.use too be most everyone liked truckers and respected them for the job they did.but not anymore almost everyone hates us and rather you want to admit it or not its mostly our fault not theirs we are the ones who came up with its us against them {meaning 4 wheeler’s } by thinking they depend on us but the reality of it is we depend on them more. it use to be we all got along and helped each other whatever it might have been the other driver needed we would help him but not anymore we have all became a its all about me driver. instead of helping a new driver we cuss him or her out and bash him or her for trying to be what we are a {truck driver} maybe just like you thats all he or she ever wanted to be.but unlike alot of you who claim to be born with a steering wheel in your hands he or she went to truck driving school as i’m sure most of you have also if you been in trucking since the 1980’s or earlier but or to proud to admit it. we were all rookies at one time or another and we all made our fair share of mistakes along the way. so lets stop blaming the new drivers for everything and put the blame on who’s fault the way things are in this once proud profession where it belongs and where it belongs is on each and every one of us shoulders.
Donald Mickunas says
Hmmmmn…. one might look at our society in general for the blame. Take a look at how people are raised in general. Is it any wonder that we are seeing a general decline in excellence, not only in trucking, but across the board.
Donald says
Looks like we got another swift or jb hunt driver
Echo says
Well thanks to the eld he was safer unfortunately they don’t make you smarter.
Super trucker says
Elogs and automatics they might as well make us wear monkey costumes
Kevin says
Driver fatigue is definitely a problem.
Steven J Baumgras says
Agreed
Karen Kucera says
Hmmm, has anyone stopped and actually looked at this picture? EVERYONE is so quick to judge anymore and NO ONE gives any consideration for any circumstances. I see a set of tandems that are unfortunately sitting on a large boulder. I ALSO see that said boulder, tires and ground are well covered in snow. He/she may have taken that turn too tight, but none of us know what that intersection was like. It seems to have been covered in snow. The driver probably did not see either the boulder or the fire hydrant as anything but lumps of snow. Yes, we should avoid lumps of snow because you never know what’s under it, but if it’s a choice of hitting a car that was too far into the intersection or running over a curb that has a lump of snow on it. I’ll take the curb every time.
Looky there. A great explanation for a poor guy who just had a bad day. Didn’t blame ELDs, HOS, training, his company, or the government.
We’ve ALL had bad days. Don’t judge someone based on a media report that hasn’t reported all the facts.
MrBigR504 says
Cut up his CDL and give him hard hat , a safety vest and a shovel and some steel toed boots. New career…lmao!
MartyM says
According to the corrupt that love statistics, it is the older drivers causing the all of problems. So it should be mandatory that the police get the information on how long the driver has been driving, I don’t want to hear lies from the corrupt, just the truth if you can keep from choking on it.
Donald Mickunas says
Truth from liars? In your dreams.
MartyM says
Do you really think you are telling me something I don’t know?
MrNA says
The youth today can be said to demand respect not earn it. They have a dim view of the their future. Roles models are immoral. They know everything and don’t want to be told anything. “The youth of today are more rebellious than ever….Socrates”
I was accused of all that crap when I was introduced to trucking 1975. But we all had CBs, sat together in restaurants, hung out at the truck stops and shippers, were never afraid to call out a driver or pull over and help them, ask for help, help fix and give parts, TALK to each other, DIM lights instead of flashing, LOOK further up the road than 200 feet, move over for anyone, NOT park on off ramps, share our experience, ask questions, have pride NOT arrogance, trucks were harder to drive and actually required patience a firm yet predictive touch, skill, we continually practiced safe driving til it became habit, never know it all, cared for each other, were friendly and pleasant, shared and respected interests, loved our rigs.
No it was not perfect. And the Old timers before me had a different view of what was and what should be too.
By 1978 I was a driver. Today I still drive and have to be cautious as all get out. My opinion is we need more verbal communication. Spark up conversation. Productive convo. Tell the next trucker you like his truck, what you seen down the road, how your day is going, how is theirs ? Its a start, right?
Donald Mickunas says
Funny, I have sat in the trucker section in truck stops and drivers lounges in terminals. I hear very little in the way of wisdom from the truckers there and a whole lot of complaining and criticism. I’m not at all certain that it was quite as idyllic as you describe years ago. I have had fellow truckers mislead me then laugh at me when I followed their bad advice. I quickly learned to take the advice of truckers with caution.
MrNA says
Donald. I hear you. When it comes to advice and experience, like most things in life, take what you need and throw the rest out. The ideal situation I describe is never as ideal to the older generations. And same today.
On a funny note I learned to not rely too too much on asking a Trucker for directions. Seems they will point out bumps, hills, farms not their…as reference points. Lol. Have a Merry Christmas !
Thomas says
This this this!
Gail Morra says
He noticed trailer acting funny and didn’t stop to look? What an imbecile!
Ken says
^ this.
Virginia says
Always watch your mirrors and look at rear axles. That’s how you avoid running things over. Running over people can end your career as a truck driver.
Jaxon says
20 years on the road, so far no accidents etc. but I’ll admit I have my days I look like a new driver. We all have days we aren’t feeling 100% or our mind wanders which is easy to do. No matter how many years you have behind the wheel you will have your day.
Good luck and be safe.
ObsoleteRigsRule says
No comment.
We are unskilled workers according to the U.S. labor department.
Lol.