A trucker who caused a fatal crash which took six lives has been sentenced to 55 years in prison.
Benjamin Brewer, a 42-year-old former truck driver was headed northbound on I-75 near exit 11 in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Traffic was stalled due to construction work, and according to prosecutors there was at least a half mile of visibility straight ahead. Despite that however, Brewer crashed into a series of cars without applying the brakes, traveling 453 feet before coming to a stop. The crash killed six people and injured multiple others.
Earlier this year, Brewer was found guilty of six counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of reckless aggravated homicide, speeding, and driving under the influence. Highway patrol also said that Brewer had been falsifying his log book.
On Monday, Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Poole handed down a 55-year sentence for the crimes. It was one of the harshest sentences possible, but the judge did allow some of the sentences to be served concurrently. Otherwise Brewer would have faced a total of 83 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Brewer had methamphetamines in his system at the time of the crash. While Brewer’s attorney did point out that a state toxicologist admitted to contaminating one blood test, both tests sent to different laboratories came back positive for methamphetamines. Additionally, Brewer declined to answer questions about his prior drug use in his pre-sentencing hearing.
Because Brewer had no prior criminal convictions, he will be eligible for parole after 30% of his sentence has been served in 16.5 years.
Source: overdrive, seattletimes, wtvq, clevelandbanner, chattanoogan, richmondregister
He deserves life without parole.
IMO, when he gets out of prison, he’ll get another truck driving job and start taking meth again.
Not true. Vehicular homicide will exclude him from any insurance coverage. His driving days are done.
Under the Fmcsr vehicular homicide in a CMV is a cdl ban for life.
Not true*, although by the time he gets out of prison his license will long be expired after it gets suspended. He will then be required to to take a drivers ed course just for a regular passenger license and thats only if he pays all his fines and penalties from the accident, also im sure there will be fines from civil suits from all victims involved and those suits must be paid and current. Again, that all must be done before he can get his regular license back. To get his cdl again he will be required to go to an accredited truck driving school and pass each required test. But even if he does all the above, I don’t see too many companies, if any at all, knocking on his door to put him to work!
That’s not true
Robert hunt should know lol
Your statement is absolutely true.
As a trucker, i feel like he got off easy. He will not be able to work for any company again. They have strict rules. Him killing that many will stop any company hiring him. Plus the goverment will take his CDL away. So he has no chance of driving again. Someone who does that gives those of us doing our job right a bad name. Prayers for all those affected by this.
That is doubtful, this will go on his D.A.C., and it will follow him, also depending on what state it was issued from, he may never be allowed to carry a CDL every again, which again would make it impossible for him to drive another semi. This will also show up on his DMV report and his prison record will also reflect this in his background report all of which will be used when he submits a job application. He will be lucky if he is ever allowed behind the wheel again and that is IF he gets out of prison before he dies.
by the time he is out on parole…robot trucks will be doing his job better than he ever did.
No one will ever hire him to drive a truck with this on his record, I guarantee it. Even if someone wanted to, no insurance company would cover him, so it’d be impossible.
Exactly.👍👍
A lot will change in 16 yrs ahead. He might even get job to drive airplane. The system is messed up.
Do you really think he has the brains to pilot a plane? Really!
Why couldnt he? Foreigners come here and get a pilots license. Do you think because he was a truck driver, he was stupid? Lots of people with degrees in many different fields drive a truck, for many different reasons. Dont assume anything.
Probably was able to puke stop pilot to fill his gut n fuel.
Fly an airplane even
That laws get tougher every year for a commercial driver not easier
In 16-years, we won’t even need pilots. Planes already pretty much fly themselves. Actually, they literally fly themselves. It’s takeoff and landings that crews do manually but it’s not necessary.
true. robotics are taking over as we speak. They will eventually take over every job and when they perfect androids, men wont marry women when they can just buy a sexy beautiful young looking android to be his slave and sex slave literally. Goes both ways tho. Its a sad future for us all.
Really?
Hmmm- as a Ret’d Airline pilot (2015) I’ll beg to differ.
First- like all computers, the tech doesn’t know how to do ANYTHING without input. In the case of aircraft, that input is continuous. Right from preflight checks/route programming.
Second, your correct- takeoffs and landings are done manually and it IS necessary- very few airports in the world have the NAV capabilities to allow an aircraft to conduct autolands.
It is STILL a very labour intensive job.
Cheers
He should not have been hired AGAIN after his 1st accident! ProTrucker
Most companies and insurance requires 10 years of clean record after someone leaves prison to be elegible for re-hire.
Ten years clean after a felony is a myth. Its one of the few industries a felon can turn to. He won’t drive again because of the charge, but a felon can drive a truck.
No! This will be on his record forever! DMV wont even give him a drivers license!
I don’t think after dui u can get a commercial drivers license. Especially where a death was involved. I only got 2accidents where my brakes fell and another my axel broke. But after an accident it’s really hard .
Felons are not eligible for commercial drivers licenses
Felons are eligible for a CDL. I’m a felon and have been driving for 10 years. It was however, difficult finding a company to hire me. And my crime was theft…that is a 22 yr old crime now. But, at the time I got my CDL, the crime was 12 years old.
Felons can get a CDL.
The FMCSR do list offences and
cdl suspension or ban times.
Vehicular homicide in a CMV is a cdl ban for life.
I’m a convicted felon of 32 counts and not only have I had a CDL A but I was also hired by MDTA as a first responder VRT. My charges were 25 years old at that time but know plenty of drivers with CDL fresh out of prison
That’s a lie
Depending on nature of felony only
Yes they are. I have a felony on my record and I have a cdl with all endorsements.
Thats not true i hold a class a and ive got a felony for possession of a controlled substance cocain.
I’m a felon with a CDL so…
In witch state are U reefer ing to Hoss?Not So in the Commonwealth,
Not true . I’ve been to prison and I was able to get my cdl. Rehabilitation of California even paid for my school…It can be done if you want it…
And that’s where you’re wrong I’m a felon and 16 years driving a truck
Tell that to Swift
I blame the judge and the system for their soft punishment, killing innocent people and using meth. I would throw him on the electronic chair, not giving him 30% out of him time in jail time.
I understand how you feel mike i honesty do and i feel for the families. But let me ask you this, what is the difference between one of those family members killing that man for revenge and a judge giving the ok for a electric chair? The only difference is its “justified” because of a law. Simply put killing someone because they killed someone else doesnt make anything right and it sure doesn’t bring anyone back so its pointless. Let that man sit in jail confined to a small space and let his conscious eat him alive thats gonna hurt him alot more than 30 seconds on a electric chair believe me
Probably not. But if he does, we’ll know that the company is of the same caliber.
Don’t worry. In 16 years there will be no more truck driving jobs, courtesy of Elon Musk.
My question is who is going to fo the job of a truck driver.
Sorry who is going to do the job of a driver?
Drivers are scared because they don’t think.
The question is not who will drive the trucks but, is the government going to let that many people not pay taxes? Until a post apocalyptic collapse there will always be drivers.
Wow. Tesla trucks are built around a person. Get your facts straight before commenting. Uber and a few other companies have driverless trucks not Tesla.
Taxes guys,the government loves taxes. can’t have taxes with out jobs.
Not long haul anyway. Maybe dump trucking or coal or log hauling or something like that.
Dumb. No truck company would ever dream of self driving trucks. Those trucks still require drivers present, so, duh? Why would a truck company spend such a tremendous amount per truck when all it does is provide the driver luxury and does nothing fruitful for the company itself???
Nah…the first driverless truck that WILL INEVITABLY wipe out a bus load of tourists will put a stop to the program and set it back a decade. Promise. There’s just no way this will be ready for prime time in our lifetime!
That’s a ruse. Elon Musk, nobody, is going to have a driverless anything. Try 100 yrs. out, then, maybe.
You will never get rid of the human capacity need of a truck driver
uber just suspended all autonomous cars…bicycle driver hit and killed
by robot…will robot do time??
God Bless the families!
42 + 55 = 97 years old. I doubt he’ll be looking for a truck driving job
Lol!
Perfect argument.
As a truck driver, this driver needs to be in prison. Absoultly no excuse for not being in control of your vehichle and no excuse for being under the influenece of ANY mind altering anything. In the trucking world there is what is called a DAC report. More detailed than DMV report. This driving will never be near anything with three axles and will never obtain a CDL again. Thank heavens. And you drivers like this, I hope you get caught and go to prison also.
Maybe the company he drove for should also be held accountable. If he turned in log sheets the company could have caught the falsified logs and stopped him.
If a driver is really good at creative logging then the company may not catch it. However those days are over due to electronic logs which are mandatory starting 4/01/18
Yup, how did they not know what a junked up creep they had out here. Bad companies look the other way to get it moved
Oh I am almost certain that company got sued big time for damages for the families of the victims
Very true!
No he won’t, no one will hire him
He won’t be aloud to cuz he will get his cdl pulled with the recless driving . Dui …and vechial manslotter if some how by the slightest chance he gets to keep his cdl no job will hire u . Cuz they will run his name see the paper now risk 120k truck n trailer plus the goods in the trailer range from 50k to like water load all the way up to 250k 500k depends what he hauling no manger will hire him .. won’t stop him.driving driving a car tho
It’s Not possible. Plus by the time he gets out most of if not all trucks will be autonomous.
Swift will hire him…as a trainer.
If not a driver they hire anyone.
He will never get a CDL as long as he lives.one bad apple does not spoil it for all truck drivers.
allready spoiled by the shippers/receivers/dot/brokers,etc. and all of america, as the FLSA kept drivers from being treated as anything but indentured slaves, since 1938…always blamed on the drivers(not talkin about this trash heap in the article) who sat and waited and then ran like hell to give our country their everything. ROBOTS R US is coming.
No….he will do meth in prison for however long and then get out and get a job at Swift…..
L-o-s-e-r took 6 lives because of his ignorance. And his stupidity will forever be lasered into the brains of all those people who horrifically witnessed him plow into that stopped traffic forever changing their minds about truckers being ‘professional’ drivers. Don’t feel sorry one bit for the shmuck. He’ll be somebody’s girlfriend in prison the next 16 yrs.
I totally agree! My husband is the best trucker out here! He follows all the rules and does the right thing, this makes all truckers look bad!
The best? Are you sure? You’re positive? Do you have some sort of scientific proof of it? I’m leaning towards possibly – but tentatively – believing you, yet I’m not sure you’ve done all your research and you may be biased.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣😂😂😅
in her experience and in her mind, he is the best. Keep practicing best
driving and knowledge of the industry.
Sir, your mileage may vary.
Let me guess, he drives for Swift!
You can’t judge a truck drivers skill just driving straight up and down the interstate, you can train a monkey to do that, an automonus truck can also. Driving with a GPS system never looking at a map isn’t skillful either. How’s his split second decision making? When you need to make a delivery a busy town and you need to block traffic backing around parked cars into an old inside dock? You have to drive on a two lane narrow highway at night in the fog (thick fog) not that paper thin fog, there’s no place to turn around if you miss your turn, the product must deliver ON-TIME or else. There’s no such thing as the best truck driver. The only way that could be remotely possible is the truck driver dispatches himself, makes his own APPOINTMENTS TIMES and does exactly what he wants!
The real truckers are long gone from this simplified controlled micromanaged industry and the rest of us are DESPERATELY TRYING to leave!!!
he is going his best by her reckoning….
your mileage may vary SIRS!
It wasn’t ignorance, it wasn’t pure stupidity. I used to drive and we know what we’re supposed to do. And, he wouldn’t get out until he has served his 55 years.
Don’t judge the trucking profession by the actions of one very bad example. Remember the millions of drivers who do their jobs safely every day. I’m one of them.
That is the driver we don’t need.. that is stupid taking drugs today..some drivers like this idiot makes it hard on the rest of us…what a fool. ,
I agree with you driver, we all not like that.
Probably not the drugs probably the thing ur holding
Isn’t that the truth…
This is true. That’s why the driving industry has gone down hill real quick
What happend to chain gangs.
It cost us the tax payers alot of money
for incarceration..
As a truck driver I say this guy deserves every single day he serves plus more. Most of us are professional and this guy gives us all a bad rep. Not one driver gives him one ounce of sympathy
#Orale! Yeah, he’ll be polishing knobs…!
He just get early retirement, fee room and 3 time day fee food lots good sleep and exercise each day and better Medicare and most pepole outside …
Imo the sentence wasn’t harsh enough.
Drugs do not belong in any truckers system at no point in time. Our job is to transport promote and enforce safety, not travel use drugs and kill people.
You for got to add the phone that has become a drug
Exactly!!
Typical
We really need self driving trucks
Shut up stupid
ALL BIG trucks should be taken off the road!!! BAN THEM ALL!
How are you going to get your groceries and gasoline ?
If you take all big trucks off the road then the country would shut down because most of all your needs come from a truck driver transporting it. It’s only so much planes and trains can haul. Thats why you see more truck drivers than you do pilots or train conductors.
Yeah then see how long it takes for panic and fear to set in when people can’t get their stuff. Then Armageddon!
R u kidding me ? I can drive with CDL drivers all day everyday for years without having another CMV cutting me off or crossing the line at a intersection making it impossible for a big truck to make a turn ect. But get in a group of 4 wheelers and see how fast one of them will put your defensive driving skills to the test. You 4 wheelers have way more drivers who have no business behind the wheel that CDL drivers I promise u
And you’d relish starving to death and being naked and let’s not forget homeless!! Truckers… “Real Truckers” are the life blood of AMERICA!! They keep America moving.. try two weeks without trucks on the road… You’d be begging them back, that’s a promise…
Truckers Daughter!!
Awesome post!
Your bang on
I have a better idea…..get rid of all cars, trucks , motorcycles and trains. Bicycles, skates and skateboards, too. Then there will be zero fatalities, no big insurance claims or jury awards….yeah right
Brilliant!!! how are you get your groceries?your orders from Amazon , any orders online? how do you think to get to your house? Any thing you Consume at one time or another was handled by a truck
So how would things get to the market place.
He should get life he took 6 lives they don’t get to come back to Society this fool get to get out at 16 years that’s so wrong
The thing about getting rid of all the trucks we would have to put train tracks behind every store witch would back up traffic for
I was a professional truck driver I ran 48 states I got a hard injury which caused me to hang up my cdl since then I have been diagnosed with a illness that has no cure I will never step in a truck again it was a personal discision to save lives of others that I might impact I just wish others would do that
My my mind is clear that I made the right choice
I think he should get at least life with no parole. He blatantly killed 6 people and injured others. Based on the story, wreckless disregard for public safety and safe operation of a commercial vehicle. Shoot, this even could have come under a death penalty offense. Driving under influence in a cmv is a felony. Most states that have death penalty state if you commit murder while committing a felony you can get death. However, life would be a better punishment because it gives him the rest of his life to think about what he did. Punishment has to fit the crime.
There is no “death penalty”, without planned intent. If your position was accepted, all the clowns who kill much more often in cars, even without drugs or alcohol, while driving like the average American a-hole driver, would be subject to the death penalty.
Driving under the influence of illegal narcotics, kills someone. They should take him to the middle of the Pacific, weld him into an iron cage, give him an oxygen tank and drop him overboard. Let him breath as he sinks until the pressure crushes him. He showed intent when he chose to drive high. 16 years be damned…cakewalk for what he did.
Life without parole is what you give to people who intentionally, as in plan to, murder someone. You can’t put this in the same category. He deserves what he got. My only qualm is the 30 percent bs. 75 to 80 seems more reasonable to me.
Did you forget the drugs? In some jurisdictions the ingestion of drugs and/or becoming unfit for driving means it’s a given that you should know you were unfit, especially if you were a licensed professional driver. Life, or Death Penalty may be considered.
I agree!!
This should apply to any body driving any kind of vehicle if they kill or injure someone
Reinstate chain gangs and i agree that should have been life and if he got out he could still can get in a car and if thats not enough …. And do you honestly believe there are not any drivers out their driving illegally whether it is in a car or one of our big trucks?
Driving tired or after taking methamphetamines, or other drugs or alcohol was his mistake. He was an accident or mass murder waiting to happen. He also falsified his log book. Rushing is always a mistake, and sometimes mass murder. Rushing can also end the driver’s life.
It is better to be late and fired that to get into an accident and get fired.
Fyi, my husband has been a loyal truck driver for a large Southeastern trucking company. Everyone of you are right that he deserves the punishment, but educate yourself on said ” methamphetamines ” My husband suffers from severe ADHD and was seeking therapy for a year and dozens of failed medication attentions. The medical certification you all drivers get yearly, they test you. My husband is legally on Adderall aka legal meth. As long as you have been clinically cleared and have medical documents, even if , God forbid he had wrecked ever, no state no Congress is allowed to use that against him. Just letting you know I am very very aware. Also I’m currently getting my Bachelors in Criminal Justice so easy on the snippiping at me. 😁
I don’t even like to drive if I feel sick. If I’m not 100% able to do my job safely and effectively. I don’t belong behind the wheel of an 80,000lb vehicle.
There aren’t enough words in my mind to describe how I feel about this clown! Drugs and trucking don’t belong together. Life without parole is what he should be doing. I’m a 33 year truck driver pulling heavy equipment in the San Antonio area and I see drivers doing wreckless things all the time but drugs should at no time be in a driver
They need to start doing the same the to non truck drivers as well that kill people when speeding or under influence as well
Exactly because a lot of them get a slap on the wrist. They can have their license suspend and handed back to them in no time. Even after they may have hit someone
Were any of you there?I doubt that to be so. Most prosecutors are out to make a name for themselves. I really don’t think there was enough evidence to prove for a death sentence, therefore as the story states, he got the max alowed.
This is correct. Well said. Condolences and prayer for those, and the family of those lost. Dave D
Yeah then see how long it takes for panic and fear to set in when people can’t get their stuff. Then Armageddon!
Who did he drive for??
Cool Running Express, no longer in business.
So was that a cover for himself?
what difference does it make WHO he drove for?The blame is on him!
Swift.. Lol
Jack the Ripper had FIVE
confirmed victims-
This one had SIX!
Most truck driver s are descent law abiding citizens just trying to make a living. Then you have some Yahoo come along like this guy who gives us all a bad name.
He dosent deserve 55 years thats not long enough. I lost my wife 2 years prior to this and one of the people killed was her closest cousin. The man burned to death. The courts wasnt looking out for the wives,chilern or the parents of the love ones who died . he will get his judgement one day
Prayers for ALL involved
I’m a driver as well. You people on your high horse make me sick. Yeah, it is wrong and a huge mistake on his part. Yes, my heart goes out to everyone of the victims family members. My heart also goes out to him and his family members. It’s one thing if it was planned, but it was an accident. One that will haunt that driver for the rest of his life. Have a little compassion and reflect back on your life on things you have done and just be thankful for God’s grace and mercy that you have not done something to affect others lives in such a way.
Well said.
Ive seen drivers who attitudes are so outrageous about neglecting to give a sh*t about anything and everything that pertains to our jobs. Whether its speeding through truck stop parking close calls with drivers to just sheer insane behaviors behind the wheel in the public roads. One guy told me it wasnt MY problem it was His. I told him. It was everyones problem when it was him that put us in danger. His mentality was he could deal with the consequences of his actions. It never occurred to him that the people he might end up killing might not be able too. That drew a complete blank in his tiny mind.
In the case of this driver in this article. Hats off to the judge. The sentence was really mild. Thats six lives and who knows how many family members shaken up and lives completely altered by the loss. I like to say on the road..A spot at the dinner table that will be empty. A shared cup of breakfast coffee that wont be shared. A smile you will never see again. A night of tears on a pillow alone because someone you loved is gone. Its not sappy its simply the heart wrenching truth.
Im not letting the DOT off the hook on this either. Like that young man i mentioned a while ago. Our actions have a consequence and like that young man the DOT has a responsibility to the public to manage their policies in a way that enhances and improves the quality of the drivers out here. They’ve driven off more and more of the respectable considerate and reliable drivers who wouldn’t dare dope themselves and get behind the wheel. You drove off the good people and left the cockroaches behind. Now your roads are full of rage and irresponsible madness. The crashes are piling up. Im seeing them regularly. The payola is it worth the blood on your hands? Just as you asked that young man earlier the same comes from the DOT when questioned. A big blank.
Very good point … DOT has a role to play in this.
I will agree whole heartedly. Im a retired truck person of 50yrs. Different world nowadays.
Ex trucker here
U r right
If u knew the drivers on road today u wouldn’t get on the interstate
And now driverless trucks?
All wrecks will be covered up when they do kill
Well said Ether, my trucking career came to an end after 17 years. I ran off the road to keep from running over 4 teenagers in a Plymouth Neon who had skipped school and were drunk. My accident caused me so many health problems I had had to give it up. I can’t understand doing drugs and driving, and I don’t get why these drivers are having multi vehicle pile ups. I mean I get it, just can’t understand why they don’t pay more attention to the surroundings. TRUCK EM SAFE out there.
I agree with your comments about the DOT. They have a one size fits all attitude and not everyone is the same. In my 47 years of driving trucks l can only estimate that I’ve done in the area of about 4,000,000 miles without any injuries but I’ve been deemed a hazard to public safety. Really? I’ve been on the road longer than that shithead has been alive! I’m inclined to believe that the DOT and DOS have no clue as to what SAFETY is. Like you said, the good drivers are being replaced and mostly by government funded welfare morons that have no experience and couldn’t care less about their job or the industry. Things are only going to get worse.
He will never get a CDL as long as he lives.one bad apple does not spoil it for all truck drivers.
Amen
Some harsh statements… Probably coming from the same people who “biatch” if… their product isn’t on the shelf.. Their package is a day late… Prices inflate because of shipping expenses..etc, etc.. so shouldn’t consumers be held liable as accessories to murder for placing such demands on the transportation industry…. And “truckers” don’t even pretend like he was the lone trucker on the highway with meth/Coke/etc… Don’t even pretend
I’ve being a commercial driver for many many years (and a member of a so called minority ” within a minority” ) I had met the roughest troopers ever,and random drug test, sometimes back to back.
I can’t understand how a drug addict be a commercial driver, neither I have ever met anyone among my co-workers or besides them whom uses drugs or driving under the influence…
My prayers will always be for those family who lost their love ones.
Good lord, who hasnt learned by now that drugs and booze have no place in transportation? Apparently, that idiot. I can spot a meth head a half a mile away. This t#rd bird probably worked for himself so he could try to get away with it. P.S. I see you cowboys continuing to party and drive and act like it’s still 1970. I will drop a dime on you faster than you can bend over and pick it up. It’s not just the police you need to worry about.
He sucks…be his company suck even more. These companies have no morals and try to squeeze every cent out of a driver. They create the culture that rewards drivers for driving beyond hours of service and they ostracize drivers that ask questions about safety and load timing…even with new eld rules companies work around with old shabby rigs and glider kits that dont fuction with elds.
10 year truck driver 6 jobs in last 2 years because of this.
2 reasons to have and use ELogs.
1- A trucker who caused a fatal crash which took six lives has been sentenced to 55 years in prison. Traffic was stalled due to construction work, and according to prosecutors there was at least a half mile of visibility straight ahead. Despite that however, Brewer crashed into a series of cars without applying the brakes, traveling 453 feet before coming to a stop. The crash killed six people and injured multiple others. was found guilty of six counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of reckless aggravated homicide, speeding, and driving under the influence. Highway patrol also said that Brewer had been falsifying his log book. The crash killed six people and injured multiple others.
2 – NTSB: Fatigue Factor in Truck Crash. The investigation found that more than half the driver’s logbook entries were inconsistent with other documentation, and there is evidence that after working a daytime schedule the week before the crash, he inverted his sleep/wake schedule on this trip and was driving through the night and apparently had gotten no more than five hours of rest during the 21.5-hour-long period before the crash occurred. The crash killed six people and injured multiple others.
12 plus people died, more injured… it could have been your family.
E-Logs…. GET ONE and use it.
I would like to know more about this driver’ exactly how lone has he been driving he wasn’t an owner op this can’t be blamed on log books’ I have ran my own truck with my authority for a decade and never been in a preventable accident of any kind’ so you can stick your ELDS where the sun don’t shine because i’m another driver driven away by the ELD mandate and a lot of safe drivers like me have been also’ good luck out there people have a safe ELOG day if thats possible for some i know it isn’t.
Eld’s have no bearing on this accident and completely irrelevant it had to do with drugs and ignorance it was just brought up to use as another whip to beat the trucking industry with
You are so right. ELD would be ok if the rules and regulations would change too. It is so unfair to the low paying company drivers, who do not make a dime sitting in docks, at the terminals, shops, weigh stations, but that ELD keeps ticking. Get up at 3 am drive 15min just enough to start the damn clock because they dont let you wait on their property, get to the warehouse sit there sometimes 4 hours or 7 hours, Drive to the next pickup, wait there 2 hours or more. It doesn’t deliver till the next day and it’s too far to get there with the hours you have on you clock so you start driving sit in traffic fot 2 hours now your running out of drive time and no where to park. You pick a rest area, . You are stressed, hungry and tired, no shower tonight. You go to bed with just a wash off with a wet rag. It’s 5pm.
if you can get into a rest area. the drivers today dont want to drive at night they want a wifi available. they run to park at trkstops at 2pm. forcing the rest of us to park on ramps.
Yes Gail, we see that too. Even the reserved spots are getting snagged early. Used to be it wasn’t necessary to spend the money for one. Too many drivers out there now… drivers that aren’t from here and don’t even have a regular home to go to so they are out there all the time takin up our spaces. Just sayin…
I only drive at nite can’t stand the bs that goes on threw out the day being stuck in traffic dealing with asshole 4wheelers and some times truckers. I prefer to drive at nite open road and make great miles since I’m not always stopping for stupidity
There’s not enough parking for truck drivers 6 people could still be alive today only if there had been enough parking space for that truck driver
What exactly is your beef with elog’s? I’ve been driving since 1983 with paper logs I would make it work no matter if I was tired or not because the load had to get there. But you no what I learned something along the way that you still haven’t learned and that’s I don’t need to run myself into the ground just for ataboy from my dispatcher. Now I drive my 11 hours a day and 99% of the time I still drive 650 to 700 miles a day and if I can make a good living doing so can you if you’re making a decent cpm if not don’t blame elogs for your lack of pay per mile that’s on you not elogs. As far as this idiot in the story goes they should have given him the 55 yrs without parole for his actions because he deserves to live the rest of his life behind bars for killing six people because he chose to drive illegally and use drugs.
As what you stated may have some legitimacy, Obviously your one of those that’s part of the problem with the publics perception of us drivers. Cause if theirs any validity to your statement, it’s apparent your one of these guys out here doing 70-80 in a 55, riding bumpers to push out of your way..Just saying!!
There’s not enough parking for truck drivers 6 people could still be alive today only if there had been enough parking space for that truck driver my condolence goes out to the families that lost their lives
I like to know what brand truck you drive to get 700 miles in one day.
Drive 11, on duty 1 totaling 12, take 10 hr break, do pretrip 15 min, drive another 1 hr 45 min. at 55 mph AVERAGE speed about 650 miles in a day.
You have to know your limitations when you drive and you cannot do it, learn in three weeks, three months. It is all time in grade. Expect the unexpected always. Always give yourself a way out. 70’s drivers have nothing to do with it. We were able to do our logs and run and not have these vast amount of accidents as we see now. Very poor quality out here on the road. I cannot believe the stupidity of the drivers today. Cut in no warning, 40mph in a parking lot, poor backing in, weights, driving, etc. Not all but really to many. Electronic logs? I never needed them. I too have said good-bye to the industry. Too much nonsense and too many unqualified drivers, quite frankly SJW, (snowflakes, whiners). Yes, the industry has definitely gone down. Yes, and I drove from 1984 till last year in 2017. Hung up my “spurs” so to speak and I do miss those early years of driving. It was great. The best years of my life. Kudos to all of you who do a great job out there and are the professional I was. Be safe and watch your “chessboard”, back out of it and give yourself room. And you will always have people like this man Brewer who just should never have been behind the wheel of a rig. This is sad. But corporate America has to keep the products moving to line their pockets. They do not care who is behind the wheel of a rig. Just keep the products moving and they can hire another driver. Very sad for these families, my thoughts go out to them. Be safe out there. Please. E-logs should never have been implemented. You are all smart enough to watch what you are doing and to be the great drivers you should be. You do not need “Big Brother” watching over you and monitoring you while working. Be safe.
I agree 100% and have been in the industry for 47 years. My personal opinion is that If they did away with logbooks all together and let us drive at our own pace the roads would be safer. I’ve been an owner operator and I’ve been a company driver and it’s funny how it works. Local drivers don’t need a logbook and nobody pays any real attention to how many hours they’ve been on the road and let’s not talk about snow when you might push snow for 30 something hours and jump into a dump trailer and do snow removal for another 10+hours all the time dodging fools that were told to stay off the road. Where is the DOT and DOS then? Things need to change but unfortunately I believe that the people making changes are only making things worse.
Yeah I’m in my last phase of truck driving because of elds. I’m a 26 year veteran driver with a great safety record and I’ve always used loose leaf logs!
Your correct mr Kirk elogs can’t prevent a crash but neither can paper logs so don’t even try and tell me you never once fudged on paper. Because anyone who’s ever ran paper logs has at one time or another. I myself have sit for a hour or more making up logs so I would have time to truck more and I’ve witnessed lots of drivers do the same thing. The 14 hr rule hurts us that’s true but with paper logs you can cheat and with elogs you can’t. So tell me how elogs are not safer than paper logs because the fact is they are because they force you to drive legally and if you get sleep the 8 hours which is what the rules says you will be a safer more alert driver.
I previously commented that it’s not a one size fits all situation. Some people can’t make it through 8 hours without feeling exhausted where others after 14hours are wide awake and can’t get to sleep for hours and by the time they actually get to sleep they have to be up and on the road again in a few hours due to logbook regulation. A good driver knows himself and when he needs rest. We’re all different, we’re all human and shouldn’t be treated like a machine.
Absolutely!
E logs suck
You use them
I’m not !!!!
dude, elogs wouldn’t have prevented this. He was doped up on Meth…..
He sucks…but his company sucks even more. These companies have no morals and try to squeeze every cent out of a driver. They create the culture that rewards drivers for driving beyond hours of service and they ostracize drivers that ask questions about safety and load timing…even with new eld rules companies work around with old shabby rigs and glider kits that dont fuction with elds.
10 year truck driver 6 jobs in last 2 years because of this.
Think about how many signs that you see where it says no parking and that is where the problem starts not enough parking for 18-wheelers
The onslaught of drugs continues to plague the trucking industry, it’s ashame that this driver under the influence had to commit a horrific injuries and death, alot of these driver’s shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a CMV, after 25 years you get to see alot of things and see accidents first hand both trucks and 4 wheelers, I’m not sure with younger people drivers are getting behind the wheel in this industry lack the guidance and experience, I understand everyone deserves a chance but rushing them through trucking schools or training centers is not the answer giving them more training time might boost their confidence and teaching them that drugs and alcohol don’t belong in anyone’s system especially behind a CMV weighing 80,000 lbs, it’s a loaded missile running down the interstate
Its a piss poor way to make a living any more and pays poorly in most cases’ what do you expect when reaching the bottom of the barrel because most decent intelligent people won’t do this shyt.
I agree.
I totally agree. I am an owner with authority because the industry sucks. ELD s and government regulations that care more about paperwork than safety. Shippers that abuse drivers and rates that go up just to slide back down.
I left after 2 years because it was so bad. I thought at 20 that driving would be awesome, but the treatment was HORRIBLE. I make more money know with a much easier job in a warehouse than I ever did on the road. I know I am on the upper scale of pay for warehouse work, but I do not understand why you would want to drive now with the treatment you receive.
100% RIGHT!!!
Good point
Think about how many signs that you see everyday that says no parking and that is where the problem starts there’s not enough parking 18 wheelers
Wait a minute,let me understand this………..He killed 6 people with a large commercial vehicle. The judge,and public opinion put the blame on the operator? Hmmm…..that seems logical to me.
All I can say is Tragic! RIP to all the innocent victims. The company that hired that driver, his dispatcher, the shippers and receivers, the DOT share in this blame. Driver was taking meth to stay awake and work more. In his mind he could handle it. Bad? Yes Stupid? Yes. A crime? Yes. Hire more responsible, Pay drivers by the hour, for every hour they are in that truck, moving or not, and give them a better window of time to deliver. Drivers rush, drive over night sometimes to get to warehouses and then sit for hours on end to unload or reload.
Good comment
The problem starts with parking there’s a whole lot of people today would still be alive if the 18-wheeler drivers would only had a place to park
Yup and we the honest drivers get branded whit the same brand thanks to all the wannabes
Exactly.
Absolutely and the good get cast aside to get replaced by low pay dummies. The sad part is that most of them are replaced before they’re able to collect vacation pay which saves the huge companies big $$
When trucking company’s have you starting you day at erratic unpredictable times, Pay you barely enough to get by. Dock your pay for any minor error on paper work. The DOT slaps fines on the drivers because of the most minor errors, or anything they can think of, the public thinks truckers are to blame for every accident and situation on the highways. truck stops are few and far between, with tight limited parking in too many of them. Dispatchers are more worried about on time delivery then safety, this is the result. Poor food, public showers, dirty bathrooms, living in a tiny truck cab for weeks or months at a time, on and on. Need I say more. This is what you get. You want sain drivers for an insain job, get with it and improve the working conditions.
Thats stuff any driver can change..Eat better,find a better company,not all showers are dirty but you can take precautions..New or old 1st day or last if you dont respect yourself and skill no one else will..Stayin out for a time period is all on the driver cause most companys only want a week or two..If a driver lets them keep them out for a month then whos to blame..
TEAMSTERS
the only person who cared about truck drivers was Jimmy Hoffa he’s been dead a long time truck drivers are put under enough stress right now what do you expect
Absolutely
Should recived the 83 but is sentenced to 55 but can get out in 16..Yeah that will help the familys that lost loved ones…Already had 6 manslaughter charges and still had a licence..Judge shoulda went back through all prev cases and and had those people that let him keep his licence put in jail as well…
Makes me ashamed to be associated with people like that cause it makes my job and others harder and harder to look/be professional..
The root problem is that there’s not enough parking space for 18 wheeler drivers 6 people would still be alive today if that truck driver had enough space to park his truck and trailer
Homeland security over sees any truck driver with a CDL, they now have a rightful eye over if you driver or not anyone with a record can be found out you even have to give your finger print. My Ex husband was recently fired for using his phone for GPS because Crete Carriers Trucking and Shaffer now put cameras in their trucks to watch drivers. After 23 yrs he got Cannes for violating policy
HE WILL NEVER DRIVE A TRUCK AGAIN.
May the individuals who were hurt or killed be in our prayers.
Now we as a community of drivers and non drivers. We have to always know that people will make the wrong choice when presented with situations. We will always be pushed to some type of limit in life. He made a poor choice and now has to pay for it. There are systems and laws in place to prevent these things but he ignored them for personal reasons I would assume. He also needs prayed for. We as a family or or community need to stress more principles to help all to be better.
That’s as bad as the kid in Texas that killed 4 people while drunk driving and got off because he was “To Rich” to go to jail.
GOOD HELP DOESN’T COME CHEAP , Cheap help doesn’t come good . Treat us with respect and pay us for our to
Time these Co, might as well get onboard, because it’s coming thanx James Holder
E logs and paper logs are like gun laws. They only affect the law-abiding hard-working people trying to do the right thing. Affect the law abiding hard working people trying to do the right thing. A criminal will always find a way to be a criminal regardless of what the law says. I’m sorry for all the people killed or injured and they’re families and also all of us innocent hard working people who get the bad name for drivers like that.
As a truck driver my self, I say this guy obviously was looking at a phone or something at the time of the incident. The fact that he had meth in his system is appalling!! He knows no drugs are allowed if you are a driver. I drive sick as hell because I wouldn’t take cold medicine!! It’s just like going out on the road sitting there with a gun and taking pot shots at drivers. You WILL crash one day! Dope and texting will kill people if you are a driver. He deserves what he gets.
A meth head in a semi is no better than the shooter at the school in Florida. Justice was not served. A man in Chattanooga kills an officer gets the death penalty. A man willingly kills 6 gets possibly 16.5 yrs. Out of the 55. So one officer killed death. How many people must die to get death?
E logs don’t fix this . This just stuid driver just the same as texting or watching a movie while driving or on antidepressants or a dog in your lap
Please tell other drivers about this if you loose a few minutes just don’t stay at the truck stop tell war stories for an hour. We should encourage safety at all times will we are on the road. When one person does this it makes it hard on the millions of safe drivers
And Ethan Couch gets no jail time for killing four while drunk. Affluenza.
I absolutely totally agree with you 100%
I am not God to be judge and jury after the fact. He was overdue for this happen. Regular drug test of drivers should be enforced. Dispatchers are also to blame asking or putting additional demands of drivers. Many readers don’t know about how much pressure is on them. However by no means should anyone climb under the wheel of any vehicle impaired. Not just Big truck drivers.
Dont bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me hahahahahahaha to all you goodie two shoed people who never make a mistake, it can happen to the best of us, anytime,any place,remember that.
Points, taken…Enough said…!!!…Trucking business is a Rotten industry…!!!
Sad but true, that’s life no one really knows what was really on his mind, and to be honest there are times I’ve seen truck drivers , but mostly car drivers that have road rage, or what we call 4wheelers on their period. I’m not defending this gentleman, just letting people know not all so called truck drivers are that way, So please dont judge all of us for his mistakes. That is what is so wrong in the world today. Someone does something or sees half the story then it’s an all out war. I have been driving for going on 9years, Im still wet behind the ears, according to the old school drivers and thats ok with me,Just glad to be out here to help others. But sometimes it’s close calls, due to “everyone” thinks their cell phones are more important then their life, their family, or a complete stranger and their family. You want to see less wrecks
Put the phone down, just like most things in life it can wait. But you can’t replace a life.
His life, job, and career is over.
solution to all truckers: start your own trucking business, no worries abt long hrs, can be your own boss etc. just a suggestion. be safe truckers.
Some of you folks are just bat-s*~t crazy. “Take all big trucks off the roads” Heres a hint.. don’t like trucks? Stop buying ANYTHING!! Live like a caveman, eat only what you griw or kill.
Now, common sense says put this guy away for the entire sentence. Sure glad I retired from trucking after 36 safe years with people like some of you on here.
A old friend of mine had a car with a woman and 3 kids pull out in front of him giving him no chance to miss them. 2 of the kids died as did the woman but he was over his log so he got 25 years which being Canadian he had to serve all 25. He wasn’t on drugs or anything but it was his flaunt do to his log book. He lost everything, his wife his farm and his kids. When I hear guys saying how far they can go without sleeping I tell them that they are the problem then if I can call their boss and if I don’t hear what I want then I call the dot.
A old friend of mine had a car with a woman and 3 kids pull out in front of him giving him no chance to miss them. 2 of the kids died as did the woman but he was over his log so he got 25 years which being Canadian he had to serve all 25. He wasn’t on drugs or anything but it was his flaunt do to his log book. He lost everything, his wife his farm and his kids. When I hear guys saying how far they can go without sleeping I tell them that they are the problem then if I can call their boss and if I don’t hear what I want then I call the dot.
That should be a wake up call for him and too drivers out there. Meth is not the way to go. It’s pot. He would have slowed down a half a mile away and fully stopped at 500 feet just because he’d be more cautious. Good job judge
If he would have been tried in federal court he would have never got any leniency he would have had to have served all of the time without getting any time served
Accidents resulting in death stays on a professional driver’s record 10yrs. Since there were multiple deaths, his record may never be cleared. Every year laws and rules change, but never in the driver’s favor.
Drivers like this make our profession even harder. We all have issues, but he only showed a lack of concern and safety for others… on top of that drugs and falsifying his logs I don’t believe in The death penalty, but he should never get out of prison.
The United States of America has gone mentally insane with its prison terms. That trucker wasn’t the only one sentenced to 55 years—we all were, since our tax dollars will pay to warehouse him at the rate of about $70K/year.
He should do 5 year without parole, have to meet regularly with the families of those he killed, his company’s insurance should pay a million for each life lost, and he should lose his CDL for life.
Unless he was driving uninsured. Then I’d give him death.
I hate tweekers. He will get a license and drive again. too many corrupt companies and dmv officials.
When i became a truck driver, i stop drinking automatically I’m never abuse drugs, i wanted better for myself & i didn’t want to In danger someone else life while doing so. He should have gotten life for such a hanus crime, because he knew better, than to do drugs on top of things falsify his log book, it’s more things than making money especially illegaly. I just feel sorry for the victims & my heart goes out to the family’s.
I hope it kills his company…and their mother company us xpress
Trucking sucks and I can’t get out of it, don”t know to do anything that pays better.
Come and work for western express we will work with you on this when u get out on probation Peggy Rene
U guys must be exception to the rule.Rode with my boyfriend for clp yrs. Lots of truckers on drugs.Lots of crooked companies.Its really sad…
All I can say is that at any time of of every day as a Truck Driver this can happen to anyone of us at anytime!!! It just takes a few seconds to change your life forever!! Don’t tell me that any of you have never driven over hours or tired? You have and if you have not then you are still a newbie!! After 2 Million miles I feel very lucky that I never had an accident! But I came very close many times!! Driving the I-5 in California and Oregon and Washington is just an accident waiting to happen for anyone! Or I-80 over Donner in winter every night for 3 years in rain and snow! Or US-395 from Reno to LA. What I am trying to say is, you never know when your number is up! You could get a blow out and roll your rig and kill three people and as the investigation goes on they find out you had a bad tire and you drove on it not knowing it was bad. Guess what? You go to jail for Not doing your job! Go take a long look at yourself in a mirror and ask yourself, have I ever driven tried or sick and should not have been driving? Or over hours by 30 minuets or over loaded? This is why I quit driving after 25 years! My number was due and I was not going to jail! I seen to many drivers get screwed over and end up doing time!! I drove for a great company that followed the book! I did not go over hours, but I was forced to drive sick or just beat from working 14 hours a day on a night run. Many times my wife thought I would not come home because of the hours I put in 5 days a week doing 70 hours in 5 days! Running 526 miles a night and working the dock for 3 hours! Do my 34 hour reset and do it again. This was in 2013 to May 2014 and I was done and quit! Why? I was not going to kill my self or some one else!! So just think about your driving years and how many times did you do stupid stuff to make a buck?
I follow the rules. I’ve been driving for 20 years and can honestly say I’ve never had a violation in a CMV. I’ve also left trucks in parking lots and caught a bus home when dispatchers threatened to fire me for not breaking the law. The consequences are not worth the pay. Part of the blame here also lies with the good drivers. If we all refused to break the law dispatchers would have to allow adequate time for deliveries and the dot would have nothing to do. Our own need to survive with a comfortable lifestyle allows for the kind of company greed that pushes drivers to tweek and run long. Nothing will change until we drivers grow a spine, stand up and force it to. Until then…we ALL share the blame.
He won’t get another CDL and with this he won’t be getting hired by another trucking company. It’s this b.s. that gives the trucking industry a bad rap.
moderate this
and unsubscribe me
people do nothing by criticize because they’re perfect
Gosh, did the people he worked for do drug checks…Bad logs. speeding. Not seeing the warning signs. Not seeing the cars. not applying the brakes. only thing that stopped him was the cars…So now finally after the fact the Law will stop him..
What idiot thinks they should ban trucking. Then how will freight be transported. Need trucks in their lives.
Truck driving Companies need to stop pushing driver’s to drive when they are tired. Driver’s need to rest when their bodies are tired, not when they have time left to drive. That load has to get there when it get there. I bet that Company denied ever pushing him in court.
He should get the whole time in jail. Sixteen years is not enough time for such a horrendous lack of judgement . I pray for the victims and the families.
As a truck driver I I’m deeply sadden to all the family who was involved in this Tragedy. My prayers go out to all the families.
He definitely was given a light sentence for killing six people and injuring others who will live with that horrific day for the rest of their lives. In addition, he was a drug addict. The public who reads these articles of a drug addicted trucker will stereotype many others one’s abuse. Truckers, if you know of another driver abusing drugs or alcohol while in a cmv, don’t hesitate to report. Other lives are at risk, and could be one of your family members being put in a pine box.
Game is over for him! He was probably thinking that he would never get caught using those drugs at the same time operating 80000 lb equipment. But drug is a drug it does what it made for – “kill people”.
One of my friends told me the story about the driver from their company: the driver Parked his truck then went to the city to walk around and a few hours later he calls the office and says that he cannot find his truck and he don’t remembers where he parked it so the smart people from the office figure it out right away that something is wrong with the driver they found the truck and the day later they figured out that he’s using meth and they fired him on the following day.
Another story: I was pulled over in Idaho just for the random DOT check up and a few minutes later when cop was standing next to me he receives information through the radio that there is a drunk truck driver coming our way, so they give him a truck description and told him to follow the truck when he sees it. so the DOT officer did not even finished inspection and sent me away…
So there is quite a few more kamikazes on the roads driving semi trucks…
Bad story here. I’m no judge but I’m sure he’ll be thinking about his actions for a long time to come. On another note, I seen a couple drivers on here mention the foreign drivers and undertrained drivers. I just wanted to say I was loading at a military base in California Tuesday and there was two guys from some country in Africa in a truck getting loaded before me. Once I was loaded I walked to the back of my trailer to close the doors and seal it. One of them was trying to get my attention. I turned to see what he wanted and with very poor broken English he was trying to ask me how to use a load strap. They had the strap all knotted up in the ratchet. I fixed it for them and was trying to explain how to use it and they was about to get it all knotted up again because they couldn’t hardly understand English. I eventually climbed in their trailer and installed the strap properly. They were very greatful that I showed them how it works. Now my question is, WTF are they doing on an American military base in a CMV.
I work in the entertainment industry. When I started back in the early 70’s most live shows didn’t even use semis. Later on they did with one semi to haul sound lights and band gear. The business started growing where arena shows had 5 trailers.
Come to the present. Now some arena tours have 10-20 trailers. The Trans Siberian Orchestra tour has 36 trailers and about 20 buses. However there are 2 tours going at once. East Coast and West Coast. Each unit carries the same equipment. Yes 36×2 and 20 x2 . If something were to happen to just one of those trailers it could cancel the show.
So you can imagine the trucking company they use vet their drivers big time. Some of these drivers have been on the tour for years. They know if they mess up they’re out.
This guy who killed 6 people should never be allowed out. His early out after 30% is not a given. He would have to serve those 16+ years with good behavior. I doubt he will be able to do that.
Plus the survivors of the victims can testify to the parole board and appeal to not let him out. The parole board has the final say.
I’m a driver also that got myself off the road in 2017. Not because I’m perfect, but because of that changes just in the last 10 years. I remember when it was a rare thing to see an accident that involved a big rig. Now it’s just about a daily occurrence. Since the DOT took away split sleeper, and only 2 lines on the log book counted against the 14 hours, there has been an increase in fatalities. And no more respect for the professional truck drivers, due to the lack of safety, which is due to the lack of rest, which is due to no more split sleeper law.
Why are suits in Washington DC who have no clue about moving frieght creating laws that have absolutely no common sense?
Brewer will never drive again. Once a driver crosses the line and kills another its over, you can never drive again, (thats one law I hope stays intact.) Brewer crossed so many lines, i believe he stay in prison for the duration. 92 when he is released? He will most likely die in prison. Meth head? Most likely be dead before hes 60.
My prayers for the survivors of those victims, and for the injured. My prayers for the professional drivers who work hard for so little to bring it all to the consumer.
Truckers taking drugs was common in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Shippers and receivers demanding the load be there on time no matter how long the shipper took to load you and what the weather conditions are like. The dispatchers would constantly nag and put pressure on the drivers to get the load their on time. Small companies still practice this style of trucking. during the 2000 era I’ve quit jobs because they try to force me to falsify logs and other illegal things. What this guy did was wrong and it shows who ends up paying the penalty. The driver.
Everyone is judging this guy like they are some perfect, holy angel, incapable of making an error. The billionaires who have garnered more wealth by turning the typical OTR truck driver into a modern slave, capitalize on this quality of lower class, powerless people to rationalize their lack of control with their own life who cope with increasing class powerlessness by pretending they are in complete control of their human frailties. Let’s just call most of these condemning comments as “slaves judging another slave’.
Only God knows this trucker’s real story. The forces that drove him to drug use, or in to trucking, etc. As for the six who died: no one escapes this world without passing through same fate. It was in their spiritual contract to leave earth when they did.
After reading all comments I sat back and realised that for the most part it is true he deserves his punishment but at the end of the day the company he worked for knew about falsifying logs. They should have been held liable to certain extent. At the end of the day it’s drivers like this idiot that has changed the industry not dot or goverment
Sadly, getting locked up for 55 years is ONE way to not deal with E-Logs.
After reading the comments I am just happy I got thru 25 years of trucking
without a disaster like this (I never used any “speed” or alcohol.)
I still think this accident could happen to any driver with 40 tons under
him if he is not 100% alert and defensive. I don’t know how long “speed” stays
in your system or if it caused the accident….(i thought it made you more awake?) I do know that this mans’ life is ruined while he was trying to drive a truck for a living….very sad.
By the way; what prison did this driver go to?
They usually are sent to butt busting LEAVENWORTH KS, OH BOY, see what happens when you don’t put money aside for a good ATTORNEY, 55 years out in 16 maybe? I know he didn’t have a good attorney because the charges were VEHICULAR HOMOCIDE? What? It was an ACCIDENT, what if the driver passed out or had sudden chest pains, was he drug tested on the scene or at a medical facility, was the driver offered medical attention? The log book falsified, was that within his current 11 hr 14 or his last 34 reset, or 6 months ago? Was he offered trial by judge alone no jury trial?
So you see you must have a good attorney or else.
And for the amateur rookies making judgments without all the midigating facts, all you’re doing is showing you don’t have a clue of what you’ve gotten yourself into if you are a CDL steering wheel holder.
Read the comments, LOL, that’s why a trucker should never agree to a jury trial; NEVER EVER, NEVER NEVER NEVER.
I hate when that happens.
With what he had in his system he ought to be hung by the neck until dead
It is truly tragic what happened in this case. And my prayers are with the families of tjise who lost their lives and were injured. Once this deiver chose to take drugs he as much in my mind has admitted that he is wilfully pushing himself beyond his mental and physical limits and deserves the maximum punisjment. I’ve been driving for just over 35 yrs. Trucks and buses, taxi cabs. City and rural areas alike. While in my younger days the simple love of doing my job was the energy I needed to put in all kinds of hours. But that changes with time and age. I believe it’s a matter of knowing your body and listening to those suttle messages when it’s telling you it’s time to pull over. And there’s not a one of us out here who doesn’t know when that time is. I can honestly say I’ve never taken anything stronger than an energy drink to keep me alert and I only did that maybe 2-3 times that I can think in my 35+ yrs of driving. But in my opinion the problem with drivers pushing it, is because of the demand of customers, trucking companies and drivers themselves pushing to please both as well as get that trip done so he or she can move on to the next load as soon as possible to make a decent payweek. That and because companies barely pay enough for most deivers to make a decent living. The love and necessity of that almighty dollar is one major reason for so much tragedy in our time. I was there at one time and decided some time ago if I can’t do it without getting decent rest. It just won’t get done. At least not when they want it. E-logs play a big roll in the hours drivers have to put in now simply because of that on going clock that doesn’t stop now except for an 8 hr break which more than likely would make most of us late depending on the delivery time. But if I or any of you are going to remain in this industry I’ve had to learn to make the neccessary adjustments in my driving habits. It’s not an easy thing to do but it’s still my job. So far I’ve made it work but as so many have said before me the industry has gone so far down hill for so many reasons I don’t think it’ll ever be what it once was. And yeah I’m looking to get off the road myself. God bless all.
He got off EASY. The judge was soft.
He truly did not get what he deserved. The system is so broken. He kills 6 ppl and will get out after 16 yrs and another man kills his sick wife because she was in so much pain and suffering so much that she begged him endlessly to end her life, he finally does it, gives himself up and confesses and gets 25 yrs with NO parole. And he’s also never had a record. First arrest. The system is ROYALLY fucked up. No wonder ppl don’t believe in the system. There’s so much wrong with it, I don’t even know where to begin.
I quess no one read the bill that will past that eighteen years old will be able to drive interstate. This will be the beginning to a nightmare. More accidents, more death and more inexperience drivers. I pray for more safe drivers and for all you drivers who are out there thank you for your serves.