Truck Driver Killed by his load 4-22-16

We had a guy bend the frame on his brand new truck from hitting the brakes on a load of axles.

 

Look at the front of the trailer, he has 4x4's stacked up. Is that why the bottom of the load stayed in place and the top kept going?

 

Looks like there's pallets between the steel and the dunage stack, I think it looks like the bottom layers had more straps than the top ones. They were probably secured better.

 

I've hauled that stuff before. It's structural steel for pre-fab buildings. It's got a finish on it that prevents the use of chains, and is terrible for load planning (there are so many pieces, it's hard to get everything covered).

When it comes to steel, people think that a headache rack will make a difference. It won't. Those aren't designed to stop a 5000+ lb bundle less than 1 foot square from moving forwards (let alone 10-12 bundles)(I think they were made for lumber). All you can do is use a lot of straps. As many as you can get on there to feel comfortable hauling it.

My company's policy is one 4" strap (rated at 5400 lbs) for every 5000 lbs of load weight. So 40,000 pounds of steel would be 8 straps. 60,000 would be 12. Personally, and a lot of the other drivers like throwing on an extra strap or two on top of that to make sure.

And so far, last I checked, losing a load of steel is definitely not our company's biggest problem when it comes to load issues/claims. And that's the commodity we haul the most from the Great Lakes area back up here, out west and even back down there (milled steel from recycled material for coil production).

 

It's stories and experience like this that humbles me every time I get behind the wheel of my truck. It makes me realize just how important it is to be the professional and, while most four wheelers don't know it, I've got their lives in my hands and that responsibility is huge. Even if they don't take the care to drive safely around me.

And as for that coffee cup thing, I noticed that early on in my first days out on the road. Inadvertently no less. Stopped for coffee and my first en-route inspection, got back in with a mostly-full cup and starting shifting away, spilling a bunch in the cup holder. Not that I knew smooth shifting wasn't important, but that cup taught me quick just HOW to shift smoothly.

I bet under most driving situations (aside from hard breaking) I could probably balance a full cup on the dash and not knock it over through 12 gears with a loaded set of B-trains.

 

When I brought my dog out with me I had a bowl of water on the ground for her. Spilled alot for awhile. Now I don't spill any.

 

Higher center of gravity. Heaviest pieces should be on the bottom. Something tells me they stacked as much as possible on the trailer. Even though its within legal weight guidelines they will throw as much as possible on there. SMH

 

Yeah, the stuff is often stacked way higher than it should be. I've seen a couple loads come through the yard pushing between 8-10 feet tall on the trailer.

 

Sad. DARWIN SCORES!!!

Nylon Straps will NOT STOP nor SLOW STEEL I-BEAMS from Sliding Forward in a HARD/PANIC BRAKING APPLICATION.
An ALUMINUM HEADACHE RACK would have Slowed the Steal a Little Bit but that Driver would still NOT SURVIVE THAT CRASH.
Lesson for the rest of us...
1. Slow earlier near Traffic Lights.
2. Look Further Down the Road.
3. ALWAYS USE CHAINS ON THE FRONT OF A STEEL LOAD.
4. LIFE TEACHES HARD LESSONS, Know your Load.
5. DARWIN and MR MURPHY are FRIENDS!!!

 

I had a load of compromise rail that was double stacked. I put chains on the front and rear with carpet. Shipper thought I was nuts. A week before someone was killed hauling used polished straight rail. A bit more dangerous than the stuff I was hauling but I don't care.

Always take the extra time to make it safe and reload if needed.