Tough situation to call the cops or not on a fellow trucker?

If it was enough for you to comment here, it is justifiable to ask the local patrol to do their job and put another set of eyeballs on it.

If the guy pulling the load isn't professional enough to secure properly and check it every once in a while (like they are supposed to) they are in need of the financially painful reminder.

If they can't do the job correctly they need to stop doing the job.

I am a King Richard about that.

 

Or my favorite “you drive like an ##****e and should take a freaking bus!”

 

Sometimes stuff comes unsecured or gets loose but cant always see it in the mirrors. This doesnt sound like that but its nice to give a guy a heads up. Get beside him and blow the horn get his attention point back towards the trailer. I always appreciate when someone gets my attention. Cant always see the back part of the loads. I have pulled over more then once when #### was about to fall off or something i couldnt see and said i wish someone wouldve got my attention

 

I was coming through Cheyenne on 80 once... A straight truck setup for those roll off construction dumpsters merged on in front of me.

This particular guys setup was the type that used a large cable winch with a hook to pull the dumpsters onto the chassis. Well his hook was dragging and his winch was slowly spooling out cable.

I called twice over the CB at him, 30 seconds between the two calls... No response. So I dropped the hammer and pulled right up beside him and gave 2 short blasts on my air horn. He looked at me, I pointed backwards, he let out of it and was on the shoulder in less than 1/2 a mile.

About 30 mins later that same guy passed me. He gave 2 short blasts on his air horn, followed by a thumbs up and a friendly wave. As he completed his passing manuever I noticed his hook and cable were properly secured.

I'm sure he was grateful for the heads up.

 

I wouldn't worry about it, because you're fired!

 

Hypothetically passing truck let's a driver know his flash light is on his trailer bumper.

Said flash light was a rechargeable stream light valued about 180 bucks.

Could have lost the light, or damaged someone's car.

Simple save thanks to a CB radio.
Hypothetically

 

If you see something unsafe and can't get the driver's attention I advise you to make that call. There is a good chance the cop that responds will not be a DOT cop anyway. If you have a CB you could try using it. Even if the flatbed did not have a CB maybe a trucker ahead of the guy might and they could try to get their attention. The thing is YOU are a professional and YOU spotted something YOU have deemed to be unsafe! In my case, I had rather get a driver in trouble even fired maybe then know I could have made that call but DID NOT and somebody got hurt or killed!

 

I would have rolled up next to them holding my cb on channel 19. Indicate to get on cb.

You may have seen the tails flapping in the wind and they had it secured some other way.

 

Here come old flatbed, he come grooving up with loose straps.

1 & 1 & 1 is three. One more break pump gonna set that load free.

Come together, right now and tighten them straps.

Seriously, I would’ve just jumped onto his trailer and tightened them straps for him whilst controlling my rig through telepathy. But, I’m more...