Driver found dead behind wheel, co driver in bunk

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/j...b/?partner=popularn Wednesday's News Sentinel.
Well , what did they expect the codriver to do , miss an appointment and get fired with a bad DAC ?

 

A couple thoughts about this story: What tragic news when a loved one passes on! But what I think is real sad also is that the man was driving a truck at 71!
I am NOT commenting about his age, except to say, how sad that he wasnt retired and enjoying life but working instead! It seems like fewer people are able to retire and relax. I fully expect that scenario to happen more and more often as it becomes increasingly difficult to survive, let alone set aside money to retire on!
I can only hope that the man was doing what he lovedwhen he passed and not slaving away for The Man!
The way things are going for me, I'll probably never be able to retire either!
(Thank GoD he was parked when it happened or this could have benn alot worse)

 

TD a lot of guys retire and pursue their dreams of youth. Many of them go trucking. I know a lot of people that work all their life, retire and then die. My uncle served 27 years in the army retired, went to the post office retired from there and then died. I did not read the article, but at least when he died he did not take anyone with him. When I was trucking I always hoped if it was my time it was in the sleeper and not behind the wheel. At least he was behind the wheel and not driving.

 

i wouldnt feel safe sleeping in the back with a 71 year old driving an 80K pound piece of machinery OTR on public roadways.. i wonder if his medical card was expired too.

 

And how do you know that he was not happy? He may have loved trucking and had nothing else he wanted to do. He night have been retired from another job and did this to occupy his time. Nobody knows. either way glad he was sitting still and nobody else was involved or hurt.

 

there are just some things old folks shouldnt do because of physical restrictions / deterioration dur to aging like reaction time, eyesight, etc.. i would think driving a semi OTR would be one of these "shouldnt be doing" things.

 

i know a guy 82 passed his dot aok and still drives part time for his son that he gave the business to because he wants to

 

That was just plain mean young feller. A lot of these old gents can drive circles around you.

 

Exactly. My father in law retired from ABF after over 40 years driving.
He sat home for six months. He had plenty of money but couldn't stand sitting around.
He got a job driving a charter bus taking tourists to Opryland and six months later he died in the motel room on his break.

I believe that those of us that have a strong work ethic feel like we always need to be doing something productive.
When I sold my last truck in '05 I said I was going to goof off a few months since I never really had a real vacation in many years.
I lasted two weeks before I took a trip to CA for my old boss and next thing I know I was back in the saddle again.