Need accident advice

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Lee Epling, Jan 6, 2011.

  1. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Van? I never seen heavy pallets stacked with a break in between. Seems like a no brainer for a load shift. Was the break bulk head made from van wall straps? No way would I'd even attempted to haul that way. Anything that heavy stays on the floor, blocked and nailed or stacked with a plywood bulk head with 2 x4 frame and bracing. Stacking on axles can't be stable.

    We're glad you're okay. That's the most important part. Get treated and go back to work. You're responsible for how you are loaded.
     
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  3. Buckeye 'bedder

    Buckeye 'bedder Road Train Member

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    For learning purposes since I would like to get into flatbed, I have to ask a couple of questions to both the OP and other forum members.
    Were you hauling axles or pallets? If axles, wouldn't you use chains on axles, rather than straps? Also, you (OP) state "there was a 10 foot spacing in the middle." Was this between each stack of pallets? Wouldn't this cause the load to slide (shift), thus loosening the securement? Oh, and for what reasons do you feel you could sue your boss? Quite unfortunate this happened to you. Good luck, hope everything works out for you
     
  4. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Not a flatbedder, but moved plenty of heavy equipment. Anything metal that can handle a chain will get it.

    This guy says it was stacked to the ceiling makes me wonder it was a van with wall straps??
     
  5. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

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    if you are heavy in a van--lots of times you have to put a gap in middle--i dont think he was maxed out tho--i dont understand his load--said 4 pallets--10ft gap then 2 in the door????
     
  6. mgfg

    mgfg Road Train Member

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    30,000 lbs>original post

    Care and control truck driver>>You left with it, it's your baby now, even upside down in the ditch!
     
  7. Lee Epling

    Lee Epling Bobtail Member

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    Jul 8, 2010
    Charlotte NC
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    Okay, allow me to rephrase somethings. The way that DANA, the company that loads these trailers, not only requires, but is the only way they will load the trailer is like the way I stated. I have picked up here multiple times, and this is the way they load a dry van. I have told them, my safety supervisor, and the head guy at the factory, that the load shifts, the pallets are too top heavy, and are going to hurt someone. Wish I would have listened, and everyone is right, making sure the load is secure is the driver's responsibility, but I did not load this trailer. We have a small drop lot that is near the facility, I went to the drop lot and picked up a trailer that had been loaded there earlier in the day. the trailer tandems where in the 10 pin, the doors were shut, and the seal was on the door, and without breaking the seal, there was no way to look inside to see if the trailer had been loaded correctly, and unless you can tell me what walmart is carrying X-ray glasses, then like I said there is no way to tell, if the trailer had been loaded correctly. When I got under way the trailer rolled fine, it was not until the off ramp, that everything went wrong. Yes I still have my job, no I was not ticketed with the accident, my company has paid for all medical bills, and is paying me salary until I get back to work. The way the company used to load these trailers to prevent this was use cardboard boxes to brace it, this was stopped because of the cost of the boxes. I have called the VA department of transportation and reported what happened, I was told that the next time I pick up the load to bring it to a scale and call this officer, and he would have the scale master break the seal and inspect the load, I was assured that I would not be ticketed, and the DANA would be held responsible for re-loading the trailer at the scale if necessary to have it stabilized properly. When I pick up these loads with an empty, I load the trailer with the fork lift driver, and use straps and load bars, like I said, it was not my fault. I was not ticketed, so like I said, it was not my fault.
     
  8. Lee Epling

    Lee Epling Bobtail Member

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    I would not sue my boss, he is a great man, and has helped me more times than I can count. Also, here is a BS diagram of how this looked in the trailer, just bear with me

    four pallets in the nose, side by side, two straps. Ten foot space two straps, four pallets in the middle, side by side, two straps. ten foot space
    two straps, two pallets at the rear of the trailer, two straps. door.

    that is the way they are supposed to be loaded at the factory, as I stated in the previous message, there was no way for me to know for sure, since I did not load the trailer. When I pick them up with an empty, I use load bars as well as straps, since yes there is a gap between the freight due to the weight. The weight is usually around 43,000 per load. That is when you are transporting palletized axles. If you have ever played Jenga, the stick game you will know how the axles are palletized. They interlock on one another. They are over all 8ft high, roughly
     
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