Don't push too hard... heres why

Simply have to say......

Driving from Scranton, PA to somewhere in RI (I can't remember exactly where I had to deliver).

I got to the split at I-380 and I-84, heading east into New England........I don't remember anything else until I got to the receiver!

Total blackout. This was about 10 years ago, with my second company who tried to run the #### out of me. I quit them soon after.

So, this along with a "few" other incidents have taught me very well about safety.

No more drives when I am that tired, no more 1,500 mile, 24+ hour runs as a "favor" to dispatch, no more, period.

I am starting back in the field again here on Monday.

I am determined to be safe. Stories like yours, Pete, are just extra nails in the coffin that is stupidity for me. I really appreciate you sharing this one. I always find it is better to just own up to the dumb things we do, and take responsibility for them, than to hide or lie about it. Kudos to you for your willingness to share.

I will take these kind of stories, remembering my own experiences of idiocy, and make it good.

Stay safe all. No phone calls to my wife that I won't be coming home.

Stick

 

Hi,

I'm a newbie and and am also listening. I've been driving rural, so have not dealt with alot of what ya'll have. I appreciate all of you sharing your experiences. I'm trying to learn as much as possible about situations to avoid that I've not dealt with yet.

"Tude"

 

Hi Pete, no way will I ever come down on someone as honest as you. Thank you my friend for sharing this much needed information. Yes, I think you will help a lot of people, even me.
Semper Fi,
Bob

 

I remember one guy who took one of those "joke" truck driving schools for a 2 week training stint...he got his CDL, got right out on his own...came to a stop sign and couldn't shift down right, so instead of keeping it in neutral and stepping on the brakes, he went through the stop sign (thinking it had to be in gear to stop) and wiped out a family of four...a Mammy, Pappy, Son and Daughter...dead in an instant.

 

Fantastic post! I thank you for posting this!

 

In my younger years, when I was nowhere near as smart as I am now, I drove till when I fell asleep, I would wake myself up when my head hit the steering wheel. Sometimes, I wouldn't know where I was and the last time I did that I woke up and I was centered in the northbound lane of Hwy 321 just north of Ulmers, SC going south. Don't remember going through those 2 little towns, but I did.

Don't know how long I was out. Didn't find any damage to my truck, didn't hear any reports of anybody getting killed.

Decided that I wasn't Superman after all so I learned to sleep every day.

Plenty lucky.

 

Just finished geting my CDL and will take these stories to heart and hope I never have my own storie.

 

Oh yes, I love stories.