What is the truth about "wheel separation"?

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by drmfitz, Aug 18, 2012.

Have you ever had or seen wheel separation?

  1. *

    once a year

    2 vote(s)
    20.0%
  2. *

    once every 5 years

    3 vote(s)
    30.0%
  3. once a decade

    2 vote(s)
    20.0%
  4. *

    never

    5 vote(s)
    50.0%
  1. drmfitz

    drmfitz Bobtail Member

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    Aug 18, 2012
    0
    no lawsuits. although i am also curious what the insurance rules truckers deal with too. if there was a method of eliminating wheel loss, would that give one a better insurance rate? am curious what the suits have been when it happens too. are you all paying for the huge lawsuits that have taken place even though it is rare?

    i certainly cannot blame anyone for being skeptical or paranoid. it is tough to make it these days for us all and trying to make it better if possible. i am part of solution team. we feel facts are wise to gain to understand the true nature of a problem. we have identifies there is one, not sure how big it truly is.
     
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  3. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    4,051
    9,281
    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
    0
    had a set of duals come off a rail container chassis once about 8 yrs ago. freakin' axle broke. it passed me going down Black Mtn on I-40 in NC. scared the crap out of me.:biggrin_25521:
     
  4. drmfitz

    drmfitz Bobtail Member

    14
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    Aug 18, 2012
    0
    my neighbors son owns a flying j in montana and he witnessed a death from a wheel separation at his store. here are some stats that i was curious about. the bottom line is, what is reported, and what is the truth is what we ultimately seek. if i am driving and pull in and didn't know i had lost a wheel, i get a new one and continue on with my business. would i report that? cannot say, but am seeking to know.

    There have been nearly 90 reported incidents of flying truck wheels in Ontario in the past 14.5 months - more than half of them this year, reports a recent Toronto Star article. Such a high rate of incidence has prompted many agencies to crack down on truck drivers. Operators and maintenance groups in an effort to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Despite all the recent media attention the problem of wheel separations is not new.
    In the early 1990's, a U.S. organization called the National Transportation Safety Board prepared a special investigation into medium/heavy truck wheel separations. They reported that wheel separation accidents constituted about 0.3 percent of all truck accidents. From January 1989 to December 1991, fatal accidents resulting from wheel separations totalled 24, compared to 12,300 medium/heavy truck fatal accidents for the same period. Four fundamental causes of wheel separations were presented in the report; loose and overtightened fasteners, bearing failures, and disc failures. The causes presented were mainly attributed to improper maintenance and overloading.


    got some very interesting videos i can post too if anyone wishes to view.
     
  5. stabob

    stabob Heavy Load Member

    862
    483
    May 25, 2011
    Sebring Fl
    0
    its happend two times two me in ten years,but that was back when I used to drive some junk ### trucks.
     
    MNdriver Thanks this.
  6. drmfitz

    drmfitz Bobtail Member

    14
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    Aug 18, 2012
    0
  7. flc120

    flc120 Heavy Load Member

    916
    122
    Jul 11, 2012
    Miami,FL (yeah i know :( )
    0
    ? how did you get that pic?we breezed right over that?:biggrin_2556:
     
  8. drmfitz

    drmfitz Bobtail Member

    14
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    Aug 18, 2012
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  9. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,667
    12,190
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    I had a set of drive tires/wheels come off a single screw power unit back in the late 70's after just getting off the freeway in Long Beach, Ca. One went rolling pretty fast into a vacant lot and stopped. The other rolled down the street and layer down in the traffic lane and got hit by a 4 wheeler and did extensive damage.
     
  10. drmfitz

    drmfitz Bobtail Member

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    Aug 18, 2012
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    your honesty is admirable, and i thank you! it seems there are several people who state that a while ago technology was not as good and has gotten better? that is this quest, to find the real truth of wheel separation. thanks again for your input and honesty, blessings, Dr. Mike
     
  11. Quickfarms

    Quickfarms Heavy Load Member

    898
    236
    May 29, 2012
    Los Angeles, Ca
    0
    I had the snap ring blow off about 25 years ago and watched the tire go past me. But I never actually have lost a wheel
     
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