wrong or right? flagging down a damaged truck

I would not hesitate and in the past have done so called the cops. It's a safety hazard, and if the driver is stupid enough to let it go, then he deserves a visit from the cops. Had a driver for a large company pass me a few months ago coming down Georgetown Hill on I-70, going waaaaay too fast for the hill, brakes smoking, not a care in the world. Several of us hollered at him on the radio to slow down, he ignored us. First I called CSP, then I called his company and reported it to his safety dept. When we hit the scales at Downieville, they parked him for smoking brakes. I imagine his carrier had some choice words for him, especially when his safety manager told me on the phone that he was 300 miles out of route for his destination.

 

Call the company, with the truck number and nature of the problem.

 

last year heard everybody on the radio trying to get a can hauler attention about a blown smoking tire that finally caught fire, but ole boy finally came back on the radio "I'm not blind I know it's smoking but if this load is late I will lose my job so you all shut up" I did'nt bother to tell him there was 2 Indiana State boys a couple miles up the road that were assisting a 4 wheeler with a flat, lol from what I could hear on the radio them state boys didn't take to kindly to him driving like that.

 

No, you did right. Never put yourself in danger, try all you can ie. lights, cb ect. and if even other trkrs attempts fail and you truely believe it is a danger then call the cops. No we don't want a cop behind us but hey thats what they are for. Would you rather a driver get a ticket or warning for faulty equip or even an oos or let him go and someone gets hurt or worse. If a driver isn't paying attention to his mirrors or attempts to get his attention by other drivers then he is failing to be a good driver. Everyone will experience something they didn't notice happen to their trk in a life of driving but it's our responsibility to watch other trks around us or have our cb up enough to hear in the off chance its us they are talking to. Don't be scared! Play hard or go home!!

 

Back in 2000, I was on the Interstate North of Chicago, at 2:00 AM, I slowed down, and a 4 wheeler was stopped in the middle lane, I put my flashers on, pulled over to the side of the road walked over to the car, and The driver had her face on the steeriing wheel, arms dropped down, the passenger, side, had a smashed windshield, and a Hole in the windshield, that was 5 inch by 5 in square, I opened the door, looked at the guy, His face was Smashed, and all full of blood, DEAD, I looked in front of the car, and there was laying an ICC bar from the back of a Trailer laying there.

 

Good post Wargames.....should put it the "advice for newbies" section.....a pretrip isn't just lights and tires.

 

Did you try getting him on the CB ewill71?But I don't use the cb so if it were me I would have done what you did and flash my lights then go on about my business.If he does'nt see you he does'nt see you,can't say you did'nt try.

 

The other day I was on the I.5 on ramp in Grants Pass Or. when an old man in a 4 wheeler stopped right in front of me, got out of his car and came back to my truck. He checked out my tire thumper which hangs through a hole in the drivers step and said "I guess thats not going to fall off and go through my windshield". He then walked back to his car and drove off. This was probably going too far on his part.

 

He was probably a cop trying to find some reason to ticket you.But he could have been a concerned citizen,nothing wrong with that

 

Car hauler, last week in MT, passed me with draging trailer brakes smoking, tried calling on the CB, but apparently his was off. About 5 miles down the road, small grass fire on the shoulder, another small fire another mile down the road.

Another couple of miles down the road, car hauler on the side of the road with a good size fire at rear of trailer.

The CB is a TOOL!