US Xpress Couple Die In Fire

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

 

Condolences to the families of the husband and wife truckers.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

If your right, I hope US Express gets sued. I've seen the quality of tires on their trailers. I know a driver that wanted them to replace his steer since part was under 4/32 they said not until the middle in at 4/32. (hearsay, this is what he told me they said) If US is at fault I hope this tragedy gives them a wake up call so they run other drivers equipment safer.

 

The suppeizing part is diesel doesn't just ignight on it own. you can drop a match in your tank and it will smother out. (dont try it, but it does work) Unless there is compression or real hot temps, diesel wont catch on fire. Even if they did loose a steer the rim should have kept the tank off the ground and even if it did rupture where did enough heat or compression come from to ignight it? I'm guessing something else was on fire before the diesel caught. A hot enough fire to ingnight the diesel. Fo all we know it was bad wiring and the fire caused them to drive off the road, not the accident causing the fire. Either way it sucks and hopefully it doesnt happen to any other drivers.

Did both die, or just the wife in sleeper?

 

Man that's sad to hear. My condolences to the family and friends.

If only it didn't happen off the beaten path. If it was on the interstate I'm sure truckers could of kept the flames beat down until the fire dept got there. It takes about four fire extinguishers but it can be done. I've done it three times before with other truckers.

That's gotta be one of the worst ways to go. Trucks use to be required to have escape hatches in the sleeper. They need to require them again. One could probably kick the window out from the inside but she didn't know that or was injured. Remember that drivers if you have a bunk window. Lay on your back and put both feet against the window corner and push like crazy instead of trying to beat it out. Your other option is to open the bunk and go out that door. If you can't turn the latch you can easily pry the catch back with a screw driver or something similar.

 

I'd say the driver was blowing smoke, I've never had a problem getting tires replaced. Plus they pull steers at 6 and if any parts of the tire is below that its coming off the truck. They are good about maintaining the equipment if the driver lets them know it needs it. Can't fix something if you don't know its broke.

 

well personally, NOT HEARSAY, i've seen plenty of their trailers with bald tires on um. Need at least 2/32 on trailer and ive seen some that did not meet that requirement that were still in service. Also seen recaps on casings that were clearly to old to be recapped. Us arnold drivers go to US express yards alot. They my maintain some of ti right, but there are certainly many they dont.

 

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RIP Vince & Brenda

 

Like I said, if the drivers would tell them the trailer needs tires they would get them. Not the companies fault that drivers are dragging trailers down the road in that condition. Every 4 out of 5 that I hook to has to go to a shop for one thing or another, mostly cracked brakes and tire issues. And if its in a yard and don't have an out of service sticker doesn't mean its in service or that it hasn't been seen by someone. I've gotten trailers that were dropped with bad tires, missing lights, and broken doors. Drivers have even dragged trailers out of the gate that had out of service sticker on them and no tires on the front axle. My point is its up to us as drivers to help with the upkeep on the equipment. The company can't be out 24/7 keeping a constant eye on everything. That's the case no matter who you drive for.