Flatbedder gets fatally smushed by his steel load at a stop light in NJ.

Oooh, ouch. Not good.

I've often wondered on this one - would a headache rack minimize this? Or is this a constant danger with these loads?

Poor guy.

 

Maybe it's valid. I drove flatbed in the '80s and we were taught there is no excuse for a shifting load like that. One thing is painfully and tragically apparent, the load was not secured properly. It should have never moved like that with a hard braking incident.

 

No argument from me; I don't see chains in the picture. My wild guess is he runs local and didn't fool with chains because he probably didn't have to cross any scales. That's my first impression.

 

Comments from the news site:

• Pat • 15 hours ago
  
  We were behind David and agree with his statement that a car made a left turn (on a yellow light) in front of the truck and cut him off. It is a tragedy!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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    John Jacob Jingleheimerschmidt Pat• an hour ago
    
    
    Should have had a dash cam and nailed that 4 wheeler.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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  David • 17 hours ago
  
  
  I was directly behind this truck this morning. As he pulled into the intersection a car in the opposing lane turned left directly in front of the truck causing the driver to slam on his breaks. I had driven behind the truck for about 5 miles and I can say the load did not look secure.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Roger • 21 hours ago
  
  
  Beams are made of liquids
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  getitorumm • a day ago
  
  
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  Never Never use nylon straps on steel!!!!!! Chains will Not let it slide on the bed, sheeting is one of the Worst!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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The problem with a headache rack is it prevents you from having any overhang on the front of the trailer. Sometines you need a little overhang to get the load legal or secure it properly. At least that's my experience. There's arguments on both sides of that also.

 

The comments from NEWS SITE are not valid as anyone can post on there from anywhere , sad thing to happen but the potential is there when they skimp on securing their loads .

 

Front of the hood is covered with a tarp, I am sure part of the driver is under that tarp.

 

Not if the headache rack is on the tracker.

Although not as effective as having one on the trailer as it allows the load to gain some momentum if it shifts, a rack on the tracker would have helped and probably prevented the driver’s death.