Don't be this guy!

I'll have to agree with you there okie.Too many drivers are always in a hurry not paying attention.This profession far as my opinion is concerned,SAFETY FIRST!!!!!!!!! I don't care how much a company wants me to hurry just ain't happening.

 

Okiedokie, so, what exactly happened?

I do scrap metal (among other things) and safety is always something that keeps me up at night. A lot of things can go wrong. Always improvising etc.

 

Thoughts and prayer to all involved.

 

That would end my career right there. Thoughts with the deceased and his family. God I hate hearing that stuff. Just like okiedokie said. No short cuts.

 

okiedokie, my prayers are for the injured and all witnesses to the event.

There are times to speed up and times to slow down, take your time, think things through, and make sure each step is done correctly. I do a lot of drop and hooks, and it seems that way too many drivers are rushing through the process as if saving a few minutes and earning an extra dollar or two is the be all and end all of their day. Last year I was with one of those "hurry hurry!" guys on a drop and hook. Sure enough he nearly dumped the trailer when he forgot to do a tug test.

Today I hooked to an empty with both windows down. I'd pulled under the trailer with the bags deflated, inflated the bags with the 5th wheel in front of the kingpin, and made sure the landing gear raised before backing into it. It didn't quite sound right when I backed in, and my trainee noticed it too. The click happened a fraction of a second late. The tug test was fine. We then went under and saw that the locking jaw was only halfway across. Had to pull forward and reset it and then it was good.

Skip a step in anything having to do with shippers or receivers and somebody can end up getting seriously injured or killed.

 

This is one of the reasons that I usually have a hard hat, safety vest and glasses with me. At all times, in the truck. You just never know what might happen or when.

 

Always amazed me, back in my oilfield days, how cavalier some guys were about putting themselves in harms way. I'm not talking about doing a dangerous job, I'm talking sheer idiocy. You aren't going to win a fight with iron, and big iron will slap you stupid way quicker than you can jump. Seen a few pay the price. Sure makes for a ###### day.