Who is liable?

Rearview - Don't you get it...REAL WORLD is that the TRUCKER is to blame for the FAILURE.... That my friend is the REAL WORLD....

It doesn't matter if the whole industry works like that or if the DOT turns a blind eye to it.. When push comes to shove and that bin dumps the driver will be the one too blame... The farmer didn't make you not secure the load, your company didn't make you not secure the load and DOT sure as hell didn't tell you not to secure the load.. If you choose not secure the load because that is what the "industry" generally dictates that's your choice for following everyone else.. Just because 100 drivers don't secure the load, doesn't mean you have to be the person following those 100 drivers.. Don't care about what others are doing.. Care about what you yourself are doing and your licence...

 

The question I have is 'Has there been a rash of inadvertent grape-bin dumping that elicited the original question in this thread?'

 

Sorry! I have to ask? Your profile says you been trucking for 42 years? And you don't know who would be responsible ? Just asking

 

I think he just wants someone to tell him that it's not his fault, or he's not responsible for the loads he hauls.

 

OK? It's not his fault

 

We have a winner. Of course this is just a forum. In the real world it's still his fault lol.

 

No straps available? Uh in the real world truckers bring their own straps to secure a load.

So is your question the original one you asked or are you just complaining that the scales aren't catching guys with improperly secured loads?

There is more to this story or whatever it is. Maybe you should just lay it all out and you could get the answer you're looking for.

 

DOT never looks at produce trucks coming from the field to the packing plant. At least not in Arizona. DOT will drive past a field truck on I-8 with parts falling off, no lights, nothing but a 1/4 twine holding palletized boxes of lettuce on the trailer just to pull over a reefer with no apparent issues. As far as liability, how bad would someone be hurt if a tub of grapes spill on the road?

 

The question was answered in the first response and this has drug on for 3 pages? If you want them secured better throw a $12 2" strap over each set and hit the highway. And if you want to change the grape hauling industry then stop in a scale and point it out to them.