Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

M88 Hercules weighs at least 112,000 to 140,000 lbs ?!?!?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Tarh331_Dad, Apr 1, 2025.

  1. Apr 1, 2025 #1
    Tarh331_Dad

    Tarh331_Dad Light Load Member

    66
    99
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    I was reading about this horrible tragedy in Lithuania, where the armored vehicle sank into the bog, and at least four of our soldiers drowned.

    Then I kept reading the story, and it said that the M88 Hercules weighs 63 TONS [126,000 lbs].

    Then I checked Wikipedia, and Wikipedia says that versions of the M88 can weigh as much as 140,000 lbs.

    Hello?

    Common Sense?

    Who the hell were the commanding officers to have made a mistake like that? What the hell were they thinking?

    140,000 lbs is 60,000 lbs more than the USA maximum of 80,000 lbs for a trailer.

    Try coasting back down the Loveland Pass if you weigh 140,000 lbs [assuming you could even get to the top in the first place].

    Does Jacobs make a triple jake which could handle 140,000 lbs?

    Or a quadruple jake for a 3608 or a KTA?

    Hello disaster!!!

    Once again, who the heck were the commanding officers?

    Please tell me this was simply Diversity Inclusion Equity.

    Because if legitimate graduates of West Point [in the officer corps] are now so stupid that they order their subordinates to drive 140,000 lb rigs into the nearest bog, then we're in heap big trouble.
     
    Tarh331_Dad, Apr 1, 2025
    Tarh331_Dad, Apr 1, 2025
    #1
    77fib77 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Apr 1, 2025 #2
    ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

    6,685
    16,230
    Jan 18, 2011
    0
    Not gonna comment on the situation
    But you mention hauling it…..and yes it’s done regularly In/out of Ft Hood
    They get rebuilt etc mostly in Pittsburgh and get trailed there
     
    ‘Olhand, Apr 1, 2025
    ‘Olhand, Apr 1, 2025
    #2
    larry2903, Sirscrapntruckalot and Oxbow Thank this.
  4. Apr 1, 2025 #3
    ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

    6,685
    16,230
    Jan 18, 2011
    0
    Here ya go…,
    IMG_0482.png
     
    ‘Olhand, Apr 1, 2025
    ‘Olhand, Apr 1, 2025
    #3
    lynchy, larry2903, blairandgretchen and 4 others Thank this.
  5. Apr 1, 2025 #4
    rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

    3,369
    7,755
    Jul 11, 2012
    in the bush somewhere
    0
    I know a girl who graduated West Point. She got in there, had to sign on the dotted line for like 5 years in the Army. She gets her papers, waited like six months, and developed 'back pain'. Within a year of being out of West Point, she had her full medical discharge. And yep, the taxpayers footed the bill for it all.

    She was smart, she got the papers and bailed on her commitment. And she doesn't hesitate to brag about being a West Point grad. But she's dumber than a bag of hammers.If people of her mindset are leading men into battle, I weep for the future generations that may depend on them
     
    rbrtwbstr, Apr 1, 2025
    rbrtwbstr, Apr 1, 2025
    #4
    Tug Toy and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  7. Apr 1, 2025 #5
    AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    29,140
    158,338
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    A standard Canadian Super B grosses in at 140,000 lbs and they're one of the most common setups on the road. No special brakes or high powered Jake brakes needed.
     
    AModelCat, Apr 1, 2025
    AModelCat, Apr 1, 2025
    #5
    sirjeff, Long FLD, wis bang and 2 others Thank this.
  8. Apr 1, 2025 #6
    Tarh331_Dad

    Tarh331_Dad Light Load Member

    66
    99
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    I'm trying to imagine the frame of mind of the Second Lieutenant or the First Lieutenant or the Captain who ORDERED his enlisted men to enter that glorified boat anchor and drive into a bog.

    Traditionally, West Point grads were supposed to be aware that steel is vastly heavier than water.

    It so boggles my mind that now I'm wondering whether the enlisted men knew "too much", and the higher-ups ordered a liquidation [because dead men tell no tales].

    None of this story makes any sense whatsoever.
     
    Tarh331_Dad, Apr 1, 2025
    Tarh331_Dad, Apr 1, 2025
    #6
  9. Apr 1, 2025 #7
    Albertaflatbed

    Albertaflatbed Medium Load Member

    347
    964
    Nov 20, 2022
    Nisku, AB
    0
    Sympathies to the families involved in this tragedy.

    140,000 pounds is not particularly heavy, just another day in the life of a trucker pulling super-b trailers. Some are permitted to 160,000 for molten Sulphur using tri drive setups.

    How and why they eneded up in a bog is yet to be determine. Having driven leapord 2 tanks in the field, I can say it is easy to miss obstacles if hatches closed. A bog can look like a normal field.
     
    Albertaflatbed, Apr 1, 2025
    Albertaflatbed, Apr 1, 2025
    #7
    Numb, ducnut and wis bang Thank this.
  10. Apr 1, 2025 #8
    Rontonio

    Rontonio Road Train Member

    6,292
    45,818
    Aug 9, 2009
    0
    IMG_2002.jpeg

    Here is an M88 on my trailer - this one went from fort Riley Kansas to Fort Irwin California

    my gross was about 190k

    lots of 6% grades on that trip - not a big deal at all
     
    Rontonio, Apr 1, 2025
    Rontonio, Apr 1, 2025
    #8
    Tug Toy, lynchy, larry2903 and 5 others Thank this.
  11. Apr 1, 2025 #9
    Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

    13,247
    87,273
    Mar 19, 2014
    Arkansas
    0
    Like they tell us all the time in hoppers… the mud has a firm bottom.
     
    Judge, Apr 1, 2025
    Judge, Apr 1, 2025
    #9
    77fib77, Tug Toy, lynchy and 3 others Thank this.
  12. Apr 1, 2025 #10
    ducnut

    ducnut Road Train Member

    2,570
    7,740
    Dec 31, 2010
    SPI
    0
    Something tells me the OP hasn’t served with ground troops.
     
    ducnut, Apr 1, 2025
    ducnut, Apr 1, 2025
    #10
    77fib77, Tug Toy, Albertaflatbed and 1 other person Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.