More Junked Out Trucks & Trailers For The Amarillo Market 2/23/15

I don't care about being late anymore.....That load will get there when I get there.

 

After one bad winter years ago I like my boss when bad weather hit, for he said, "Do what you think is best, if you think its best to stop, stop, if you think its best to go, go, and I will stand behind you." Most of the time I went.

I recall one time I started running with tow other trucks around Midland, it was solid ice. We were spread out right good with quite a bit of space between us, and took time about leading the path. Over just west of the 409 mile marker, Weathford, TX, I believe it was, I was running in the back.

A truck up ahead spun out. He was setting with his cab in the right hand lane, his trailer was side ways and off the shoulder on the left side. Our leader told us and we all got off the accelerator trying to slow down, the next thing I know the two trucks I was running with were going ever which way in front of me.

I stayed on my brakes as long as I could, and at one point I could see that is was going to hit the truck in front of me. At the last second I hit my brakes, my trailer went sideways to the left, I was thinking on no, come this far and this is going to happen.

I got off the brakes, and the truck in front of me stopped, his cab half in the right hand lane and half on the shoulder. I was thinking my sideways trailer was going to take him out, and I had gotten over half way off the shoulder, and I though, just maybe if I push down on my celebrator just a bit maybe my trailer would straiten up getting back behind my truck.

So I barely pushed on my accelerator, looking out my drivers side rear-view mirror watching my trailer, it was very slowly getting behind me, and it missed the truck I had been following by less than 2 to 3 inches. After I got by I stopped when back to see what shape they were in. The fellow trucker I was following said, "I just cannot believe your trailer missed me," he said, "Setting in my truck seat watching your trailer come at me I do not believe a piece of paper could have been put between my truck and your trailer."

All 3 of us got going again and we separated at the junction of I-30 and I-20, that was on New Years Eve evening about 1977 of 78 just after dark. I was trying to get in for New Years Eve but I did not make it until that New Years morning at about day break, but I made it. If there had been no ice I probably would have gotten in a bit after dinner time on New Years Eve.

After that incident when running on ice or snowy road ways I stayed by myself. For I felt it the one leading us was not paying attention. For I talked to the truck driver that caused this and he had been there about 10 minutes or maybe more setting cross ways before we got there. And the front of his truck was facing us with the head lights on shinning on bright right towards us along with about 30 to 40 marker lights on the side of his trailer lit up right good.

With all the traffic that's out there today I would hate to run on slipper roads. Back them there was not near the traffic there is today and it was much easier to stay away from everyone else.

 

Absolutely the worse conditions I ever drove in was on 287 between Dumas and Amarillo. About 5 or 6 years ago a few days before Christmas, 287 was a sheet of black ice and was packed with travelers. I saw at least 20 cars and maybe 10 semi-trucks wrecked and overturned, most of the wrecks were off to the shoulders so traffic could still get through but you could only drive 5 to 10 mph or you would start sliding out of control. The weather was forecasted to get worse and with no place to stop or pull over I just kept going until I reached Amarillo then I would get a room. However once I got there the roads got better so I just kept going trying to stay ahead of the storm.

 

Years ago while in the Air Force I was going back to my base. Just north of West Memphis it was dark and I was running at about 80 MPH in my car it was misting rain, and quite cool, but all was well. Up ahead of me I thought I saw a set of lights that seemed to be spinning around. I shook my head and about that time I saw some more lights that seemed to be spinning around too!

When I saw the 4th or 5th one I let off of my accelerator on my 57 Chevy, it was a strait long stretch and I just coasted, them I saw what was going on, cars were setting every where except on I-55, it was 100% black ice. And seeing those spinning lights saved me. I was about 19 years of age and that was my first experience of driving on ice. Seeing all those cars wrecked out gave me a good education for driving on ice.

Here were I live out in the country on a hill side just west of me there's been a wreck, two ambulance has been over there and headed back to the hospital in a big hurry.

We had quite a bit of snow, and people drive like the highway is dry and safe.

 

Haha, that reminds of years ago when I was blowing down the interstate with a semi and having no issues whatsoever, (you know, young dumb, ten foot tall and bulletproof) lots of cars and trucks in the ditch, so I slow down a bit and keep on going, about 30 miles down the road I pull into a TS for something to drink, jump out of the truck and promptly fall right square on my behind.

I drove a LOT slower after I left the TS!

 

I remember once another hand and I were between Texarkana and Dallas on I-30 headed to California. It was cold and misting rain. We were running along at about 80 MPH and I started noticing how much his tail lights were reflecting on the roadway and there was no mist spraying up from his trailer wheels.

I told Slowpoke to let off his accelerator pedal and come to a very slow stop on side in the interstate. He did, and when we got out we could hardly stand up. It was solid ice. We pulled into Rockwall Truck stop, had a cup of coffee or two and decided to go to bed.

The next morning when we left Rockwall after having a good breakfast going though Dallas Fort Worth both cars and trucks were off on the side and setting in the median, some of them were beat up pretty bad. We kept going and ran out of it at about Midland, TX. That was a very long stretch taking lots of time going at 25 to 45 MPH.

That day our company had 3 trucks that wrecked. I suppose they may have tried to make fast time driving on solid ice.

 

OHB, ST and KT: I feel y'all 100%!! Having been born and raised in an area where a week of frost would trigger the Governor to declare a State of Emergency (so the citrus farmers and high dollar horse breeders that all had to pay for emergency heating; could get Federal Aid - another reason citrus farmers and high dollar horse breeders don't get along; Heat a citrus grove w/ hundreds of barrels of burning whatever you could find and up all night keeping them going and STILL have to sell the crop for pulp vs. some extra propane for a barn nicer than most of our Cracker Shacks for us cattle and citrus folks, but THEY got Federal Aid too - in their million dollar mansion ranches? Sorry - I digress): I was self-taught and learned in an old crap-over Kaywhopper and when I got out to REAL winter it was quite an awakening. Totally right in there being a LOT less bumpers in Guardrail Pinball back then. South STILL hasn't gotten any better with dealing w/ ice and snow. I swear, I think AK, LA, AL and GA (God forbid ice even think about getting to north FL) have a saying about icy roads; "God put it there. Let God get rid of it." You'd think the Northern tier(at LEAST along and around I-20), might have invested in at least one or two piles of sand (though salt ahead of time would be REALLY cool) and maybe a couple of old spreader/plows. Heck. They could pool their money and share. KY and TN might even throw in. Get a CO-Op going and get the Carolinas to join. Don't need a whole lot. They could share!

Anyway, I was conscientious enough to ask a lot of questions in my early self-learning days and not shy at ALL about admitting it was my first year and winter and I was WAY outta any winter zone for me; . . . so Side-bar for new folks: There is a LOT (I can't emphasize that enough) to be learned by buying a so-called Old Timer a slice of pie and a cup of coffee at a coffee counter (for Pete's sake don't take a booth - sitting at the counter is an indication that conversation is on the table; folks that don't want to talk take booths, folks that do- sit at the counter) at an independent truck-stop or diner with truck parking; in a small cross road somewhere geographically typical of the region. Lot of BS to be had too, but it doesn't take very long at all to tell the difference and catch a super good "How To or Never Ever" from someone that has more miles in reverse, parking in that area, than you have going forward through it. Listening to a BS story about taking a shotgun tanker loaded 50K over in the ole Jimmy Doublestick 120MPH down and around Deadman's Pass at 127 MPH in the Blizzard of '48 so the Widows and Orphans at the home in Cacuratcha could have milk, and a slice of pie and a cup of coffee . . . about $5.79, $8.79 if you're nice enough to catch a descent tip for a waitress that has been there a hundred times for drivers and heard a thousand variations of the same story and just smiles, picks a little and keeps the coffee hot, strong and coming.

Learning that when the wind is from the northeast in mid February right there and the sky turns purple at noon on a 15 mile 10% two lane on the east side of the mountain, you will get ice, but the west side around will be clear but you have to go slow cause it will have snow pack cause the County had to put the only plow on bottom road to the Hospital . . . then walking outside and seeing the purple sky at lunch time and noticing the wind is coming from the NE and deciding to change your route and you stayed rolling just fine AND made an Old Hand feel good about chewing the asphalt for 4M miles and helping a kid out w/o calling BS on the BS parts . . . PRICELESS!! Hard to find that at Sub-Way or Mickey D's at the Love's or Pilot. Do what you want. Just sayin'. FOOD for thought!

Now y'all have to 'scuse me. I'm ill as a pill. My head hurts, my feet stink and at the moment I don't love Jesus (but I'm glad he still loves me - we'll be OK in the morning). It's six below on the thermometer cause of Global Warming, my load's behind and I really don't give a darned. I cheated my e-log (not really cheated - more like just ignored her beeyatching), cause there was no place to park in my speed limited truck and despite what the Head Fed says - the load's still gotta be on time. Apps, Snapps and what I remember an Older Gentleman of many more miles than I, indicate there is a grand possibility Dallas will be a frozen, bumper car skating rink when I get to it tomorrow so I'm calling it a night. C-y'all and be safe.