Rolled my truck

Thanks Tony. I tend to think outside the box. You have 33 years of driving to my 12, but I seek to learn something every day out here. When the day comes that I think I've learned it all, then it's time to get off the road before I hurt or kill somebody, myself included.

That's why this forum is here: for all of us to learn and share our experiences. If we can help just one driver avoid a collision with another vehicle out there, or not have a run-in with our driver managers, or stay away from those disreputable bottom dwelling scum sucker who SHOULD HAVE gone out of business a LOOOOOONG time ago, or whatever, then I think it's worth it.

I sincerely wish Chewy the very best in this crazy trucking industry. I wish that for everyone who is in it. And maybe this sounds a little trite, but it's high time for the "white knights of the highway" to make their presence known once again. And I'm talking in a massive way!

Let's be a little more courteous to the new guys and gals out there learning the ropes. It's tough enough nowadays, but I think doubly for them. They're away from home, probably family, for long periods at a time and it's hard on them. I know it was for me. Remember folks, YOU were a newbie at one time too!

Instead of us chewing all over the four-wheelers, back off and give them some space. And when they chew all over us, I tend to slow down a little and hope they decide to pass safely. It's still amazing how a few risk life and limb and just can't wait but go over that double yellow line...with a hill and curve in front of them! Stupidly insane but they're not taking me with them!

And when that customer has just had a rough day, like we all do from time to time, smile and say how pleased you are to deliver their load in a timely manner and in excellent condition. "And here's hoping your day ends just a little better for you."

You all get the idea. I've been burned quite a number of times, so I tend to size up the facts pretty quickly. I'm a little more on the pessimist/realist side and if somebody gets their boxers in a bind, they just have to deal with it.

I'm spending more time here now and making posts to what I think are important issues. Chewy had an incredibly traumatic experience and I feel for him. Of course he didn't roll it 360 degrees; he wouldn't be here more than likely if he did. It went right over on the side. Still incredibly scary from my book. I've had a few scary experiences out here myself and sought to learn from them so that I don't repeat the same bone headed mistake again.

I sincerely hope that he gets to stay with his company. It's TOUGH finding a job nowadays. I'm glad he's still alive! But he'll be more careful in the future and that's what we all want out here. And he can share from firsthand experience the importance of knowing what to do, or what NOT to do, and can relay that to others who are willing to listen and LEARN from it.

I'm sure my thoughts have rambled a bit, but it's purely from my heart. Safe travels to ALL of you out there on the concrete superslab. May you experience many safe miles, great paychecks every week, sweet dreams and restful sleep when the end of your day comes. May you have a good place to park when you need that sleeper break, or power nap...but especially when it comes to the all important BATHROOM stop!

I'm gone...good night!

 

remember these words. DEAD DOG DEAD DEER! Never slaim your brakes on to aviod a dog or deer or any other animal unless its something that is large enough to do major damage to your truck like a large mose or bear. the chances of you loosing control in a panic braking situation is not worth it!

 

So..... Did you get fired or what? curious to hear the outcome

 

Here's the thing with trying to avoid animals. If you hit any type of animal and cause damage to the truck it's usually regarded as a non-preventable accident. Some companies might try to pin it on you but I have never heard of any type of law enforcement doing this. So ya, you'll damage the truck and kill or at least injure an animal. Now consider the alternative: you take evasive action including, but not limited to, swerving and braking. You may or may not avoid the animal, but you also put yourself into a situation where you are quite likely to lose control of your vehicle. If you crash under these circumstance you most likely will be hit for a preventable accident by law enforcement.

What it basically comes down to is would you rather take the safer, more predictable route and just mow the critter down, or try to save the critter and be more of a danger to yourself, your vehicle, and anyone/thing surrounding you?

 

Surely you will be fine.....

 

Wow rolling from effingham to dayton ithink your safety dept isquite busy today but crst had the most in the ditch from what i saw.,,,,,,,but the darwin awardgoes tothe o.o thinking he was going to dig his truck out with a snow shovel while it,s leaning over in the median

 

I just drove on the I-70 through Effingham last night. Unbelievable number of trucks rolled, jack knifed, and just plain driven off the road and into the median. It was obvious there were a number of "cluster truck" accidents, where truckers start tailgating in a group and one goes and they all go. Potpourri of companies represented.

So yes, I think the CRE safety department is one of those companies that will be working overtime sorting through all the accident reports...

 

I read the first few pages and didn't see it mentioned yet. The reason you rolled was because you tried to get it back on the road after dropping that steer tire off the edge. Hopefully there isn't a next time for you but it it does happen again the correct thing to do is steer it slightly down into the ditch and give it fuel to keep it straight. Take it in as straight as possible and you greatly reduce the chance of a rollover. I put my truck in the ditch last month, I work oil patch hauling crude, I recognized I was going in and I steered it into the ditch and gave it fuel , no rollover. When I took the rhubarb it was on a steep sided ditch and by resisting the urge to try to get it back on the road and driving it down into the ditch is what prevented the rig rolling. The big part of safely taking a rig into a ditch is to realise when you're beyond the point of returning to the road and take the appropriate action. It's a scary situation but these things do happen , especially in winter conditions, knowing how to recognize the predicament and the proper way to handle the truck in that situation is key !

 

On the topic of hitting animals, I strongly believe that any truck that does not solely operate within city limits should have a Roo bumper fitted on it. Being canadian I have yet to drive a truck without a honkin' big Roo bar! I would honestly feel naked without it if I did! The reason people don't want to hit an animal is for the fear of damaging the truck thus getting blamed by there lame ### company for the damage and losing there job. Put a big ### Roo bar on the truck and every hand out there will be happy to mow down any Bambi that crosses their path!