stupidest thing u have done or seen a rookie do?

i94 exit 89 in michigan, westbound

 

Just went through there a few hours ago. Didn't see a trace, they must have done a good cleanup.

 

there wasnt much of a mess, but traffic was backed up bad all night because the truck had to be unloaded before being towed...

 

One of the stupidest things I did was turn around to sharply and bent the back wing on my tractor with my trailer. I was a rookie of course but I've learned since then.

 

I made it to step 2 on the "forgot to re-lock my tandems" one time. I was giddy as can be one Thursday afternoon to be started on an early holiday weekend. l noticed truck was riding a bit bouncy, so I pull over along US 61 near Reads landing, MN to slide them. Well after I slid the axles, I was about to walk back and lock the bar back in when I noticed literally a dozen or more bald eagles doing the dive-bomb fishing maneuvers they are well known for on this stretch of the Mississippi River. I found it especially intriguing to see one eagle catch a fish, wrestle with trying to eat it or kill it on the ice, and see to or three other eagles come along and try to steal it. Lots of screeching and squawking, something you don't see everyday.

Anyway, after being in awe of this many bald eagles, i hopped in the truck and totally forgot to lock the bar back in. When I hit the 30 MPH coming over the bridge in lake city I remember hearing for a split second "clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk" and all of a suddon the whole truck was jolted with a loud "WWHHAAAAAMMMM!!!!"

My heart sank, although the axles still hung on I was sure that I had bent the stop bar and they were probably froze in place back there. I pulled to the side of the road to check for damage, and found none. The tandems slid as easily as they normally would. I think there's no denying the existence of guardian angles, for me and those around me when I'm behind the wheel.

 

Getting into the wrong lane of a multi-lane left turn isn't hard to do, especially coming off a ramp if you're not familiar with the exit. A rookie mistake would be not catching yourself and running over some 4-wheelers, turning to tight and clipping a Jersey barrier or stoplight, etc...

 

I'll do ya one better, though it wasn't me...I just saw the result.

I was preparing to leave Budweiser in Williamsburg, VA back in '97. I pull up to the guard shack, and see a truck in the exit lane past the shack. I also notice something just a WEE bit strange.

His trailer tandems were UP AGAINST THE TRAILER DOORS! No, I'm sure. They were up there like someone had used industrial-strength Velcro-In-A-Drum and stuck 'em up there. He had forgotten to lock his tandems and they kept a-goin' past the stop. Back end fell down, causing the tandem slide to bend up. Wish I had a camera back then...what a freakin' sight!

 

ive forgotten to relock tandems several times, never had them do anything like that...nice...

 

I didnt understand why it was that all my trainers were smokers (I am a non smoker). Reviewed my application "Do you smoke". Answer "does smoking my pick up tires count?" Changed it to a "No", problem resolved.

 

The story was too long to quote the whole thing, but...





Cheers! I