Thank you for saving my life random flatbed driver.

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Aadams, May 7, 2025.

  1. Aadams

    Aadams Bobtail Member

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    May 7, 2025
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    I’m not sure if you will see this, but yesterday 05/06/25 at the Colorado/Wyoming border around 6:00pm, you saved my life.
    A flatbed guy (angel) that was in front of me was thinking fast and paying attention and literally saved my life. There was a reefer guy that had been tailgating me for about 50 miles (no big deal, I was only going 5 over) and trying to pass. The weather turned slick and snowy near the border, so I slowed down and got behind the flatbed guy so he could merge in front of me safely where the 2 lanes turned to 1 up there by the rest stop. Flatbed guy quickly maneuvered to the right shoulder and when I looked up, I was seconds away from being smashed by the reefer guy who didn’t slow down. He nearly pinned me between the 2 trucks at 70+ mph trying to pass at the merge. Reefer guy had to swerve into the oncoming lane to miss us and I was pressed up against the angel of a flatbed driver. I have 2 little kids and you saved my life with your quick thinking. Thank you thank you thank you. I should have pulled off and given you a hug but my adrenaline was through the roof.
     
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  3. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    thank you for coming on here and posting something positive about us drivers, it's rare
     
  4. JB7

    JB7 Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 13, 2022
    Laurel, MD
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    "There was a reefer guy that had been tailgating me for about 50 miles" You should have pulled over and let him pass. People need to learn to stay away from the big trucks. A friend of mine was on the beltway in Louisville, KY. The car in front of her was next to a truck hauling pipes. The pipes broke loose crushing the car and killing the driver.
    In the May 2023 accident below there were 4 tractor trailers and a late model Chevy Silverado. One truck in front of the Silverado slowed down, the truck behind rear ended the Silverado killing the 28 y.o. driver. The rear of the pickup was raised up but also compressed/accordioned to where the rear tires would have touched the front tires if they were level with each other.
    [​IMG]

    upload_2025-5-7_9-15-55.png
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2025
    cke, CAXPT, D.Tibbitt and 5 others Thank this.
  5. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    Marion Texas
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    A real flatbedder will be one of the better drivers out there because they know that anything strapped to that trailer is waiting to come up into the cab and ride along with them. In other words anything on that trailer can come ip from behind and kill you. Great on him to watch behind and see the reefer as a hazard and an accident waiting to happen. The best truck drivers out there are not only driving their truck but they also have to drive everyone elses too.
    Yesterday afternoon I was running behind an ATS truck hauling an oversize Cat dump truck box. He was running right side against the wall and 2 ft over the center lane. We went into the construction on I-10 where the lanes narrowed with concrete barriers on both sides. Running 62-65 in a 60 zone. No less than 10 trucks came by me running 5-10 mph over us and including 1 SNI, one Warren, and 1 Werner squeezed by him in the first mile and a half. New age trucking is messed up.
     
  6. Iamoverit

    Iamoverit Road Train Member

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    This makes me mad enough to kick puppies. The DSM driver needs some street justice from that kid's family.
     
    Flat Earth Trucker Thanks this.
  7. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Refer truck tailgating for fifty miles should have either passed when available or backed off to follow a safe distance.
    How would this driver know if refer is tailgating to pass or just run Nascar, drafting.

    Pulling off on the shoulder to allow someone to pass is a bad idea. Broken sign posts, weak shoulder, nails, bolts, screws many more problems waiting for you on the shoulder. Puncture a tire and swerve into opposing lane or off in the ditch. Makes for a bad day.
     
    Rookie driver 956, PPLC, cke and 3 others Thank this.
  8. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    If accurate as described -- the referenced flatbedder showed well above average levels of situational awareness.

    A true professional -- & a fine example for the rest of us. :notworthy:

    -- L
     
  9. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    Same yesterday - I-70 westbound Indiana, narrow construction - just about got side swiped by ‘Lion King’ from Canada running as as fast as he could through a 50 mph zone. Dumb muppet couldn’t keep his lane.

    Caught up with him a little later, rode side by side for a little bit and looked at him. Just a dumb driver. Thought about taking it further then thought better.

    Roads are filled with stupid , rude and dangerous steering wheel holders anymore.
     
  10. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    NW, Iowa
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    it boggles my mind how many and badly I see people tailgating. not even a 2 second gap. My wife is bad for it and I've tried explaining to her that she's not going any faster by being right behind someone.
     
  11. Espressolane

    Espressolane Road Train Member

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    Going to have to call BS here on the OP. Components of the story don’t match the claimed location

    Only 2 interstate highways in that region. Only one with a rest area close to the state borders. Thats the North/South one. Both of them are 2 travel lanes each direction( minimum ) and have either a dirt center divide with cables, guard rail. concrete K barriers where the road is adjacent.
     
    cke, CAXPT, D.Tibbitt and 1 other person Thank this.
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