"Thrown to the Wolves"- The Saga of the 10 Wides.

I could but I would have to kill you after....

After taking 15 years off the road, my first oversize was a snow plow from Denver to downtown Buffalo, NY for a trade show (the broker failed to mention the whole trade show thing).

I think I was maybe 10 wide and 14 tall. It was a nightmare trying to get the permits (no back office support) and the broker letting me know I had to be "on-time". IN was screwing around with my insurance guy and issuing my permit.

I get to Buffalo and try to get to the marshaling yard and there is a hard right and a sweeping right onto a giant overpass. I, of course, choose the hard right and it is the wrong one and I go one block and get to a marked overpass that says 13 6 and lgp oh crap. Local garbage hauler says no worries you'll fit and and that he will watch just be sure.

The have to go around a downtown city block to get back
On the skyway - cop just stares at me trying to to make a bad left from a one way to another one way - no help at all.

Finally get to the marshaling yard and over to the trade show haul - of course exactly where I was lost at.

Spend an hour breaking down the trailer and backing the plow down the street, into the trade show hall and go back to put the trailer together, being extra cautious. Get the neck back and everything great, then go to pick up the trailer to leave....

Hit the trailer at slight angle, up the ramps it comes ... Right over the fifth wheel and now it is high hooked. #### Union riggers made me sit there for hours till the came and picked up the trailer for me to pullout from under.


I all I could think at the time is

What the hell I have I got into...

This is where new guys quit...but I am too stubborn and not bright enough.


I love what I do but there are days ...

 

This wasnt 10 wide but I WAS thrown to the wolves. 1970, still not 18 yrs old, a driver did not show up to take the 1959 IH Westcoaster, 250" wheelbase & 40 flat loaded with 490 70# sacks of pozzolan (hand trucked on by me) from Santa Maria to Gibraltar Reservoir Dam north of Santa Barbara. So they sent me. Met the project foreman at Paradise store & he says, we can get a 10 wheeler & make 2 loads if you dont think you can make it. I had worked for the outfit for 2 years & all I wanted to do was drive a truck and being taught "Take care of the customer" I said I would try. I had no idea what I was in for. After nearly 3 hours of climbing the banks & trailer tires nearly falling off cliffs I did make it to the dam. Just getting dark me & the foreman walked every sack off the rear of the trailer making a 12' x 12' stack. Then he followed me out with the loader to pick up the rear of the trailer, as going out there was a little different angle on some of the curves. Followed me all the way with his lights showing where my trailer tires were. That trailer never pulled straight again, but thats another story. After I grew up & had my own truck I hauled the USFS dozer back in the area several times & could not believe I made it in there back then in that hard steering sob. And then got my arse chewed for bending the rear bumper piece on the trailer where we lifted with the loader.

 

Did an oversize way back in my super truck days. 12 wide 14 tall 90000 lbs gross. Thought I hit the big times. Had to borrow a low boy to hall it. Big trailer! 42 ft long with those ity bity tube type tires dang thing should of been junked years ago. From philo ohio to Montgomery Alabama. Ran around every scale there was. Rags for flages. Flashing lights made with a turn signal blinker. Yeah I was a big super hauler. That's when my grey hair started! Made it to the destination! Only blew two tires that I didn't know until I got there! Yeah I popped my cherry that trip. Couldn't get enough of that high after that. Been a downward spiral ever since. Today I know better but love the memories.

 

Yeah we know ron. Yer a TOOL! LOL.

 

But not an ordinary tool, I am a specialized TOOL

 

Ab-so-lut-ly! LOL.

 

[
(Hey, it was my first time...it's kinda like getting laid. You think you know what you're doing, but you really don't have any idea on the first go).
HA! You are so right.......BUT, when you get laid for the first time at least you got 3 or 4 chances to improve right then.

 

(Hey, it was my first time...it's kinda like getting laid. You think you know what you're doing, but you really don't have any idea on the first go).
HA! You are so right.......BUT, when you get laid for the first time at least you got 3 or 4 chances to improve right then.

 

I have some of the old permits floating around in my briefcase but not because I keep them, only because I need to clean out my briefcase.

The only near disaster I have had so far was caused by a rigger using a worn out lift sling. Just about the time they had most of the weight of a 90,000 pound heat exchanger off the deck it snapped. Would have been a heck of a ride if I had been in the truck as it slammed back down on the 12"x12" dunnage blocks. No damage to anything but plant safety had the job shut down for a day as they did their investigation & everybody got their very own Dixie cup.

 

You know, I would not recommend that anyone take the route that I took. It does take some common sense and maturity. I started driving at 44 years of age so I have learned to have some patience already in my life.

Would I change anything if I had to do it over again? Maybe a few things but not many. This year I decided to give a try at the longer and heavier loads. It started with moving an old flatbed rail car at 107' total length and only grossing around 70k to being 150' long and grossing 210k.