To New Drivers >>>> Be aware of what's going on ...

Who cares what the previous poster wrote, Your good. It's still attention to the brain fart situation.

 

I've driven lots of trucks with PTO's, and one of the 1st things one does before releasing the brakes, is to make sure the PTO is disengaged. Now, I've have had times when air operated PTO's will hang up even when the switch is disengaged, but you could hear the power shaft spinning. I'd be curious to know, how far this guy drove with the boom in the air and didn't notice it. Sadly, his negligence proved fatal.

 

We've had a few incidents like these here in Denver over the years. Usually it's a highway bridge that hit, then they get to pay for the repairs.

As for notifying drivers, my CB hasn't worked for years, but when it did, if I tried to call the driver and he didn't reply, I would generally call the cops. If, as seems to be the case lately, most highway patrols agencies are solar powered, you can always dial 911 and let the local agency know. If they have a free officer, they will come after them as well.

 

Just finished CDL class. I remember a chapter in the JJ Keller textbook addressing security issues, hijackings, etc. talking about having unknowns trying to get you to pull over, -presumably for some kind of problem on your truck-, in order to hijack it or otherwise. The point about security was well taken, but while reading that chapter, thoughts were going through my head about the text ignoring just the type of legitimate scenario that is the subject in this thread. Anyway, just wanted to put out there one reason some drivers might ignore or be unwilling to receive your attempt to warn them of a problem.

 

Hi Hornswoggled, (excellent handle, LMAO) that's true, I was going to say that. With all the craziness out there, some drivers , especially women, might feel like someone is trying to hassle them. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, a CB radio is invaluable in situations like that. It connects truckers with one another, and many times, if I saw someone with a problem, and got no response from the CB, I'd try and pull up next to them, and hold up my mike, and that usually got their attention, (or a blast from the air horn)

 

Shouldn't this be in the trucking accidents section?

 

I do roll with a CB and consider it a necessity just like my laminated Rand Mcnally Atlas.... I call out to drivers and keep my CB on so I can hear someome call out to me... now, I understand the concerns of being hijacked... so, if a caller called something out to me I would not just pull over right then and there... unless there was smoke.... but, at all times I would be alert, aware and safety conscious....

I drive for werner, and we have qualcomm and gps tracking, which hijackers dont like.. but even still.. be smart and safe... and always, always keep your pnone on you.. never get out of your truck without it...

For me, i have a routine for doing things... i always do my pre trip the same way, I always do a complete walk around whenever I get back into my truck.. it doesnt take but a minute to walk around the whole truck.. I had a guy just yesterday tease me... I fuel my truck, pulled forward, went in.. when I came out, although I was approaching my truck from the drivers side, I looked over the drivers side as I approached then walked around the back and up along the passengers side then around the front and when I went to get in the guy in the fuel island on my left teased me that I walked passed my truck... well. obviously he doesn't do walk arounds...


When I get in my truck, when I am o. The top step I look in the bunk area to make sure no one is there.. heard a story about that happening so I check. . Then I turn the key, hop in the seat and buckle up.. then I start it up...

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4257758]...if I saw someone with a problem, and got no response from the CB, I'd try and pull up next to them, and hold up my mike, and that usually got their attention, (or a blast from the air horn)[/QUOTE]

... I'd try that, too. But since I drive for Swift I can't peddle fast enough to catch the super truckers with their tires on fire.

 

i am in swifts school now and we are on the pre trip, its annoying as hell to talk it out, but to actually just do it does not seem to take long. I know time is money but how much time and money can you lose cays you did not see the low tire, or you missed a busted light. In taking to drivers i an hearing more and more not turning on their CBs because off the audio vomit that is constantly on the air.