Trucker killed after driving into trailer that became detached from another semi

Did you put on clean shorts? Lord knows I would have needed to.

 

I still have the shudders from it...
Dropping a trailer with a 40,000 pound payload isn’t one of those company approved past times..
That was my “holy $#!+” moment for the month!

 

We see this a lot at the Fargo terminal in winters. On the coldest days, the "dirty grease" is so cold it doesn't allow for the normal free-movement of the locking components to move completely around the pin. Usually you can take a sledge or shop hammer and a length of 2 inch pipe and force the release arm in, and the mechanism will then wrap around fully.

 

....BUT....ya gotta check it! That key step seems to be missed a lot these days. And I’d be willing to bet that given the state of “training” nowadays, most newer drivers have zero idea what cold can do do a fifth wheels operation.

 

Thank you for the kind words. I wish the law should put some kind of emergency kit or flare lights to keep inside the truck for emergencies. My daughter was only 2 years old and this is his first child and it devastated us and starting over is tough for us and being a single mom again is the toughest part and how do you explain to a two old about his death. Cherish the moments and hang on the loves one, you never know what tomorrow brings. Be sure you make a will for your family. I had nothing when my daughter and I had to moved to apartment with a king size bed, TV and clothes and no money in the bank. Very sad story and God is always with us.