Where is everyone #5

Back in the 90’s they was startin to use the half-pits as opposed to the big pits they used to dig next to location. Half-pits ain’t near as big so they had to be cleaned out often. I was in my first year in the patch. In my early 20’s and didn’t have a clue. Workin for a shady rock-haulin outfit that also had some old equipment. One day they sent me out to a rig with an old Ford dump truck and backhoe. Never ran a backhoe or drove this pile of junk truck before either.

Now scraping the mud outta that pit required finesse. You wanna get it all, but not tear up the pit. And to make it more fun, the bucket had teeth. And the tailgate on the dump liked to pop open right when you put the last bucket in. No one mentioned any of this beforehand. Doin all this right in full view of the company man’s trailer.

Sometimes gettin thrown to the wolves is the best way to learn. You screw up, but you only do it once.

 

Can't get in the driveway....

 

Was loaded legally with more than enough securement to legally cover load on length and weight. Now, I will obviously say that was not enough for how the material was loaded in hindsight. I used straps and edge protectors. I was coming around the cloverleaf to get onto the freeway from the state route. Didn’t feel as though I was traveling to fast. Truck never felt out of control and I was stoped in the emergency lane with 150’ of detecting a problem. I was looking in the mirror to merge when it started.

The material was loaded upright with 8 pieces on the bottom layer and 2 pieces upright on the top layer. Total of 7 straps. 4 over the top and 3 over the bottom and THROUGH the top. All straps were torn not cut. 4 from over the top were torn right from the hook and the other 3 were ripped into 3 pieces. Again none were cut in a strait line, all were ripped at a diagonal of about 45 deg.

I’m guessing the top 2 pieces tilted to the right and the bottom tilted to the left ( buckled between upper and lower stacks )

It was very early in the morning and still dark. Thankfully there were no other vehicles involved nor did anyone stay at the scene. Cars could get through till the wreckers got there ( Red Peterbilt) then the freeway was closed for 3 1/2 hours.

Was ticked by state trooper for “ spilling debris on the roadway”. DOT later gave me a ride and did a full inspection after we got to the tow yard. He gave me a warning for “under or improperly secured load”, Put me OOS for a flat tire on the trailer ( happend during the incident ) and spilling debris in the roadway.

They made me sit in the cop car. They would not let me out.

The left fuel tank, left 1/2 fender, left rear trailer wheel ( not tire ) a scratch on the headache rack and the left side trailer rail are damaged.

I guess the stuff came off easy enough not to bend the trusses. They were a little scratched up but the customer said there was no damage. They just touched up the paint and re shipped it yesterday.

Tow bill including the fuel clean up was just a hair over $13,000.00.

I had the damaged wheel pulled off and bypassed the left fuel tank. Drove it home after taking the rest of the load back to the shipper. I rode with the tow company guy to take some of the load back to the shipper while they finished adding up the bill.

Took post accident drug screen on Tuesday morning.

No state property damage.

At the end of the day it was totally my fault and I am exposing myself to ridicule on here to remind people that just because it meets legal regulations for securment and I was well within the legal speed limit things can still go bad. Once it starts there is nothing you can do to stop it!!!

 

I honestly think its the best way. Sink or swim. Me and that company man ended up getting along good the year and a half I was chasing Nomac 80. Call me crazy but I loved chasing those rigs around.

What's your tare wt...30ish. We were 35,500. Those 367 Pete's were spec'd good. Heavy drive line with 4.88s on 22.5......1900rpm @65 baby. The straight trucks had 5.13s lol

 

best wishes from me and mine for a speedy recovery and best of the season although drowning the pain next week may be counter-productive, I will tip a short rum in her favor.

 

@ShooterK2 you ever have to do the sand dance as my dad likes to call it?

 

I went to an oral surgeon when I was 17 all of mine were impacted. This was back in my partying days. Didn't wanna risk a dry socket so i smoked the bone thru my nose lol

 

Ok, I'll start........ROOKIE!....... THERE ,FEEL BETTER NOW ??

 

Geeeez! They maxed you out on CSA points. Any word from your insurance?

 

Just glad no one was hurt. It sounds like for as bad as it was and is for you it could have been a WHOLE lot worse. Hopefully it will help someone else on here down the road someday not have the same thing happen.

Not that you had to and I'm sure it wasn't easy to come on here and explain what happened but thanks for the explanation Tug, Man card still valid in my book, for what it's worth.

I was going to say keep your head up but I don't think you have a reason to be hanging it. Hopefully the sting of this will diminish enough and you can enjoy your Christmas.