3 killed when steel coil falls off flatbed
- Thread starter MSinger
- Start date
I hear drivers call those loads suicide loads as long as I've been trucking every time I see one of those loads I try to get around them or stay back and watch closely!!!!!!!!!! As a truck driver listening to the peice and seeing that no charges being brought. Don't get me wrong I do not want to see anyone suffer any more because of this. I also realize that the truck driver is responsible for the load to be chain down in a safe manner also block in front and back. I truly believe that DOT needs to look at these load alot closer. This might sound like I'm trying to put more burden on the driver but in these loads should have a high level of attention because of the danger to the public and drivers. I also heard of one of these loads getting lose and going thourgh the truck and killing the driver.
When anything falls off a truck I thought it was automatic that "failing to secure load" charge would be levied?
I had a bad accident once and some rolls fell off...and I hit one of them at 65mph and demo'd my truck doing so...the driver told the trooper..that is the way he told to load it...officer said it was unsafe and he should have refused it..just because a customer tell you what to do doesn't make it right...He was advised next time have them load it, then park it...then call the DOT and an officer will come out and deal with the company.
I had a bad accident once and some rolls fell off...and I hit one of them at 65mph and demo'd my truck doing so...the driver told the trooper..that is the way he told to load it...officer said it was unsafe and he should have refused it..just because a customer tell you what to do doesn't make it right...He was advised next time have them load it, then park it...then call the DOT and an officer will come out and deal with the company.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
Not suicide loads,its in how they are loaded.
Coils loaded that if they break loose and can roll towards the cab,that means it was loaded suicide,if load can roll to either side of the trailer,that is called regular.Eitther way,hauling coils can be very dangerous if your not carefull chaining them down
Coils loaded that if they break loose and can roll towards the cab,that means it was loaded suicide,if load can roll to either side of the trailer,that is called regular.Eitther way,hauling coils can be very dangerous if your not carefull chaining them down
The driver in my case also used 4x4's instead of wedges...a square peg on a round object does not work...
Living in a steel town the local drivers would get lazy chaining them down because they were just doing a shunt to a storage yard...used to get 4-5 rolls a year fall off...
Yesterday I was next in line on a ramp behind a flatbed with one huge coil of steel. I stayed well back but still didn't like following it around on that ramp. There are so many dangers on the road, some of which we become complacent to due to familiarity. This seems to be one of them.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
It's a preventable accident - period.
The driver should lose everything and serve jail time for his failure to do his job and killing these people.
I don't feel sorry for the guy a bit, I do for the people who have to deal with the loss of their love ones.
If files are not charged, then what does it take to have them filed. It is too obvious that the driver was neglectful.
The driver should lose everything and serve jail time for his failure to do his job and killing these people.
I don't feel sorry for the guy a bit, I do for the people who have to deal with the loss of their love ones.
If files are not charged, then what does it take to have them filed. It is too obvious that the driver was neglectful.
Greg, well said!
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
When I pulled flatbed I knew there where certain intervals that I was required to check my load. Plain and simple. On coils I always put extra chains on it than what was called for by the regs. Just in case I get in that situation where I hit the brake and a chain or two snaps I still had enough to hold it firm. You can't play when hauling freight on an open trailer.
Night is correct on the suicide lingo meaning if it's loaded where if it rolls forward you just committed suicide. If they would roll off the sides it's known as hauling them shotgun. Some people refuse to haul them suicide. Personally I'd rather take it in the back if I'd screwed up than let it fall on someone else. Best thing is to just do your job and secure your freight. Honestly from what I was told there was less problems with this when criss-crossing the chains on them was the norm, but now the D.O.T. frowns on that for whatever reason. No one has ever really been able to explain it to me.
Night is correct on the suicide lingo meaning if it's loaded where if it rolls forward you just committed suicide. If they would roll off the sides it's known as hauling them shotgun. Some people refuse to haul them suicide. Personally I'd rather take it in the back if I'd screwed up than let it fall on someone else. Best thing is to just do your job and secure your freight. Honestly from what I was told there was less problems with this when criss-crossing the chains on them was the norm, but now the D.O.T. frowns on that for whatever reason. No one has ever really been able to explain it to me.
I think it is the rub factor(friction) Ark...the chains will rub against each other and weaken the links quicker then the rub against a true flat surface...
danthewolf00
Veteran Expediter
whats real sad is alot of new truckers don't do their walk around their truck before running off in the morning/evening.
jaminjim
Veteran Expediter
Have you been reading different articles then the one that was posted? From the one that was posted it's hard to assign blame. I'm not defending the driver, but there has been little to suggest that he was to blame other than he was driving.
Those type of loads are not safe to haul period. They should be required to be cradled on a dedicated trailer made for that specific purpose, but that would cut down on the coil size and would mean more cost to the industry.
How long after he was hard on the brakes did he notice the feel was not right? Do we know how far that was? Was he in the process of looking for a safe place to pull over? Even the Authorities have yet to file charges, but a couple of you who I doubt were there have decided he should rot in jail for his gross negligence. I'm sure some here will say that you had some private (secret) conversation with people on the scene and they told you all that you needed to know.
Those type of loads are not safe to haul period. They should be required to be cradled on a dedicated trailer made for that specific purpose, but that would cut down on the coil size and would mean more cost to the industry.
That is a primary key. As mentioned, it may have been just moments and the driver was looking for a safe place to stop to check and re-secure the load. It may have also been quite some time and he figured he'd look at it when he stopped for fuel/food/toilet/whatever. He may deserve nothing but sympathy and he may deserve a conviction. None of us can know.
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
I'm not saying the man deserves to go to jail. All I'm saying is when pulling a flatbed regardless of the load if you don't think the load is riding right you pull over and check it.
I had a situation where I was hauling three Humvees on a flatbed, and while I was going through Kansas City I had to slam on the brakes. I heard a loud noise. I immediately pulled over. The Humvee jarred and the chain had become loose. So I re adjusted it, and added extra chains. If I wouldn't have stopped when I did it could have been bad.
Plus the guy could have been new to pulling flatbed and not properly trained by his carrier. There are alot of variables here.
OVM,
I think you may be correct about the rubbing and the criss crossed chains, but I know I hard time positioning enough chains on a coil without criss crossing them. Then after tarping I'd throw a couple straps over it.
I had a situation where I was hauling three Humvees on a flatbed, and while I was going through Kansas City I had to slam on the brakes. I heard a loud noise. I immediately pulled over. The Humvee jarred and the chain had become loose. So I re adjusted it, and added extra chains. If I wouldn't have stopped when I did it could have been bad.
Plus the guy could have been new to pulling flatbed and not properly trained by his carrier. There are alot of variables here.
OVM,
I think you may be correct about the rubbing and the criss crossed chains, but I know I hard time positioning enough chains on a coil without criss crossing them. Then after tarping I'd throw a couple straps over it.
Scuba
Veteran Expediter
Shippers should be required to put the coils in a rack for shipment the rack could lock to the trailer by using the trailler pockets and chains so that the trailer should be able to roll over and not lose the coil. This ends up making another load opptuinty when the racks build up someone has to pick them up and bring tham back to the shipper
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
When I haul coils I use 2 coil racks,and block those with 2x4's.When hauling suicide,I criss cross 2 chains,then put a 3rd over the criss cross.when hauling shot gun or regular,besides the racks,a chain in front and in back and sfter tarping a 3rd over the top of the coil.
If the chains are rubbing,they are't tight enough
If the chains are rubbing,they are't tight enough