i need a witness to prove i am not a liar

[wombat52]

ok guy & ladys of the trucking industry
here is the what i need last thursday at around 6.35 pm i was proceeding down I .75 with 10,005 lbs of chemicals totes came off the the 135 exit as most of you know is the flying j & pilot truck stop exits i pulled up in the turning lane to pull into the flying j to fuel up on my way to sharonville oh i know there was a panther 11 truck in there as well as a landstar express truck ,
plus a tractor trailer in front of me on the roadway well the tractor turned into the J i waited because a car was coming down in other words going east on rte 30 after the car when pass me

i started to turn into the flying j i was cutting it so i could go to the first pump i notice was empty understand i would have been going know more than 6 miles or a tiny bit more when the load started to shift to the right side of my unit why i am still trying to work that one out i had load locks in place as well as straps but the result is gravity took over and ##### over tip i when but now i am being accused i am not telling the truth i am do careful to be doing anything that stupid with such a heavy load on board plus i been driving trucks for over 37 yrs with several million miles to my credit accident free and the police have found me ok not to issue me with any citations at all .

but getting to my point with this someone must have seen me enter the flying j in the FL 70 FEDEX CC STRAIGHT TRUCK and if you did i would really be greatfull if you came forward so i can prove i am telling the up most truth here result of this lost is i am now without a truck well to that point pam my partner and i are without a truck now and sadly the bills are still rolling in because after dropping that load i was heading home to pick her up but it looks like yet another lousy kick in the guts for 2007 first pam lost her sister & brother inlaw & there grandchild then i lost my mother back in australia a few weeks ago now i have lost something that was so dear to me my truck i am wondering what is next for this wonnderful yr of 2007 but several good friends have been calling us and offering help i will not mention there names but they know who they are and i will say it once again to them they are really great great friends & if i was able to award these two folks with the best friends award they would be clear winners

but i need one of these drivers at the flying j last thursday night to contact me or the couple of drivers who came to my unit to help me out who saw it as well because they even said to me hey man you was hardly moving but i injured my knee and was not feeling the best so i was taken by ambulance to lima hospital for a check over and i was able to floow up with getting witness i need to prove to my carrier i am not a unsafe driver
pete ,,

BY THE WAY FELLOWS DRIVERS ANY OF YOU WANT TO BUY SOME CHEAP LOAD LOCK LOCKS OF A FULL SET OF SNOW CHAINS STILL UNOPEN IN THE BAG 11.25/175 OR FURN PADS CONTACT THRU MY EMAIL

 

[greg334]

Pete,
I think my bad luck rubbed off on you when I met you, sorry. Glad your alright. I called the guy who told me about the accident to call me as soon as he can, I will ask him if he saw it and if he did see it, I will PM you. He called me asking if it was me but I was at home.

Hang in there.

 

[wombat52]

well if you want your bad luck back hollow, ring me, knock on my door i will gladly give it back to you or anyone out there who wants it they say it is murphy laws well where do i find this guy murphy because him & i have got to have a long talk ,
as for being ok the knee is sore but i will live more than i can say for my ex truck as for parts like furniture pads load locks snow chains straps perfect chance before insurance take the truck to buy these items and i guess put some money in pam & my pockets going cheap but greg tell me why are you guilty before you can prove your inocent with safety dept ? but my up most praise goes out to all the dispatch and my cc plus the nightly supervisors for all the care and concern they showed for this i give i a full 10 out of 10 they weere wonderful the way they rang the hospital and then the motel i when to to to wait for pam till she got there to pick me up the next day
pete..

 

[arkjarhead]

Wombat,
Are you the same Pete that used to drive for Left Lane Express? Just wondering.

 

[CozDream]

Very hard to actually understand what you've written. I don't know where your sentences begin or end.

Did you flip the truck on its side ? Was anyone injured ? Property damage ? Cleanup ? Truck damaged beyond repair ?

Can you not get it to Seville and have Dave fix it ? Or, just take one of his trucks out.

 

[x06col]

Unfortuneately Wombat, those liar unprovers are very hard to come by, a week post crisis. I'd suggest to anyone that you immediately pass the tablet and pencil around any misshap site immediately, to anyone willing to jot down their info. And, use those cameras your carrier gives you for something besides taking images of cute little juniors tricks.

 

[ManLaw]

And, use those cameras your carrier gives you
for something besides taking images of cute little juniors
tricks.


That was RUDE and UNCALLED FOR. Obviously you didn't bother to READ his post fully. HE WAS INJURED and taken to the hospital. Kinda hard to take those pictures while you're writhing in pain. Is there something written in his post that asked you what to do with that camera his carrier provided him with?

 

[x06col]

I'll bet Manlaw, there are few that read posts as thoroughly as I do.I didn't see any writhing in pain written by anyone but you. My suggestion about the camera certainly was not directed at Wombat. If YOU would reread MY post, I merely suggested to the readers they carry their camera, and use it for it's intended purpose. But, talking about pain, many have wished they'd forgone a little "pain" to cover their #####. Because like wombat now, he's about to get some real pain, and he can't prove he don't deserve it. As for you, you might try scratching your skin when you arise mornings, I feel it's getting a little thin.

 

[ATeam]

In a fleet owner's truck, Diane and I were once involved in a minor accident where a big rig, making an illegal right turn from a left-turn-only lane, clipped the left rear corner of the truck we were in, and caused a couple thousand dollars damage to the door hinges and frame.

A Werner driver witnessed the accident and followed the two involved trucks to where we stopped to exchange information, take photos, etc. I was glad the errant driver was decent enough to stop. I was even more glad the Werner driver offered himself up as a witness. He filled out the form in our accident kit, stated that the other driver was at fault and confirmed our version of events. Our safety department agreed and that was the end of it.

Then realizing just how valuable a witness statement can be, I have offered myself as a witness every time I have seen an accident happen; and I've seen a few at truck stops where drivers ran their trucks into other trucks. What surprised me was that in every case, the drivers declined my offer. For various reasons explained by them, the drivers did not feel they needed a witness. If someone does not want a witness, I'm not going to push it or try to convince them otherwise. But it amazes me how little people seem to know or care about what to do and not do when an accident happens.

If your carrier supplies you with an accident kit, it is very easy to learn. Simply open it up, read the forms and run a couple of accident scenarios through your mind. Think ahead about what you will say (not say) and do (not do). It could make a big difference in how things play out when your safety department, insurance company and others get involved.

 

[davekc]

Glad your ok and didn't recieve any major injuries. I don't think they can say you were lying about anything, but my interpretation of your accident based on what you wrote is that a unsecured load/turning too fast caused the accident.
The police didn't issue a citation likely because there was no other vehicle involved (I think?) and you were on private property.
Hopefully you get your truck put together, and have alittle better luck in the future.











Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[RichM]

Just curious,you said you had 10,000 pounds of chemicals. Was it a Haz/Mat load and did it spill? If so I imagine the media will be all over you and the scene. But at least you are OK and thats what counts.

 

[jasonsprouse]

I read the original post as well as I could considering.

From what I can infer, it sounds like the driver dropped the wheels into a ditch or gully and the truck tipped over.

 

[wombat52]

i will explain it one time more ok

yep i know i am confusing at times but been driving trucks for only 37 years the load was not HAZMAT yes it was liquid totes ,& yes i was secured

two i was taken to lima hospital straight after the flipping of my unit with some high blood pressure wow i wonder why might be because i am now laying on my side so if hazmat team came out beats me i was in hospital till 11.40 pm as for taking pictures hard to get to my accident kit when sleeper was wrecked :: actually drivers go pass the 135 pull into flying j but do not pull into fuel island pull into where cars go you will see what is left of my unit and the sleeper i am just thanking my lucky stars pam was not in the truck at the time ,

not securing freight WRONG i got a tow operator in toledo can at least prove i did secure these 4 large totes of liquid i still do not know why these dam things moved getting truck fixed miracle take a bit longer no she is finished her days of going up & down & across the country is gone for ever i guess the next time i see her she will be a WESTINGHOUSE or LG REFRIG OR GAS STOVE
she has gone to freightliner heaven ,
but i hope that has explained it better

but to any fedex cc out there what dept to i send a letter of thank you to because i will tell you all right now these folks where wonderful on thursday night was more interested in how i was instead of the truck or the freight & these days you do not see much of that would i send it to safety or my recruiter or who ? i just want to know it find its way to the correct deptment
wombat

 

[greg334]

RE: i will explain it one time more ok

Pete,
Still no reply from my VM to the guy.

I would think sending right to the top would be the best thing.

 

[ATeam]

RE: i will explain it one time more ok

wombat52,

Thank you for the clarification. May I ask for a bit more? I now understand that the truck went over on its side. You said the load shifted and that the load was secured. Obviously, both could not happen at the same time, so I presume that you secured the load and then something happened that caused the load to become unsecured and shift, is that fair?

Which leads to the next question. How exactly was the load secured? Straps? Load bars? If bars, what kind? Shoring beams that clip into E-track or the expandable bars with rubber feet that press against the walls? How many straps and bars? How many totes were on board? Where were they positioned in the truck? Were the totes stacked or all on the floor?

Actually, you don't need to answer any of these questions. I ask them only to show you that partial details of an accident leave people with more questions than answers. And what people don't know, they tend to make up and fill in on their own.

By the way, readers, wombat52's story shows the value of photographing every load every time after you have it secured in your truck. In this situation, if wombat52 had a photo showing the secured load, it would help his case. I suggest keeping such photos on file for life, or at least as long as the shipper's freight damage claim window remains open. Keeping them for life gives you irrefutable proof that you are the kind of driver that secures every load every time. If anyone questioned that for any reason, you could quickly put it to rest.

wombat52, your first post was about seeking witnesses to prove you are not a liar. No one here on EO is calling you a liar. Your words were, "...getting witness i need to prove to my carrier i am not a unsafe driver." Do you really mean that you want FedEx to determine that you are not at fault for this accident? With the details you provided so far, it is difficult to see how any safety department with any carrier would not find you at fault. The load and the truck were under your control and the truck ended up on its side.

If your record is otherwise clean, this accident would not be a career ender, would it? There were no fatalities. You made no mention of blood test results so I presume you were sober. No other vehicles were involved. There was no dangerous spill or expensive clean up or damage to other people's property that you mentioned. Your injury to your knee was minor (as you describe it). Insurance may not cover all the damage but will certainly provide support to get the truck towed away so it will not burden the truck stop, correct? You may just have to accept the fact that you were at fault and live with one at-fault accident on your record as you continue to drive in the years ahead.

Changing the subject to your thank you letter, I suggest you send it to your contractor coordinator. Part of their job is to communicate information from drivers to the appropriate people at FedEx. If you know the dispatcher's name, send it directly to him or her. Sending a letter to the CEO would also be appropriate. The people that helped you would hear about and very much enjoy the recognition you gave them in a letter to the CEO.

 

[x06col]

RE: i will explain it one time more ok

You may want to check the suspension airbag for failure on the side you tipped to.

 

[wombat52]

RE: i will explain it one time more ok

well i have E TRACK LOAD BARS in place on the load plus a strap on the front one as well as the one in the rear.

yes i know no one is calling me a liar and yes it is to prove i am not a un safe driver to my carrier but at this point i guess this does not matter as i am down & out now as a owner operator .

but i feel i just wanted to prove i did not enter the flying J lot fast as i know i did not i was totally stopped on the roadway before turning into to drive up to the pumps i already said i did cut it to enter the 1 st pump as for the air bags i did notice looking at the wreck that the one on my right hand side was totally flat but i put that down to the truck flipping ,

but my last reply on this will be THESE HEAVY LOADS OF LIQUID TOTES OR TO THAT POINT ANYTHING AT ALL BLOCK THEM STRAP THEM LOAD LOCK THEM GET MATTING WHICH I BEEN TOLD NOW IS AVAILABLE TO STOP THINGS MOVING TO LATE NOW BUT SURE WISH I KNEW ABOUT THIS MATTING LAST WEEK ,
BUT DO NOT LEAVE THE SHIPPER WITHOUT DOING ALL THESE THINGS THEN HOPEFULLY NO ONE ELSE WILL BE FEELING THE FEELING OF FLIPPING OVER .
I JUST KNOW FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH IN 37 YRS OF DRIVING TRUCKS FROM ROAD TRAINS RIGHT DOWN TO STRAIGHT TRUCKS IT IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER BEEN IN THIS SITUTAION
WOMBAT

 

[wombat52]

RE: i will explain it one time more ok

AS FOR DRUG TEST CLEAN I HATE PILLS & ALL OTHER KIND OF DRUGS SOBER AS A JUDGE DO NOT MIX PLEASURE WITH BUSINESS I SEEN WHAT A DRUNK DRIVER CAN DO YEARS AGO IN AUSTRALIA WHEN I WAS DRIVING TOW TRUCKS REALLY TO GET TO THE SCENCE FIRST AND SEE WHAT DRUNK DRIVERS CAN DO A CAR WITH TWO KIDS AND WHAT WAS NOT LEFT OF THEM AND THIS PERSON SITTING ON THE GRASS STILL ALIVE

 

[slfisher45]

RE: i will explain it one time more ok

Wombat,

"well i have E TRACK LOAD BARS in place on the load plus a strap on the front one as well as the one in the rear."

This is what I surmise from this quote from your last post.
I've hauled liquid totes and they weigh around 3300 lbs, fluctuating by contents. I always strap each tote. I strap over the top and hook the strap to the bottom E-track opposite sides. This seems to arrest sideways slide. I also have a load bar at the back for aesthetic reasons because it is difficult to slide backwards. Load bar high and low in front for obvious reasons (or against the nose of the box) . During a turn in my truck the speed could be negligible (close to zero) and if I hit a small depression in the driveway or roadway the entire truck rocks with a tremendous amount of side to side motion. This may have happened to you.
I experienced this phenomenon at a Ford plant in Detroit. I pulled out of the dock turned right to stop and close my doors. I had to pass a tractor trailer parked on my right as I turned. There was a small depression in the lot which my front wheel missed as I was turning and my drive wheel on the right hit, rocking my truck to the right. The top of my barn door hit the trailer door. Slight damage to my door and none to the opponent. Still had to report it as I erred, by not being aware of my environment and Ford security made me file a report. I fixed the door myself.
On the turn of your truck you might have hit a slight depression and caused a simultaneous slide and tip.

 

[greg334]

RE: i will explain it one time more ok

Phil,
It is good advice to photograph your load; I would recommend it especially with sensitive loads.

Pete seems to know what he is doing.

The issue is what happened and outside of Pete’s accident, well it is something if I am not mistaken is a problem hauling liquids of any kind in the first place and the reason for the tanker endorsement on your license. When I hauled these totes (which I have had a bunch of them on the truck), they are a pain in the a** right from the start. I had one that was loaded with a dense liquid in the container and was only 75% filled, and it moved the truck when I came to a stop (you can see it move) like a tanker half filled with water with no baffles – same feeling too. I hated hauling this tote, and it was a pain just going down the road. I can see where the issue of tipping the truck over if there is a weak air bag or just a quick turn, no matter how you have it secured, securement does not seem to be the real issue because there is no way you can secure a liquid.