Only A Matter Of Time
Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. The temperature was 97 degrees. I had a load of almost 44,000 lbs in the trailer, bringing my gross vehicle weight to around 78,000 lbs. I was two miles from the stopping point for the day when BOOOM! I put my four-way flashers on while checking the side mirror. There was a light cloud of smoke and large chunks of rubber flying as high as my trailer (13'6"). All four lanes of traffic behind me slowed down and allowed me maneuver to the right shoulder. I stepped out to see if any damage to the trailer had been done when a car pulled up. The poor lady was fairly shook up. The piece of the blown tire hit her SUV on the passenger side of the hood, putting a large dent in it, tearing a chunk of her vehicle's undercarriage, scraping the headlight, and even denting the passenger side front fender.
She was the only one in the vehicle, and other than being rattled from the experience, she was okay. She now has a claim number and person to contact with my company. Sheriff's deputy came along and stopped traffic so he could clear the blown tire from the highway, which he said was much heavier than he thought it would be.
As I sit on the side of the interstate, waiting for road repair to come replace the tire (given the weight and the heat, it's just not safe to move the vehicle to a repair shop, so they are coming to me), indulge me a moment please while I stress the importance of not following big rigs too close. The lady estimated that she was 25 feet or so behind me, but at highway speeds it's just not a good idea. She's actually lucky it didn't go right through her windshield.
When the temperatures are soaring, a heavy load is much more likely to blow out a tire, so please folks, that extra few seconds following distance may mean everything. Stay safe and let's all get home in one piece, okay?
UPDATE: The tire is changed, I'm off the road, and everyone is happy. I just regret that there was property damage.
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Oct '10
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Glad to hear everyone's safe.
Can I add the following, for those sharing the road with truckers? When you're passing an 18-wheeler...pass the damned thing already! I can't believe how many people - I'd guess 90% of them - actually slow down when passing a big rig, and just creep on by, and then speed up after they get past the truck.
Apr '12
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Dave, I am "convicted". I sometimes follow 18 wheelers too closely. I have been next to a big rig when a tire goes, so can't lean on ignorance. Let's just say that I will not be "that lady" any longer.
A question for you: Why is it that so many big rigs, when they decide to pass a fellow trucker, pass at approximately .01 mph faster than the truck they are passing? Drives me buggy, and is the main reason I occasionally follow too closely (want to send a message).
Enjoy your posts.
Nov '10
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
But how are we supposed to draft you to boost our gas mileage from that far away?
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
badgergreg: ...A question for you: Why is it that so many big rigs, when they decide to pass a fellow trucker, pass at approximately .01 mph faster than the truck they are passing? Drives me buggy, and is the main reason I occasionally follow too closely (want to send a message).
Enjoy your posts. · 28 minutes ago
Lots of factors there. Different companies govern their trucks at different speeds. Mine is governed at 60, while other companies govern at 58, 63, 65, 70, etc. The main factor, often times is weight. I pretty well know which companies have trucks that run faster than mine. But what I don't know is how much weight they are carrying. In the hills or mountains is where rigs often get stuck running along side each other. Now, I have seen all sorts of vehicles, including rigs, that I gained ground on ...until I tried to pass. Then they suddenly discovered what the little pedal on the right does,...but I can't go faster than 60. So I end up slowing down and falling in behind them. Whereupon they slow down again. Just lucky, I guess....
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
"Use the Force, Luke."
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
dittoheadadt: Glad to hear everyone's safe.
Can I add the following, for those sharing the road with truckers? When you're passing an 18-wheeler...pass the damned thing already! I can't believe how many people - I'd guess 90% of them - actually slow downwhen passing a big rig, and just creep on by, and then speed up afterthey get past the truck. · 44 minutes ago
Can I get an A-men!!
Oct '10
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
I'm glad this regrettable incident worked out well for everybody involved. I have always been impressed by the professionalism of the drivers of big rigs even when surrounded by clouds of people who don't get the implications of ½mv² on braking distance.
I haven't lived in the U.S. since 1991, but when I did, I always blipped my lights when big rigs cleared me on the highway and it was safe for them to merge back into my lane, and they responded. In this age, this may be an anachronism what with proximity radar and the like, but I thought it was a remarkable spontaneous emergence of order among professionals and amateurs on the highway, and quintessentially American.
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
John, that little courtesy still exists. Not consistently,..but it does happen from time to time.
Jun '12
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Dave Carter
As I sit on the side of the interstate, waiting for road repair to come replace the tire (given the weight and the heat, it's just not safe to move the vehicle to a repair shop, so they are coming to me), indulge me a moment please while I stress the importance of not following big rigs too close. The lady estimated that she was 25 feet or so behind me, but at highway speeds it's just not a good idea. She's actually lucky it didn't go right through her windshield.
When the temperatures are soaring, a heavy load is much more likely to blow out a tire, so please folks, that extra few seconds following distance may mean everything. Stay safe and let's all get home in one piece, okay?
UPDATE: The tire is changed, I'm off the road, and everyone is happy. I just regret that there was property damage. · · 1 hour ago
A friend of mine has a motto....Mass Dictates Policy. :-)
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Valin
Dave Carter
As I sit on the side of the interstate, waiting for road repair to come replace the tire (given the weight and the heat, it's just not safe to move the vehicle to a repair shop, so they are coming to me), indulge me a moment please while I stress the importance of not following big rigs too close. The lady estimated that she was 25 feet or so behind me, but at highway speeds it's just not a good idea. She's actually lucky it didn't go right through her windshield.
When the temperatures are soaring, a heavy load is much more likely to blow out a tire, so please folks, that extra few seconds following distance may mean everything. Stay safe and let's all get home in one piece, okay?
UPDATE: The tire is changed, I'm off the road, and everyone is happy. I just regret that there was property damage. · · 1 hour ago
A friend of mine has a motto....Mass Dictates Policy. :-) · 3 minutes ago
Words to live by,...literally.
Jun '10
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Although I'd love to meet Dave, I can think of far more pleasant and less catastrophic means to accomplish that.
Apr '11
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Wait, slow down: are you suggesting we live in an imperfect world where catastrophic tire failure can occur without warning?
About 10 years ago I was perhaps 200 feet behind an 18-wheeler when one of the trailer tires blew. It was surprisingly loud, and the cloud of thumb-size rubber pellets that spread like a shotgun blast was very impressive. Especially at highway speeds, it's never a bad idea to leave yourself a little extra distance.
Apr '12
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
I have thought this for a long time and now will share it with you, Dave. When I was little (1960s) we lived 2 hours away from Mom's family and we would frequently travel back and forth on Texas highways with the big 18 wheelers on the road too. Mom told me that truck drivers were very friendly and respectful of the road and fellow travellers. She gave them almost the same respect as she did for the policeman or fireman. As we all got older and travelled together, her opinion of truck drivers changed immensely as you can well imagine. From reading your entries into Ricochet -- I believe that you and Mom would have gotten along famously.
Oct '10
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
As the old addage goes, Tonnage always wins. Oddly, a large number of Mexican truckers here share the roads well as in the old days.
There is a lesson to be learned driving from the border to San Antonio in the dark of night, many big rigs at speed. When passing, never tarry.
Then again, in Texas, driving is another thing altogether. A good thing.
May '10
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
And you never know when the President may come on the radio news and the driver completely blows a gasket. Please give him plenty of clearance.
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Funny you should mention that, because I came THIS CLOSE to asking that nice lady if she had heard of Ricochet. Somehow, though, it didn't seem like quite the opportune moment.
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
You know, Lizzie, when I was young I thought of truckers as the "Knights of the Road," too. Some of the old timers still have that quality and I try to learn from them. But it's getting harder and harder to find these days. I'm happy to know your Mom and I would have hit it off, though. Thank you.
Aug '11
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Dave, as usual great post. I always learn something from your travels. I'm always nagging my husband to "just get around the truck and move on." I don't like being in the blind spot.
Glad you are on the road again and as always...stay safe.
Jul '12
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
While the common sense of getting past the Big Rigs "toot sweet" is obvious, there are at least two problems for those of us with little tinfoil motor vehicles, a.k.a. "cars."
The first is buffetting on a windy day. There are times when either the turbulence generated by the truck or its blockage of the wind causes the car to go all over the place. (Worse, of course, when there's rain or heavy spray thrown up by the wheels. Impossible to avoid these conditions on the busier interstates, if the jerks behind you--including, I'm sorry to say, truckers--themselves insist on tailgating. Then you have to move over and pass, if possible at all.)
The second problem occurs because we often find ourselves sidling up on truckers who don't seem vastly committed to staying away from the left-hand edge of their lane. Sometimes one can see their point--where the lanes are narrow, for instance, and possibly curvy as well. Because of this simple fact, it makes sense to slow down a little if there's the slightest hint you might be passing one of these.
Not cryin'; just sayin'. Advice welcome. :>)
Jul '12
Re: Only A Matter Of Time
Nevertheless, thanks for posting your anecdote and advice, Mr. Carter. Noted and much appreciated.
When I was first driving, the standard advice was that truckers were indeed the best bet for help in case of road trouble.
And that if a roadstop had a lot big trucks parked outside, you knew the food would be good!