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Regional Boards => Mid-South => Topic started by: US71 on January 31, 2019, 08:23:06 AM

Title: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: US71 on January 31, 2019, 08:23:06 AM
The Dale Bend Bridge (https://bridgehunter.com/ar/yell/petit-jean/) over the Petit Jean River north of Ola, Arkansas was lost to an overweight truck last night. His GPS  told him to go that way despite the bridge being rated for only 5 tons.  This happens far too often, IMO.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Chris on January 31, 2019, 09:37:02 AM
https://www.fox16.com/news/state-news/semi-falls-through-yell-co-bridge-into-river-driver-escapes-unharmed/1741296911

The bridge had a weight limit of 6 tons according to photos from this report. A fully loaded semi weighs 80,000 lbs = 40 tons.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Max Rockatansky on January 31, 2019, 09:45:30 AM
Didn't this just happen in Indiana last year with a similar type of bridge?
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: US71 on January 31, 2019, 10:22:16 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 31, 2019, 09:45:30 AM
Didn't this just happen in Indiana last year with a similar type of bridge?

We've lost at least two other bridges in Arkansas due to stupid drivers:
Fryer's Ford Bridge  (https://bridgehunter.com/ar/conway/fry/)
Two Mile Creek Bridge  (https://bridgehunter.com/ar/polk/two-mile/)

We had a close call a couple months ago when a tour bus crossed the Beaver Bridge. ARDOT inspected the bridge. fixed a couple problems (not sure if related) then reopened the bridge.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: mgk920 on January 31, 2019, 10:50:21 AM
I'm seriously wondering how close we are to getting a federal rule that would prohibit GPS-based navigation instruments from being possessed in the cabs of CDL vehicles.

:verymad:

Mike
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: US71 on January 31, 2019, 10:55:33 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on January 31, 2019, 10:50:21 AM
I'm seriously wondering how close we are to getting a federal rule that would prohibit GPS-based navigation instruments from being possessed in the cabs of CDL vehicles.

:verymad:

Mike

We just have to bribe persuade our politicians to pass a bill.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: kalvado on January 31, 2019, 11:35:13 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on January 31, 2019, 10:50:21 AM
I'm seriously wondering how close we are to getting a federal rule that would prohibit GPS-based navigation instruments from being possessed in the cabs of CDL vehicles.

:verymad:

Mike
There are specialized truck GPSes.  As far as I understand, unlike general purpose car software, they are not a free service. But fundamentally implementing size and weight limits in software should be very doable. If anything, I expect a mandate to have such a version, at least for most common programs. Not sure how that can be legally implemented, though.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: froggie on January 31, 2019, 11:38:13 AM
^ Congress could implement the legal structure, since this would fall under regulation of Interstate commerce which is very much a function of Congress.  Of course, that would also incur what US71 said about politicians...
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Chris on January 31, 2019, 12:00:30 PM
I've read a story that many truck drivers are not familiar with the unit 'ton'. Evidently some of them have no idea how many pounds a ton is (and vice versa). This has led to some bridge collapses.

You'd think that a professional driver would be aware of weight limit units and knows not to blindly follow a GPS. There are GPSs specifically for semi trucks, which you'd think wouldn't route you across a bridge like this. 6 tons is a really low weight limit, even most box trucks would be too heavy for that.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: US71 on January 31, 2019, 12:02:11 PM
Quote from: Chris on January 31, 2019, 12:00:30 PM
I've read a story that many truck drivers are not familiar with the unit 'ton'. Evidently some of them have no idea how many pounds a ton is (and vice versa). This has led to some bridge collapses.

You'd think that a professional driver would be aware of weight limit units and knows not to blindly follow a GPS. There are GPSs specifically for semi trucks, which you'd think wouldn't route you across a bridge like this. 6 tons is a really low weight limit, even most box trucks would be too heavy for that.

Emphasis "professional". 
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: mgk920 on January 31, 2019, 12:12:27 PM
I remember seeing an article several years ago about various police agencies in the UK requesting that the Transport Ministry start posting dimensional restrictions in meters because lorry drivers from the 'Continent' often had no idea what yards and inches are and were hitting low bridges as a result.  Is this still a problem there?

Mike
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: kalvado on January 31, 2019, 12:15:54 PM
Quote from: Chris on January 31, 2019, 12:00:30 PM
I've read a story that many truck drivers are not familiar with the unit 'ton'. Evidently some of them have no idea how many pounds a ton is (and vice versa). This has led to some bridge collapses.

You'd think that a professional driver would be aware of weight limit units and knows not to blindly follow a GPS. There are GPSs specifically for semi trucks, which you'd think wouldn't route you across a bridge like this. 6 tons is a really low weight limit, even most box trucks would be too heavy for that.
And since there are tons, metric tons, and tonnes - there is definitely some room for confusion. Especially since truck weights are in lbs.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: hotdogPi on January 31, 2019, 12:26:01 PM
Quote from: kalvado on January 31, 2019, 12:15:54 PM
Quote from: Chris on January 31, 2019, 12:00:30 PM
I've read a story that many truck drivers are not familiar with the unit 'ton'. Evidently some of them have no idea how many pounds a ton is (and vice versa). This has led to some bridge collapses.

You'd think that a professional driver would be aware of weight limit units and knows not to blindly follow a GPS. There are GPSs specifically for semi trucks, which you'd think wouldn't route you across a bridge like this. 6 tons is a really low weight limit, even most box trucks would be too heavy for that.
And since there are tons, metric tons, and tonnes - there is definitely some room for confusion. Especially since truck weights are in lbs.

A US ton, a UK ton, and a tonne are close enough that it shouldn't matter much; if you use the wrong type, you'll be off by 12% at most. Driving a 7 ton truck on something that is labeled 6 tons won't cause the bridge to break, although it should still be avoided. 40 instead of 6 cannot be explained by confusion between types of tons.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Brian556 on January 31, 2019, 02:58:49 PM
Quote from: Chris on January 31, 2019, 12:00:30 PM
I've read a story that many truck drivers are not familiar with the unit 'ton'. Evidently some of them have no idea how many pounds a ton is (and vice versa). This has led to some bridge collapses.

You'd think that a professional driver would be aware of weight limit units and knows not to blindly follow a GPS. There are GPSs specifically for semi trucks, which you'd think wouldn't route you across a bridge like this. 6 tons is a really low weight limit, even most box trucks would be too heavy for that.

This is indeed an issue. Truckers measure their weight in pounds. I have no idea how to do a conversion without checking google. They don't require you to learn this to get a CDL. Trust me, I used to have one. It gets confusing trying to use more than one unit of measure on signs, and is completely pointless. Signs should be required to be in pounds.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: jeffandnicole on January 31, 2019, 03:39:51 PM
We're talking basic math here. 1 ton is 2,000 pounds. 13 tons is 26,000 pounds. 40 tons is 80,000 pounds.

Most weight limits are signed in tons because it's an easier sign to read.  Truckers are also supposed to map out their route before they go. There's really no excuses.

Many truckers also ignore height requirements. What's the excuse for that...that the truckers are from foreign countries and thus couldn't possibly know American measurements, even though their truck probably has the height written inside it in the same measurement of the bridge height sign?

If a truck driver doesn't know extremely basic things like this, they shouldn't be on the road.

Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: tdindy88 on January 31, 2019, 05:34:29 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 31, 2019, 09:45:30 AM
Didn't this just happen in Indiana last year with a similar type of bridge?

It did happen, but the bridge has been rebuilt since then. I drove on it last year.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: oscar on January 31, 2019, 06:19:02 PM
Quote from: froggie on January 31, 2019, 11:38:13 AM
^ Congress could implement the legal structure, since this would fall under regulation of Interstate commerce which is very much a function of Congress.  Of course, that would also incur what US71 said about politicians...

Or maybe USDOT can do so on its own, similar to how radar detectors were banned nationwide in certain commercial heavy trucks, AIUI by an agency regulation rather than an act of Congress.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: swhuck on January 31, 2019, 06:49:35 PM
When I drove a truck, it wasn't at all uncommon for low weight bridges to be completely unsigned until you got to them, and the references I carried with me to plan my routes simply didn't cover them at all. (Low clearance was another matter; the documentation on that is quite good.) When you find yourself with a 40 ton truck heading for a 10 ton bridge and there's no place to turn around, you just drive and hope for the best.

I'm all for having the proper info out there and easy to find in order that truckers don't make mistakes like this. But even with this info available there will still be some people driving overweight... err, overweight trucks :). Having been there myself, I'm not going to rush to judgment on the guy who tried to cross. Of course, if the road was well-marked at a place where the truck would have been able to turn around or not enter the area, that's a different matter. I have no illusions about some of the drivers at the low end of the IQ scale; I just tried to keep out of their way.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: rte66man on February 01, 2019, 02:51:31 PM
Quote from: kalvado on January 31, 2019, 11:35:13 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on January 31, 2019, 10:50:21 AM
I'm seriously wondering how close we are to getting a federal rule that would prohibit GPS-based navigation instruments from being possessed in the cabs of CDL vehicles.

:verymad:

Mike
There are specialized truck GPSes.  As far as I understand, unlike general purpose car software, they are not a free service. But fundamentally implementing size and weight limits in software should be very doable. If anything, I expect a mandate to have such a version, at least for most common programs. Not sure how that can be legally implemented, though.

I didn't see who the truck was hauling for, but as someone who works in that field, I can fill in the details.  Most commercial firms use an app to log miles, hours, and generally has a GPS component (yes, it's not free).  Federal regulations no longer permit paper logs for driver time recording.  These apps usually reside on a proprietary tablet, but some can be run on an Android or iOS device.  When a device like this is used, the software firm will also provide a way to "lock" the tablet so it can only access the truck software. Many also include telematics gathering (miles driver, top speed, etc.).  The app my company uses has a GPS component that clearly highlights load-limited bridges and always shows one or more alternate routes to the driver.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: paulthemapguy on February 01, 2019, 03:05:08 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 31, 2019, 03:39:51 PM
If a truck driver doesn't know extremely basic things like this, they shouldn't be on the road.

To be frank, a lot of people are truck drivers because they can't grasp basic education.  I process oversize-overweight truck permits, and we transitioned to a computer-based permitting system so that we could ...read what's being written.  We couldn't read through a lot of the failures to spell, follow the permit form's instructions, or have legible handwriting.  There are also a lot of drivers who struggle with English because it isn't their native language.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: cjk374 on February 02, 2019, 05:22:52 PM
That trucking company owes Yell County a new steel truss bridge of similar make and model!
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: US71 on February 02, 2019, 06:57:19 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on February 02, 2019, 05:22:52 PM
That trucking company owes Yell County a new steel truss bridge of similar make and model!

In most instances, the trucking company's insurance will pay the county after they spend 6 months trying to weasel out of it.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: US71 on February 02, 2019, 10:54:03 PM
Quote from: rte66man on February 01, 2019, 02:51:31 PM


I didn't see who the truck was hauling for, but as someone who works in that field, I can fill in the details.  Most commercial firms use an app to log miles, hours, and generally has a GPS component (yes, it's not free).  Federal regulations no longer permit paper logs for driver time recording.  These apps usually reside on a proprietary tablet, but some can be run on an Android or iOS device.  When a device like this is used, the software firm will also provide a way to "lock" the tablet so it can only access the truck software. Many also include telematics gathering (miles driver, top speed, etc.).  The app my company uses has a GPS component that clearly highlights load-limited bridges and always shows one or more alternate routes to the driver.

US CityLink from Bakersfield, CA is the trucking company.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: rte66man on February 04, 2019, 08:13:08 AM
Quote from: US71 on February 02, 2019, 10:54:03 PM
Quote from: rte66man on February 01, 2019, 02:51:31 PM


I didn't see who the truck was hauling for, but as someone who works in that field, I can fill in the details.  Most commercial firms use an app to log miles, hours, and generally has a GPS component (yes, it's not free).  Federal regulations no longer permit paper logs for driver time recording.  These apps usually reside on a proprietary tablet, but some can be run on an Android or iOS device.  When a device like this is used, the software firm will also provide a way to "lock" the tablet so it can only access the truck software. Many also include telematics gathering (miles driver, top speed, etc.).  The app my company uses has a GPS component that clearly highlights load-limited bridges and always shows one or more alternate routes to the driver.

US CityLink from Bakersfield, CA is the trucking company.

That strongly implies they are an interstate firm so they are required by Federal regulations to have an electronic logging system in each truck.  Would love to be able to find that out.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: edwaleni on February 04, 2019, 12:08:09 PM
After seeing so many truck pile ups and flip overs during the latest big freeze, I am pretty convinced that OTR trucking has reached the bottom of the barrel on talent.

All they want is a 23 year old that is literate.  I have seen unemployed 40 year old men with college degrees & no physical restrictions apply for OTR trucking jobs and are rejected instantly.

Just look at You Tube and the pile ups between Laramie and Cheyenne on I-80. All high balling in limited visibility and with accumulation on the road. 2 truckers died in the massive 2015 pile up.

Way too much pressure on these drivers to perform and so they make bad decisions.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: jeffandnicole on February 04, 2019, 12:18:25 PM
Quote from: edwaleni on February 04, 2019, 12:08:09 PM
After seeing so many truck pile ups and flip overs during the latest big freeze, I am pretty convinced that OTR trucking has reached the bottom of the barrel on talent.

If you read the trucker's forums on the web, you are absolutely on point with your assumption.  The older truckers can't stand the younger generation.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Chris on February 04, 2019, 12:29:16 PM
A criticism I've read is the age requirement for a CDL: 21 years. So people interested in the job and getting out of high school can't pursue that career for several years, so in the meantime they go into a different trade. Maybe that increases the share of drivers who become a truck driver as a last resort and aren't very talented.

Unskilled drivers is not only a North American problem though, there is a significant shortage of truck drivers in Europe and there is a huge influx of poorly skilled drivers from Eastern Europe, just ask a Norwegian about foreign truckers...

Turnover in the trucking industry is also extremely high, they always cite that as a problem but not much seems to be done to address it.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: DJStephens on February 04, 2019, 10:49:24 PM
Who wants to be gone for six to eight weeks at a time?  Small print visible on Stewart Transport info packet.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: edwaleni on February 04, 2019, 11:58:45 PM
Look how fast these rigs are going in barely 400 yard visibility on an untreated road (I-80).



And this is the consequences of the same pile up.



Trucker lobby has to wake up on this stuff!
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: US71 on February 05, 2019, 11:44:23 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 04, 2019, 12:18:25 PM
Quote from: edwaleni on February 04, 2019, 12:08:09 PM
After seeing so many truck pile ups and flip overs during the latest big freeze, I am pretty convinced that OTR trucking has reached the bottom of the barrel on talent.

If you read the trucker's forums on the web, you are absolutely on point with your assumption.  The older truckers can't stand the younger generation.

I keep seeing ads for "we need more drivers", but some of the drivers seem to think it's a way to cut their hours.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: MikieTimT on February 05, 2019, 06:35:19 PM
Quote from: US71 on February 05, 2019, 11:44:23 AM
I keep seeing ads for "we need more drivers", but some of the drivers seem to think it's a way to cut their hours.

There is a shortage of drivers for sure.  People aren't buying less crap from Amazon than they used to buy from Wal-Mart, so it's not like shipping has decreased any as of late.  My sister-in-law works in J.B. Hunt's home office and was in management in the recruiting dept. until she was promoted to another area a couple of years ago.  It's scary to hear some of the stories she told about some of the cases that came her way.  You just about had to be a felon before you were completely discounted on the first round of recruiting, but with an industry with an atrocious 80% annual turnover rate, that's what seems to come along.  There's a reason that inter-modal shipping is getting bigger and bigger.  And I'm a pretty big fan.  Quite a lot of trailers/containers fit on a BNSF inter-modal train.  Which means that we aren't sharing the road with them, and it's a better use of diesel all around.  Drivers are still needed for the local/regional hops, but that gets a person home a little more regularly than the cross-country jockeys get.  Not to mention, it increases the likelihood they've slept well enough not to have to be imbibing on stimulants of varying legality, which is what was likely the cause of this bridge's demise, unless it was willful disregard for the posted sign.

On the other hand, a big part of the problem with the industry is the failure to compensate drivers in any way, shape, or form for the time they spend/waste having to unload trailers/wait for open docks.  If they actually did get to spend their time moving trailers from point to point or being off-duty, then, it would be a reasonably lucrative career choice that would attract more qualified participants.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Bobby5280 on February 06, 2019, 11:16:18 AM
If long haul truckers are subject to the same kinds of DOT rules the crane truck drivers at my work place have to follow then there's one obvious reason why there is a shortage of truck drivers: gotta be able to pass a random drug test.

We have a company-wide random drug/alcohol screening policy at my work place. A long time ago only our crane truck drivers had to be piss-tested. That turned into a really bad morale problem. So we made everyone share the same pain to deal with that issue.

A drug testing policy really cuts down on the pool of potential hires. I have literally seen people filling out applications in our front office stop when seeing that part about the drug testing policy. They just get up and leave without filling out the rest of the application.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Flint1979 on February 06, 2019, 05:41:26 PM
Yesterday I drove to South Bend, Indiana from Saginaw, Michigan and back. When I was on my way back it was later at night and dark out. I started out going towards Michigan City for some reason and then turned onto Timothy Road west of South Bend and took that up to US-12 in Michigan. Then took M-60 to Decatur Road (a decent back road) and encountered no traffic at all during my 13 miles on Decatur Road, then took M-51 to I-94 and after I got on I-94 it started pouring down rain, then turned to freezing rain before I got to Kalamazoo. The left lane of I-94 was covered in ice and snow and the right lane was two tracked it was a mess. So what do the semi truck drivers decide to do, they decided it was safe to get in the left lane and pass passenger vehicles at 70-75 mph while the passenger vehicles on the two tracked right lane could only do about 60-65 mph. When they were passing in the left lane they were throwing snow all over the place onto cars in the right lane that they were passing. Totally ignorant if you ask me, it's amazing how some of these drivers even have their jobs driving that dangerous. I got in the left lane to pass a few times because a lot of cars were driving slower than I could drive and every time I got over there it was driving through slush and the traction wasn't very good but it was all fine for the semi's to use that lane to pass and do that shit. I wasn't too happy with the semi drivers but really I'm rarely happy with them, they act as if they own the road.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: SteveG1988 on February 22, 2019, 05:45:38 AM
Back to what happened to the bridge.

This is a tricky subject to touch on without sounding....xenophobic or anything but... A lot of companies in California seem to hire a lot of people that are, for lack of a better term, "fresh off the boat" These drivers are given minimal training and told to go deliver loads, if you look up the company that hired that driver, they seem to be rather...fly by night. The driver for example was probably using a car GPS, which won't route you around low weight limit bridges. A truck atlas will list weight limits and tell you what roads can and cannot be driven on by a truck. A car GPS for example would route a truck onto a NY state Parkway, a truck GPS would route you on actual truck routes.

The GPS units have free lifetime updates, and cost 300ish dollars for a garmin. That is a lot to ask on a low paying company driver. The guy probably has an "ELD" that is really just an app on a tablet or a phone, no built-in navigation.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: jeffandnicole on February 22, 2019, 06:03:20 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 06, 2019, 05:41:26 PM
Yesterday I drove to South Bend, Indiana from Saginaw, Michigan and back. When I was on my way back it was later at night and dark out. I started out going towards Michigan City for some reason and then turned onto Timothy Road west of South Bend and took that up to US-12 in Michigan. Then took M-60 to Decatur Road (a decent back road) and encountered no traffic at all during my 13 miles on Decatur Road, then took M-51 to I-94 and after I got on I-94 it started pouring down rain, then turned to freezing rain before I got to Kalamazoo. The left lane of I-94 was covered in ice and snow and the right lane was two tracked it was a mess. So what do the semi truck drivers decide to do, they decided it was safe to get in the left lane and pass passenger vehicles at 70-75 mph while the passenger vehicles on the two tracked right lane could only do about 60-65 mph. When they were passing in the left lane they were throwing snow all over the place onto cars in the right lane that they were passing. Totally ignorant if you ask me, it's amazing how some of these drivers even have their jobs driving that dangerous. I got in the left lane to pass a few times because a lot of cars were driving slower than I could drive and every time I got over there it was driving through slush and the traction wasn't very good but it was all fine for the semi's to use that lane to pass and do that shit. I wasn't too happy with the semi drivers but really I'm rarely happy with them, they act as if they own the road.

So your biggest beef was they were throwing slush at you?

That happens everyone on roads that haven't been perfectly plowed yet.  That was happening on an interstate near me when the truckers were in the right lane. 

Or, think of it this way - you don't know who you were flinging slush on, right?  You'd probably say no one, but you don't know what you're kicking up and flinging because it's to the side and behind you, not affecting you.

There's lots of reasons why truckers should lose their jobs...but your reasons aren't one of them.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: Flint1979 on February 22, 2019, 07:30:58 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 22, 2019, 06:03:20 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 06, 2019, 05:41:26 PM
Yesterday I drove to South Bend, Indiana from Saginaw, Michigan and back. When I was on my way back it was later at night and dark out. I started out going towards Michigan City for some reason and then turned onto Timothy Road west of South Bend and took that up to US-12 in Michigan. Then took M-60 to Decatur Road (a decent back road) and encountered no traffic at all during my 13 miles on Decatur Road, then took M-51 to I-94 and after I got on I-94 it started pouring down rain, then turned to freezing rain before I got to Kalamazoo. The left lane of I-94 was covered in ice and snow and the right lane was two tracked it was a mess. So what do the semi truck drivers decide to do, they decided it was safe to get in the left lane and pass passenger vehicles at 70-75 mph while the passenger vehicles on the two tracked right lane could only do about 60-65 mph. When they were passing in the left lane they were throwing snow all over the place onto cars in the right lane that they were passing. Totally ignorant if you ask me, it's amazing how some of these drivers even have their jobs driving that dangerous. I got in the left lane to pass a few times because a lot of cars were driving slower than I could drive and every time I got over there it was driving through slush and the traction wasn't very good but it was all fine for the semi's to use that lane to pass and do that shit. I wasn't too happy with the semi drivers but really I'm rarely happy with them, they act as if they own the road.

So your biggest beef was they were throwing slush at you?

That happens everyone on roads that haven't been perfectly plowed yet.  That was happening on an interstate near me when the truckers were in the right lane. 

Or, think of it this way - you don't know who you were flinging slush on, right?  You'd probably say no one, but you don't know what you're kicking up and flinging because it's to the side and behind you, not affecting you.

There's lots of reasons why truckers should lose their jobs...but your reasons aren't one of them.
No my main beef was that they were driving too fast for the conditions. No passenger car could get going as fast as they were traveling and it was like they didn't even care. They had to drive through the same stuff we did and they thought it was ok to hop in the left lane and pass everyone. Trust me I remember that night the conditions of the road were awful and no truck driver should be speeding in that situation. If a semi truck loses control and slides that's going to create a massive chain reaction accident and that part of I-94 is very common for that in the winter.
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: kalvado on February 22, 2019, 08:37:29 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 22, 2019, 07:30:58 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 22, 2019, 06:03:20 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 06, 2019, 05:41:26 PM
Yesterday I drove to South Bend, Indiana from Saginaw, Michigan and back. When I was on my way back it was later at night and dark out. I started out going towards Michigan City for some reason and then turned onto Timothy Road west of South Bend and took that up to US-12 in Michigan. Then took M-60 to Decatur Road (a decent back road) and encountered no traffic at all during my 13 miles on Decatur Road, then took M-51 to I-94 and after I got on I-94 it started pouring down rain, then turned to freezing rain before I got to Kalamazoo. The left lane of I-94 was covered in ice and snow and the right lane was two tracked it was a mess. So what do the semi truck drivers decide to do, they decided it was safe to get in the left lane and pass passenger vehicles at 70-75 mph while the passenger vehicles on the two tracked right lane could only do about 60-65 mph. When they were passing in the left lane they were throwing snow all over the place onto cars in the right lane that they were passing. Totally ignorant if you ask me, it's amazing how some of these drivers even have their jobs driving that dangerous. I got in the left lane to pass a few times because a lot of cars were driving slower than I could drive and every time I got over there it was driving through slush and the traction wasn't very good but it was all fine for the semi's to use that lane to pass and do that shit. I wasn't too happy with the semi drivers but really I'm rarely happy with them, they act as if they own the road.

So your biggest beef was they were throwing slush at you?

That happens everyone on roads that haven't been perfectly plowed yet.  That was happening on an interstate near me when the truckers were in the right lane. 

Or, think of it this way - you don't know who you were flinging slush on, right?  You'd probably say no one, but you don't know what you're kicking up and flinging because it's to the side and behind you, not affecting you.

There's lots of reasons why truckers should lose their jobs...but your reasons aren't one of them.
No my main beef was that they were driving too fast for the conditions. No passenger car could get going as fast as they were traveling and it was like they didn't even care. They had to drive through the same stuff we did and they thought it was ok to hop in the left lane and pass everyone. Trust me I remember that night the conditions of the road were awful and no truck driver should be speeding in that situation. If a semi truck loses control and slides that's going to create a massive chain reaction accident and that part of I-94 is very common for that in the winter.
Well, they have higher wheel loading and that can translate into better pavement grip in those conditions. And a car sliding - especially sliding in front of the truck - is equally dangerous in terms of chain reaction...
Title: Re: Dale Bend Bridge Destroyed by Overweight Truck
Post by: SteveG1988 on February 22, 2019, 01:46:50 PM
Quote from: kalvado on February 22, 2019, 08:37:29 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 22, 2019, 07:30:58 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 22, 2019, 06:03:20 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 06, 2019, 05:41:26 PM
Yesterday I drove to South Bend, Indiana from Saginaw, Michigan and back. When I was on my way back it was later at night and dark out. I started out going towards Michigan City for some reason and then turned onto Timothy Road west of South Bend and took that up to US-12 in Michigan. Then took M-60 to Decatur Road (a decent back road) and encountered no traffic at all during my 13 miles on Decatur Road, then took M-51 to I-94 and after I got on I-94 it started pouring down rain, then turned to freezing rain before I got to Kalamazoo. The left lane of I-94 was covered in ice and snow and the right lane was two tracked it was a mess. So what do the semi truck drivers decide to do, they decided it was safe to get in the left lane and pass passenger vehicles at 70-75 mph while the passenger vehicles on the two tracked right lane could only do about 60-65 mph. When they were passing in the left lane they were throwing snow all over the place onto cars in the right lane that they were passing. Totally ignorant if you ask me, it's amazing how some of these drivers even have their jobs driving that dangerous. I got in the left lane to pass a few times because a lot of cars were driving slower than I could drive and every time I got over there it was driving through slush and the traction wasn't very good but it was all fine for the semi's to use that lane to pass and do that shit. I wasn't too happy with the semi drivers but really I'm rarely happy with them, they act as if they own the road.

So your biggest beef was they were throwing slush at you?

That happens everyone on roads that haven't been perfectly plowed yet.  That was happening on an interstate near me when the truckers were in the right lane. 

Or, think of it this way - you don't know who you were flinging slush on, right?  You'd probably say no one, but you don't know what you're kicking up and flinging because it's to the side and behind you, not affecting you.

There's lots of reasons why truckers should lose their jobs...but your reasons aren't one of them.
No my main beef was that they were driving too fast for the conditions. No passenger car could get going as fast as they were traveling and it was like they didn't even care. They had to drive through the same stuff we did and they thought it was ok to hop in the left lane and pass everyone. Trust me I remember that night the conditions of the road were awful and no truck driver should be speeding in that situation. If a semi truck loses control and slides that's going to create a massive chain reaction accident and that part of I-94 is very common for that in the winter.
Well, they have higher wheel loading and that can translate into better pavement grip in those conditions. And a car sliding - especially sliding in front of the truck - is equally dangerous in terms of chain reaction...

That is exactly what can happen. A truck due to how much weight it is putting down can push through the snow. Or, like on my truck, we have Mud+Snow rated tires that can handle more conditions than the average car tire.