Another example of the decline of Trucking?

[Fozzy]

Who here would continue to drive and even force themselves into a funeral precession? This was a PGR ride to escort a old Veteran.. I removed all the names, locations , numbers and trucking company to keep a lid on everything.

Those on the escort to (location removed) for Charley were all aware of and involved with a very unsafe, and malicious truck driver representing (trucking company name) trucking.

I spoke with their safety officer this morning regarding the events. He was very concerned and asked for ALL of the details.

Here is what I sent him:

(name removed), Thank You for listening to me this morning. Here is the narrative with details I promised you.

Monday, August 31, 2009
approx 1:30 pm
(Location omitted)
Trailer # (omitted)
Partial Tag # (omitted)

Myself, and approximately 43 other motorcycles riding in a staggered formation and approximately 12, 4-wheeled vehicles were north bound on (omitted) in a well marked, 3x5 flags flying, flashers and headlights all on, WITH the Sheriff's department flashing lighted vehicles blocking all intersections funeral procession.

Shortly after we turned northbound from the (removed) by-pass we encountered your above numbered vehicle. (name removed), I was the Ride Captain on this procession and was the lead motorcycle. Just after the RR tracks, mr above suddenly pulled over in front of me; we were in the left, or hammer down lane, and then he slowed way down. Why, to this day, I have no idea, other than he may have wanted us to slow down and get in the right lane; that is an assumption and not intended to be factual as to Why he did it.

He then pulled just as abruptly back into the right lane and ran along beside us. We were at highway speed; according to our police escort and their instructions to remain in the left lane. Why mr above insisted on running right beside us, again, I have no idea.

The next intersection was the (omitted) turn-off. Again, law enforcement had the intersection under their control for us to pass thur without stopping. Again, mr. above just kept right beside us in the right lane.

By now, mr above was towards the rear of our procession. Knowing full well, north of (location omitted) we were going to encounter 2 lane roads, I sped the group up to 10 mph above the speed limit. By the way he was acting, I was very concerned about mr above and the safety of our procession. Why oh why, did he not just back out of it and let us pass. We were running 10 mph above posted speed?

Yes, you by now have guessed. When we encountered the 2 lane road, mr above simply crowded his way into the last third of our procession. Had it not been for some very alert and safety minded riders with the ability to execute an emergency slow and swerve, mr above would have killed several in our procession.

Now, I have a very uncooperative semi truck driver in the last third of our procession, tailgating motorcycles so closely, those behind him could not pass and rejoin our protected formation. Finally, I was able to speed up enough to allow those cut off by mr above to safely pass and rejoin the safety of a riding formation. I do not know where your trucks are goverened, but finally and fortunately we were able to return to a safe enviornment. My last vehicle recorded our speed at 93.4, just to get away from mr above. Sometimes, speed is your only safety factor.

I am not sure what or where mr above ended up.

(Name Omitted), I see only 3 possibilities here:

1. He was very inadequately trained and just did not know any better.

2. He desperately needs to be enrolled in anger management counseling.

3. Assuming he is well trained and experienced, and has no anger problems, he needs to
be dismissed for intentionally and maliciously endangering the lives of others.

I can not emphasize enough how dangerous this situation was and 100% the fault of the individual entrusted to roll down our public highways with PRIME displayed so prominently.

Please, let me know what happens in this matter. I have a goodly number of very scared and shaken riders and drivers I would like to be able to report justice has been done.

Thank You and Best Regards,

(name removed for privacy)
Ride Captain
Patriot Guard Riders

We shall stand-by for the answer.

(name removed)

[Double R]

Who here would continue to drive and even force themselves into a funeral precession? This was a PGR ride to escort a old Veteran.. I removed all the names, locations , numbers and trucking company to keep a lid on everything.

Those on the escort to (location removed) for Charley were all aware of and involved with a very unsafe, and malicious truck driver representing (trucking company name) trucking.

I spoke with their safety officer this morning regarding the events. He was very concerned and asked for ALL of the details.

Here is what I sent him:

(name removed), Thank You for listening to me this morning. Here is the narrative with details I promised you.

Monday, August 31, 2009
approx 1:30 pm
(Location omitted)
Trailer # (omitted)
Partial Tag # (omitted)

Myself, and approximately 43 other motorcycles riding in a staggered formation and approximately 12, 4-wheeled vehicles were north bound on (omitted) in a well marked, 3x5 flags flying, flashers and headlights all on, WITH the Sheriff's department flashing lighted vehicles blocking all intersections funeral procession.

Shortly after we turned northbound from the (removed) by-pass we encountered your above numbered vehicle. (name removed), I was the Ride Captain on this procession and was the lead motorcycle. Just after the RR tracks, mr above suddenly pulled over in front of me; we were in the left, or hammer down lane, and then he slowed way down. Why, to this day, I have no idea, other than he may have wanted us to slow down and get in the right lane; that is an assumption and not intended to be factual as to Why he did it.

He then pulled just as abruptly back into the right lane and ran along beside us. We were at highway speed; according to our police escort and their instructions to remain in the left lane. Why mr above insisted on running right beside us, again, I have no idea.

The next intersection was the (omitted) turn-off. Again, law enforcement had the intersection under their control for us to pass thur without stopping. Again, mr. above just kept right beside us in the right lane.

By now, mr above was towards the rear of our procession. Knowing full well, north of (location omitted) we were going to encounter 2 lane roads, I sped the group up to 10 mph above the speed limit. By the way he was acting, I was very concerned about mr above and the safety of our procession. Why oh why, did he not just back out of it and let us pass. We were running 10 mph above posted speed?

Yes, you by now have guessed. When we encountered the 2 lane road, mr above simply crowded his way into the last third of our procession. Had it not been for some very alert and safety minded riders with the ability to execute an emergency slow and swerve, mr above would have killed several in our procession.

Now, I have a very uncooperative semi truck driver in the last third of our procession, tailgating motorcycles so closely, those behind him could not pass and rejoin our protected formation. Finally, I was able to speed up enough to allow those cut off by mr above to safely pass and rejoin the safety of a riding formation. I do not know where your trucks are goverened, but finally and fortunately we were able to return to a safe enviornment. My last vehicle recorded our speed at 93.4, just to get away from mr above. Sometimes, speed is your only safety factor.

I am not sure what or where mr above ended up.

(Name Omitted), I see only 3 possibilities here:

1. He was very inadequately trained and just did not know any better.

2. He desperately needs to be enrolled in anger management counseling.

3. Assuming he is well trained and experienced, and has no anger problems, he needs to
be dismissed for intentionally and maliciously endangering the lives of others.

I can not emphasize enough how dangerous this situation was and 100% the fault of the individual entrusted to roll down our public highways with PRIME displayed so prominently.

Please, let me know what happens in this matter. I have a goodly number of very scared and shaken riders and drivers I would like to be able to report justice has been done.

Thank You and Best Regards,

(name removed for privacy)
Ride Captain
Patriot Guard Riders

We shall stand-by for the answer.

(name removed)

I think that you forgot to omit one word here.


And by the way, on contacting the azzholes safety department. The azzhat should have his CDL revoked for life for a stunt like that.

[jd112488]

amen double r. what a douchbag making all truckdrivers look like this dickhead.

[VPIDarkAngel]

I'm pretty sure that, even if he was inadequately trained, he probably knew that there was a funeral procession afoot. Also, he should've been fully aware that a motorcycle can be VERY easily hidden from sight, especially to someone in a truck, and that he should've given an adequate distance between himself and all the riders there.
Even without the flashers on, flags flying, and police escort, it's NOT hard to spot a funeral. Today, I stopped at a green light when I saw a string of otherwise ordinary cars with their headlights on who were running a red light... following a Cadillac hearse.
Quite frankly, I'm surprised that one of the cops in the convoy didn't break formation and pull the guy over.
Regardless, I want to hear what his explanation was (even though it was probably a crock of crap).

[Jackrabbit379]

I agree. This driver needs his license revoked, and he should be in the nuthouse.

I do have one question.. The biker said that their speed was recorded at 93.4 mph. When was the last time a Prime truck ran that fast?

[VitoCorleone99]

...I do have one question.. The biker said that their speed was recorded at 93.4 mph. When was the last time a Prime truck ran that fast?

Leads me to wonder if the whole story isn't embellished at least a little bit. Seems to me that the Primes are even slower than the Swifties these days. Could be a contractor, I suppose.

[VPIDarkAngel]

Leads me to wonder if the whole story isn't embellished at least a little bit. Seems to me that the Primes are even slower than the Swifties these days. Could be a contractor, I suppose.

It *could* be, but (correct me if I'm wrong) that they were implying that they needed to get to 93.4mph to get away from him, NOT that his truck was doing 93.4mph.
Either way, that's still more than he should've been doing, regardless of the situation.

[VitoCorleone99]

Those Prime company trucks go like 59mph. To get away from one, you would have to go about 62mph. To pass on a two-lane, maybe you kick it up to 70mph in order to make it quick. That whole 90mph+ bit sounded pretty fantastical to me.

The story is probably mostly true, but people have a tendency to overdo things for dramatic effect sometimes. I don't know though. I wasn't there.

[cdswans]

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon . . are you seriously going to let one rotten driver drag down the whole "profession"?

It's going to take at least two to take down the ENTIRE industry, so I nominate this guy . . DUCK!

Charges filed against big-rig driver in shooting of police officer - San Jose Mercury News

[Jackrabbit379]

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon . . are you seriously going to let one rotten driver drag down the whole "profession"?

I'm sorry.
I just couldn't help but notice it, and I scratched my head and I thought, "wait a minute"


Vito, I would say that Prime runs around 60mph. Our trucks run 62mph and I've passed their trucks. They're about the only dag gum thing I can pass.

[Windwalker]

I agree. This driver needs his license revoked, and he should be in the nuthouse.

I do have one question.. The biker said that their speed was recorded at 93.4 mph. When was the last time a Prime truck ran that fast?

I've seen a couple of Prime Trailers being pulled by trucks that were never part of Prime's fleet. Guys that bought their own trucks and leased on with Prime (and I'll never understand why they would do that).

I was taught, at a relatively early age, that you do not interrupt a funeral procession. Once the first vehicle goes through on a green light, the whole line has a green light, no matter what color you see. It's done out of respect to the dead. I'd say that when this driver passes on to his own just reward, we all need to pour a bottle of the very best booze we can find, all over his grave... Of course, we also need to filter it through ourselves first.

[RostyC]

The decline is all around you, not just in trucking.