Wrecks on I-84 this week.

[Colts Fan]

My trainer wrecked with me in the sleeper Monday morning this week. We were in MA on I-84 near Sturbridge early Mon. morning when the accident happened. He totaled 2 trailers and damaged some freight. Luckily, no one was injured.

I'm getting assigned my own truck on Monday so I'm happy!

For new drivers out there, please heed this advise. Listen to your CB and keep up on the weather reports. I told my trainer after we switched that the weather could be bad up there. He did not listen to the radio and did not have input from other drivers who had been that way.

If you have ice on the back of your mirrors, then there is ice on the road.

If you see a dull sheen on the road, then there is ice on the road.

If the road looks wet, but there is no water coming off another trucks tires, then there is ice on the road.

If there is ice on the road you need to stop and wait for the roads to get clear. You have no control on ice.

[dennis in se pa]

Sorry you had to deal with it. Glad you are OK. Good luck to you. See you out there! I just got my CDL TODAY and will be driving for Roehl.
respects,
Dennis in se pa

[Trukrswyfe]

Might be time to throw irons :P

[Colts Fan]

Sorry you had to deal with it. Glad you are OK. Good luck to you. See you out there! I just got my CDL TODAY and will be driving for Roehl.
respects,
Dennis in se pa

Thanx Dennis. To be honest, I learned more this week than all of the other weeks of training combined. You'll do great with Roehl. Good luck!!

[nickbtubas]

may i suggest in buying an outdoor thermometer (digital perhaps) and if it is around 32 degrees F than there is probably ice on the roadway

[headborg]

My trainer wrecked with me in the sleeper Monday morning this week. We were in MA on I-84 near Sturbridge early Mon. morning when the accident happened. He totaled 2 trailers and damaged some freight. Luckily, no one was injured.

I'm getting assigned my own truck on Monday so I'm happy!

For new drivers out there, please heed this advise. Listen to your CB and keep up on the weather reports. I told my trainer after we switched that the weather could be bad up there. He did not listen to the radio and did not have input from other drivers who had been that way.

If you have ice on the back of your mirrors, then there is ice on the road.

If you see a dull sheen on the road, then there is ice on the road.

If the road looks wet, but there is no water coming off another trucks tires, then there is ice on the road.

If there is ice on the road you need to stop and wait for the roads to get clear. You have no control on ice.

What I want to know is....What does this say about YOUR trainer....sounds like you should have been training HIM.....or did the LOAD JUST got to get there?
I'll write it again:

Snow go Slow!
Ice --No Dice!

P.S. watch out for Iowa----there's a glaze coating on I-80--it looks "glassy"
all year long---you really can't afford to "crawl" across this state or set at the truck stop--so you need to know the Temp outside and what's actually down there---and always try to get across this state during daylight hours...sure there's gonna be spray from the truck ahead --but, best to keep lots of extra room in front between you and him--so he'll be out of range(you won't be able to see spray at that safe distance)---just watch for him to "wiggle" when he hits the slick spots. Don't bunch up...Don't ride in "the Pack"----don't hang around with 4-wheelers bunching along side you---they are their own worst enemy- If you see you're gaining on a
"pack" of them----back off(no brake) and wait until they align themselves in a single row- where you could pass... chances are they will make a pile up if they stay together in a "pack"----it's better to pass them than ride behind them( as long as you can do so--In a safe--slow pace-that at your comfort level) If it's raining( freezing rain ) nearing dark--and the temp is dropping--close to 35deg--get off the road-park it.

[headborg]

may i suggest in buying an outdoor thermometer (digital perhaps) and if it is around 32 degrees F than there is probably ice on the roadway

they make a battery powered thermometer--called the ICE ALERT----get it!
tape the outside sensor--away from the body of the truck on the mirror bar.

remember bridges & overpasses freeze before the rest of the ground...and can freeze at 35deg- even 38deg(with enough cold air blowing across the surface) also FOG can freeze to the roadway!

[chuck3507]

I have to assume that since your trainer was driving and you were in the bunk, he must have been sleeping while you were driving, or driving after being up allday while you were driving. Either way, NO GOOD!!!

[Mr. Ford95]

Colts fan, you can have road spray with ice on the road. It's called freezing rain, we had it a week ago in the Mid-Atlantic, caused 80+ crashes in a 20 mile radius. People figured it was just rain and that "hey, road spray means no ice" when it was 30 degrees out still.

[Colts Fan]

I have to assume that since your trainer was driving and you were in the bunk, he must have been sleeping while you were driving, or driving after being up allday while you were driving. Either way, NO GOOD!!!

We have run as a team from the beginning. He would sleep as I would drive.

[headborg]

I have to assume that since your trainer was driving and you were in the bunk, he must have been sleeping while you were driving, or driving after being up allday while you were driving. Either way, NO GOOD!!!

We have run as a team from the beginning. He would sleep as I would drive.

refresh my memory: are you a complete Newbie or are you doing
flatbed training with a flatbed trainer for a short couple weeks.
Either way, I think your Trainer should have known better---you know all trainers arn't equal-----some trainers like at USxpress only have 6months experience themselves. You got to watch out.

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

I was at the Flying-J in Tulsa oK last october 14th , And While I was doing my Laundry I had an interesting conversation about many things with a man that would make me nervous knowing he was operating a schwin let alone a big truck ....Well this man told me he's been driving for 30 yrs ( um sure) and all you need to safely drive 70-80 MPH on snow / ice is a a clear spot the size the fog line . I gues after driving the Mountains of the Adirondacks and Rockies ever since I got my license when I was 16 I'm just not as skilled yet as he ,because this sounded like a recipe for a roll over and a wrecker ...But this was his advice to on winter driving for ice/ snow from a 30 yr driver to me with only 2.5 years of tractor /trailer ecperience...I guess you can't put length of time for learning common sense . :wink:

[BanditsCousin]

I did like 45 up I55 a few weeks ago and never got passed. If you gotta drive on ice, be slow going. Good thing Teal95KW talked me through it. I'm such a rookie

[headborg]

I was at the Flying-J in Tulsa oK last october 14th , And While I was doing my Laundry I had an interesting conversation about many things with a man that would make me nervous knowing he was operating a schwin let alone a big truck ....Well this man told me he's been driving for 30 yrs ( um sure) and all you need to safely drive 70-80 MPH on snow / ice is a a clear spot the size the fog line . I gues after driving the Mountains of the Adirondacks and Rockies ever since I got my license when I was 16 I'm just not as skilled yet as he ,because this sounded like a recipe for a roll over and a wrecker ...But this was his advice to on winter driving for ice/ snow from a 30 yr driver to me with only 2.5 years of tractor /trailer ecperience...I guess you can't put length of time for learning common sense . :wink:

yep, and I hate to sometimes sound like a "know-it-all" --I don't and my 15years has been a learning experience--the hard way.
but I do know what you mean. Back when I had like....1yr of experience,
I picked up these load of Mussalman's apple sauce--out of a little town south of Gettysbury, Pa-
got back up to the old Ambest in New Kingstown, Pa to scale 'er out.
And I was way.....way...way.. over weight on my trailer tandems. ( they loaded me to far rear) and I couldn't have enough holes to make 'er legal,

This guy is standing there--trying to impress these girl behind the counter,
and asks ---what seem's to be the problem--little guy( I was 24 at the time)...
I looked at the scale ticket and was pissed off---I'd have to go back to the shipper and have 'em fix it.
He asked......do you got a sliding 5th wheel?
I answered----yeah, sure but that ant gonna fix this( i was something like 2000 pounds over on the trailer(with them all the way back)
and then he said the magic words......

I've been driving for 25years! I know what I'm talking about.

[Double R]

Might be time to throw irons :P

East coast drivers have no idea how to do that. In nine years I have NEVER drove a truck that carried chains. I wouldn't even know how to us them. :P

If there is ice on the road you need to stop and wait for the roads to get clear. You have no control on ice.

Best advise right there.
Snow- I will drive in it but will slow down and be very careful
ICE- I PARK IT!!!!!! The stores can wait for thier delivers. Just tell the customers that all they can order is small pizzas until the ice clears, driver will not risk his(and co-drivers) life for it!

[matcat]

I was at the Flying-J in Tulsa oK last october 14th , And While I was doing my Laundry I had an interesting conversation about many things with a man that would make me nervous knowing he was operating a schwin let alone a big truck ....Well this man told me he's been driving for 30 yrs ( um sure) and all you need to safely drive 70-80 MPH on snow / ice is a a clear spot the size the fog line . I gues after driving the Mountains of the Adirondacks and Rockies ever since I got my license when I was 16 I'm just not as skilled yet as he ,because this sounded like a recipe for a roll over and a wrecker ...But this was his advice to on winter driving for ice/ snow from a 30 yr driver to me with only 2.5 years of tractor /trailer ecperience...I guess you can't put length of time for learning common sense . :wink:

yep, and I hate to sometimes sound like a "know-it-all" --I don't and my 15years has been a learning experience--the hard way.
but I do know what you mean. Back when I had like....1yr of experience,
I picked up these load of Mussalman's apple sauce--out of a little town south of Gettysbury, Pa-
got back up to the old Ambest in New Kingstown, Pa to scale 'er out.
And I was way.....way...way.. over weight on my trailer tandems. ( they loaded me to far rear) and I couldn't have enough holes to make 'er legal,

This guy is standing there--trying to impress these girl behind the counter,
and asks ---what seem's to be the problem--little guy( I was 24 at the time)...
I looked at the scale ticket and was pissed off---I'd have to go back to the shipper and have 'em fix it.
He asked......do you got a sliding 5th wheel?
I answered----yeah, sure but that ant gonna fix this( i was something like 2000 pounds over on the trailer(with them all the way back)
and then he said the magic words......

I've been driving for 25years! I know what I'm talking about.

Hey I just picked up from there a week ago, was a mess too! I slid my tandems, went to scale out, and weighed in at 11,000, 33,500, and 33,850, talk about cutting it close :P

[Colts Fan]

I have to assume that since your trainer was driving and you were in the bunk, he must have been sleeping while you were driving, or driving after being up allday while you were driving. Either way, NO GOOD!!!

We have run as a team from the beginning. He would sleep as I would drive.

refresh my memory: are you a complete Newbie or are you doing
flatbed training with a flatbed trainer for a short couple weeks.
Either way, I think your Trainer should have known better---you know all trainers arn't equal-----some trainers like at USxpress only have 6months experience themselves. You got to watch out.

I am a total newbie. My trainer has the title "Master Driver". He has been with the company since 1989.

[headborg]

I have to assume that since your trainer was driving and you were in the bunk, he must have been sleeping while you were driving, or driving after being up allday while you were driving. Either way, NO GOOD!!!

We have run as a team from the beginning. He would sleep as I would drive.

refresh my memory: are you a complete Newbie or are you doing
flatbed training with a flatbed trainer for a short couple weeks.
Either way, I think your Trainer should have known better---you know all trainers arn't equal-----some trainers like at USxpress only have 6months experience themselves. You got to watch out.

I am a total newbie. My trainer has the title "Master Driver". He has been with the company since 1989.

does that company have a safety policy--stating he drives while you sleep & vice-a-versa? if you are sleeping while the truck is moving-are you required to be strapped down to the bed with belts or does your truck use the Net?
I'm surprised he didn't yell for you to come up to the jump seat so you could watch a "master" at work-----"hey, come up here and see this--you don't want to miss this"