Can't avoid jack-knifing? Don't be a truck driver

NikDiesel · 02-12-2010

February 8, 2010

Can't avoid jack-knifing? Don't be a truck driver

By Michael Dresser

Getting there

Allow me to nominate an official Public Enemy No. 1 from the weekend's Super Bowl of Snow: tractor-trailer drivers who can't keep their rigs from jackknifing.

Driving a truck is a hard job, and those who do it deserve respect. But when a truck jack-knifes in the snow, it almost always means the driver was going too fast for the conditions.

Sorry if I seem unsympathetic, but letting one's tractor-trailer jackknife is highly unprofessional. Airline pilots are expected not to overshoot runways. Surgeons are expected to remove all the clamps before they suture patients. Lawyers are expected to not miss court filing deadlines. Police officers are supposed to avoid shooting unarmed, law-abiding civilians.

And truck drivers can reasonably be expected to drive at an appropriate speed in severe weather so they don't jackknife and tie up important travel corridors at critical times. It's like an entry-level requirement. If one can't attain that goal, one should find another line of work.

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NikDiesel · 02-12-2010

Michael Dresser

I think Michael needs to hear a different point of view!

NikDiesel · 02-12-2010

Here is one respondent...

Quote:

February 12, 2010

Cars, not big rigs, cause most accidents

by Robert Fish

I would like to comment on Michael Dresser's article about "bad truck drivers" ("Can't avoid jackknifing? Don't be a truck driver," Feb. 8).

Nowhere in that article did he mention the bad car drivers out there that cause 75 percent of the truck wrecks across the country. Mr. Dresser seems to have a grudge against truck drivers in general. Question to him: When was the last time you actually drove 40 tons down the road and tried to stop it on a dime because of a four-wheeler stopping in front of you on short notice? Probably never.

I do agree that there are drivers out there that push it too hard in foul weather, but you can't paint all of us with such a broad brush. I have 1.5 million miles under my belt in a big truck and have never had an accident or lost control of my truck in any weather condition. I invite you to come for a ride across the country and see what I deal with every day in any given city in the U.S. I believe it will open your eyes and maybe then you will write an article about the four-wheelers that truly are public enemy No. 1 to us truck drivers.

We have a job to do out here. We are not just driving around looking for something to do. We have a purpose to our driving. Our purpose is to make sure that all people in this country and other countries have the items on the store shelves that they need when they need them. That part never gets reported. But let a driver have an accident and it is all over the papers. What about all the good things we do? How about the billions of miles trucks drive accident free? Try reporting that. There is enough bad reporting on truckers, what we need is good reporting.

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stldude44 · 02-12-2010

I think Michael Dresser comes from a railroad family. I remember going north out of Salt Lake City in the early 80's and seeing a cartoon painting on a billboard of a giant truck tailgating a terrified family in a small car and a railroad overpass with a train loaded with trailers.......the message read.....Freight up here keeps highways clear. You have to remember that probably every railroad back then was subsidized by our tax dollars. You can't imagine how much it pissed me off that I was contributing to the suggested demise of my livelihood. Seems like a lot of people want to blame trucks every chance they get. Screw em!

mudflap560 · 02-13-2010

Michael Dresser as many journalists tend to report their opinion and feelings on a particular issue rather than facts!

2631 · 02-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudflap560

Michael Dresser as many journalists tend to report their opinion and feelings on a particular issue rather than facts!

You are right, but so are some of the points in this article.

One person who's all too familiar with this phenomenon and its costs is Neil J. Pedersen, Maryland's state highway administrator.

"I'm just passed by tractor-trailers all the time during snowstorms," Pedersen said. "You are required to drive at speeds that are appropriate for conditions."

How many times have we been creeping along on an icy highway when some "Billy big rigger" goes flying passed us out in the left lane? And thanks to deregulation there sure are a hell of a lot more of them out there than there are of us. I remember back when truck drivers were the respected "Knights of the road" Now for the most part they are a bunch of immigrants pulling ocean containers holding cellphones in one ear.

222lifer · 02-13-2010

Billy Bigrigger? Seen a million of them. What about the jackass that comes roaring up to the rear of a four wheeler and parks his front bumper on their trunk in heavy traffic? Where you gonna go Billy Bigrigger? Did you want them to count the bugs on your grille?

NikDiesel · 02-13-2010

Don't get Me wrong... I am not a Billy Bigrigger supporter...

But, I am also not opposed to taking the hammer lane(s) when deemed necessary!

We are the executives of the road...

There are plenty of times where as < executive decisions > must and will be made to avoid the possibility of serious injury to self and to the general public... as well as the constant potential of loss of livelihood!

Yes, the general public does and would consider a maneuver by a big truck to the third, fourth lane(s) as a show of aggression or disrespect of highway safety...

But, We as the professional should also know differently... based on the occurrences or situations affecting driving conditions right in front of Us, or around Us... without grouping all maneuvers of the highway as stereotypical moves by certain type of operators!

I would agree with speed being considered a factor...

But, what about the confinement and restrictions of the right two (2) lanes also being a large part of the problem?

Constant break checks by four wheelers... enforcing what < they > think is best for all traffic behind them...

And the delusional reason of operators remaining steadfast in the second lane... trapping commercial operators in the right...

Remains a viable argument for alternative considerations or measures... based on Our abilities and professional status!

222lifer · 02-13-2010

Not to mention the 430 hp engine governed down to 60-62mph. Spend a day in the cab of my tractor and you will know the meaning of frazzled nerves. I am STUCK in the right lane PERIOD. I have to deal with the morons that realize at the last minute that (yes indeed) they are getting on the freeway and they are running out of entry ramp mighty fast. Mr and Mrs "I only drive 55." The little blue haired lady that can't see over the dash.
Make the mistake and move over and you spend the rest of the drive attempting to return to the right lane....All the while ignoring the horns and middle fingers. Turn signals? That means the truck driver wants to let you know he needs to make a lane change mister 4 wheeler....That doesn't mean speed up along side and park there. The list is endless.

I have said many times that if you put these "know it all" writers of public opinions with us for a day they would be writing an entirely different article.

mudflap560 · 02-13-2010

222, that's one way you can tell that your turn signals are still working, when you put the signal on and the 4 wheeler speeds up. Think of it as a 'while in motion inspection'. Makes perfect sense to me!