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Yikes! 75mph winds tip over semi on Mackinac Bridge, saved by guardrail

Discussion in 'Trucking Accidents' started by c64basic, Jul 19, 2013.

Page 3 of 4
  1. Jul 19, 2013 #21
    deandean

    deandean Bobtail Member

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    Jul 7, 2013
    0
    So baiscly, you can be an excellent truck driver, do everything right - and then one day out of the blue a big gust of wind blows you over and BAM you lose your job and you are out on the street! Wow trucking sucks, don't see why anybody would want to do this job, really.
     
    deandean, Jul 19, 2013
    deandean, Jul 19, 2013
    #21
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  3. Jul 19, 2013 #22
    bigkev1115

    bigkev1115 Road Train Member

    2,364
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    Oct 23, 2009
    Alexandria, AL
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    A phone call to the Safety Department or higher up would ve made that dispatcher humbled
     
    bigkev1115, Jul 19, 2013
    bigkev1115, Jul 19, 2013
    #22
    allniter and deandean Thank this.
  4. Jul 19, 2013 #23
    Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

    18,951
    8,980
    Apr 4, 2007
    0
    I have made calls to Safety and it was a small company. I called about them running me over hours and etc.

    His response was, the load has to get there.

    The owner used to come to the Safety meeting each week. His policy was simple.
    No driver can use the excuse of no hours as long as truck stops sell logbooks.

    Interesting point though. I still drive and the company is bankrupt and long gone.

    I left 2 weeks after the talk with Safety.
     
    Roadmedic, Jul 19, 2013
    Roadmedic, Jul 19, 2013
    #23
    NavigatorWife Thanks this.
  5. Jul 19, 2013 #24
    tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

    5,143
    18,070
    Oct 29, 2007
    Northern Ontario
    0
    Dispatcher can't make you move.

    I read a couple articles that stated the weather changed suddenly and unexpectedly. Sounds like they were caught completely off guard. I've had to wait for an escort there when winds were a lot weaker than that and if they knew winds were going to get that strong they wouldn't have let him on.

    http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/07/19/semi-tips-on-mackinac-bridge-after-wind-gust/
     
    tinytim, Jul 19, 2013
    tinytim, Jul 19, 2013
    #24
    c64basic Thanks this.
  7. Jul 19, 2013 #25
    almostthere

    almostthere Light Load Member

    254
    145
    May 23, 2010
    MN
    0
    "So baiscly, you can be an excellent truck driver, do everything right - and then one day out of the blue a big gust of wind blows you over and BAM you lose your job and you are out on the street! Wow trucking sucks, don't see why anybody would want to do this job, really".

    I've read the description sheet companies use for preventable and non-preventable accidents. It's almost a joke. By definition almost any accident can be labeled as preventable.
     
    almostthere, Jul 19, 2013
    almostthere, Jul 19, 2013
    #25
  8. Jul 19, 2013 #26
    kwloo

    kwloo Medium Load Member

    336
    246
    Nov 3, 2011
    eh?
    0
    How would an escort affect wind bursts
     
    kwloo, Jul 19, 2013
    kwloo, Jul 19, 2013
    #26
    tinytim Thanks this.
  9. Jul 20, 2013 #27
    c64basic

    c64basic Medium Load Member

    461
    474
    Jan 17, 2013
    Frozen Tundra
    0
    I didn't realize this but [per Wikipedia] the Mackinac Bridge is the world's third-longest in total suspension[SUP][/SUP] and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western hemisphere. For our deprived warm weather friends who have never been to the upper-upper Midwest: the Mackinac Bridge is part of I-75 and connects lower Michigan to the upper Peninsula.

    [​IMG]
     
    c64basic, Jul 20, 2013
    c64basic, Jul 20, 2013
    #27
  10. Jul 20, 2013 #28
    KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

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    Jul 28, 2011
    Glasco,Ks.
    0

    Yeah when you are heading north and come up to it the bridge sits at a bit of an angle, so you can see the whole bridge before you get there, first time my wife was with me she just about ####!!!

    Closed her eye's and didn't say a word till we got to the other side, lol
     
    KANSAS TRANSIT, Jul 20, 2013
    KANSAS TRANSIT, Jul 20, 2013
    #28
    c64basic Thanks this.
  11. Jul 20, 2013 #29
    tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

    5,143
    18,070
    Oct 29, 2007
    Northern Ontario
    0
    lol, I always wondered about that.
     
    tinytim, Jul 20, 2013
    tinytim, Jul 20, 2013
    #29
  12. Jul 20, 2013 #30
    c64basic

    c64basic Medium Load Member

    461
    474
    Jan 17, 2013
    Frozen Tundra
    0
    I would guess maybe they keep traffic from driving next to you so you can use both lanes? :dontknow:

    This is from the official bridge website:
    Rules & Regulations

    • Maximum speed limit is 45 mph.
    • No U-turns.
    • No stopping on the Mackinac Bridge.
    • In the event of a flat tire or motor failure, please remain in your vehicle. Bridge personnel on duty will investigate and assist.
    • Use four-way flashers while vehicle is disabled.
    Truck Regulations

    • Travel in right lane – no passing.
    • 500-foot spacing – no tailgating.
    • Use four-way flashers.
    • Maximum speed is 20 mph.
    • Rules Enforced from toll plaza to Jamet Street exit.
    • Trucks with a gross load of over 40 tons must request escort prior to crossing.
    • Maximum allowable vehicle weight is 72 tons.
    Placarded Loads

    • Transportation of flammable liquids, liquid gases, explosives and other placarded loads requires an escort by bridge personnel. Persons transporting these loads must call Bridge Services at 906-643-7600 for escort.
    Oversized Vehicles

    • Oversized vehicles must call 24 hours in advance to arrange a bridge escort.
    Other restrictions may be in effect due to weather conditions or construction projects.
    Please tune to 530 or 1610 am radio while in the Straits area.
     
    c64basic, Jul 20, 2013
    c64basic, Jul 20, 2013
    #30
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