Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[MechE1]

Clearly, we all enjoy this thread. But here is a question for you all. What would you do if you knew someone towed incorrectly/unsafely every day? Let's just say I know someone that has a business. Concrete contractor. Equipment always beat to heII. Constantly hauling mini excavator and a track type skid steer. I've witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of times towing without a strap/chain. Latest offense, flatbed trailer (no sides) with an 8 inch bed of sand on the deck. Mini excavator parked on top of that. One worn out large ratchet strap over the tracks, side to side. Impossible for that strap to stay tight. By the way. This is the only time I have seen a strap/chain on any equipment. Ever. So what would you do? This guy and his team are unapproachable for sure.

 

[BigBlue1]

Clearly, we all enjoy this thread. But here is a question for you all. What would you do if you knew someone towed incorrectly/unsafely every day? Let's just say I know someone that has a business. Concrete contractor. Equipment always beat to heII. Constantly hauling mini excavator and a track type skid steer. I've witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of times towing without a strap/chain. Latest offense, flatbed trailer (no sides) with an 8 inch bed of sand on the deck. Mini excavator parked on top of that. One worn out large ratchet strap over the tracks, side to side. Impossible for that strap to stay tight. By the way. This is the only time I have seen a strap/chain on any equipment. Ever. So what would you do? This guy and his team are unapproachable for sure.

If you don't think he would respond to friendly advice then report him to to local PD or highway patrol commercial division and they can set him straight with appropriate financial pressure. That's an actual safety risk to someone other than the operator so a valid reason to get attention to it. Not like riding in the bucket of a boom truck...

 

[two_bit_score]

Clearly, we all enjoy this thread. But here is a question for you all. What would you do if you knew someone towed incorrectly/unsafely every day? Let's just say I know someone that has a business. Concrete contractor. Equipment always beat to heII. Constantly hauling mini excavator and a track type skid steer. I've witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of times towing without a strap/chain. Latest offense, flatbed trailer (no sides) with an 8 inch bed of sand on the deck. Mini excavator parked on top of that. One worn out large ratchet strap over the tracks, side to side. Impossible for that strap to stay tight. By the way. This is the only time I have seen a strap/chain on any equipment. Ever. So what would you do? This guy and his team are unapproachable for sure.

If you don't think he would respond to friendly advice then report him to to local PD or highway patrol commercial division and they can set him straight with appropriate financial pressure. That's an actual safety risk to someone other than the operator so a valid reason to get attention to it. Not like riding in the bucket of a boom truck...

I agree with BB1 - drop a dime on him.

TBS

 

[mrmikey]

If you don't think he would respond to friendly advice then report him to to local PD or highway patrol commercial division and they can set him straight with appropriate financial pressure. That's an actual safety risk to someone other than the operator so a valid reason to get attention to it.

Yup, without a doubt. Around here our VTI guys would be over that like a soup sandwich and rightfully so.
Hers a couple of pics that they've pulled over:
This was actually going down the road, how'd you like to get one of those puppies thru the windshield:

4.37M (14.3') high, 2,100KG (4,600lbs) over on the steers, 2,200KG (4,900 lbs) on the tandem drives not to mention the straps holding down the scrap.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's a tough one. I don't like to encourage the Nanny State. And I don't think we should all strive to live in a bubble wrapped world. My thinking is that he has (obviously) not met with disaster despite this report of his wild and crazy safety infractions. Makes we wonder a bit.

It's kind of funny, because I know a guy like that, that the DOT doesn't bother. They could write him up for a hundred infractions, but don't seem to want to bother. BUT, they bother the guy that is clean, and sharp, for some stupid infraction. It's almost as if they just want to levy a little additional tax on the guy that looks like he can afford it.

 

[BigBlue1]

It's a tough one. I don't like to encourage the Nanny State. And I don't think we should all strive to live in a bubble wrapped world. My thinking is that he has (obviously) not met with disaster despite this report of his wild and crazy safety infractions. Makes we wonder a bit.

I don't interpret it like that. Nanny state is government protecting you from your own (often minor) bad decisions. Responsible enforcement is protecting others from your egregiously bad decisions.

 

[DavesTractor]

I don't interpret it like that. Nanny state is government protecting you from your own (often minor) bad decisions. Responsible enforcement is protecting others from your egregiously bad decisions.

Well said BigBlue1.

 

[MechE1]

Where I'm at, the local and county PD do not have much training on safely towing (son in law is LEO in the town we reside and self admitted lack of knowledge). They also do not have scales. State boys do, but I'm guessing this guy doesn't ever get close to the interstate. I've heard of neighboring counties pulling over for length and weight for general pick up towing checks, but I've never heard of it here in this county/city. Always eyeballing the tandem dump truck chock full of busted up concrete. The truck is old, but tagged for this year. Assuming he cannot get tags unless the truck was inspected so that is less of a concern. Thanks for the input. I always had the attitude of non-reporting and he'll get caught eventually, but the sand deal a week ago was just too much for me to ignore.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just watch your own motives. Some people will be attracted to any situation that can give them the slightest bit of power over another.

I still think that if an idividual did horribly dangerous things on a regular basis, it would catch up to him pretty quickly if not law enforcment.

 

[Fallon]

Just watch your own motives. Some people will be attracted to any situation that can give them the slightest bit of power over another.

I still think that if an idividual did horribly dangerous things on a regular basis, it would catch up to him pretty quickly if not law enforcment.

The problem there is who pays the price for the idiots negligence? I could care less if it was him. However if he's towing on public roads is more likely to be me, my family or some unsuspecting innocent member of the public.

The laws were originally put there to protect others & to a lesser degree protect people from themselves. They may have been subverted into power grabs or revenue streams, but almost all are there for legitimate public safety reasons.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Probably something not mentioned. Some people are just luckier than others. My Dad always did things on the edge. He once brought some heavy machine here, with a (12 tinner) boat trailer, and a tongue extension held together with a tiny 1/4" bolt! But, nothing bad will ever happen to him.

 

[mikegt4]

Apparently this guy has already hauled something wrong.

 

[Doofy]

Apparently this guy has already hauled something wrong.

Ouch! I'd hate to bark my shin on THAT!

 

[lilranch2001]

Apparently this guy has already hauled something wrong.

Looks like he backed into something

 

[California]

From Harbor Freight?

 

[TMGT]

Looks like he backed into something

Or some one rear ended his trailer, either way that's a pretty light duty setup.

 

[cqaigy2]

Just remember how many people have been struck by lightning next time you think about going outside.

And how many people buy a lottery ticket vs how many win.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Clearly, we all enjoy this thread. But here is a question for you all. What would you do if you knew someone towed incorrectly/unsafely every day? Let's just say I know someone that has a business. Concrete contractor. Equipment always beat to heII. Constantly hauling mini excavator and a track type skid steer. I've witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of times towing without a strap/chain. Latest offense, flatbed trailer (no sides) with an 8 inch bed of sand on the deck. Mini excavator parked on top of that. One worn out large ratchet strap over the tracks, side to side. Impossible for that strap to stay tight. By the way. This is the only time I have seen a strap/chain on any equipment. Ever. So what would you do? This guy and his team are unapproachable for sure.

I look at stuff like this, as my ability to sleep at night. I agree with others on the nanny state, I myself make decisions on doing things not as safe as the should. When I do that however if I mess up it is me that would get hurt. Anyway.

If this really bothered me, I would take some pictures, write something up, and either give or send it to the owner. The best approach would be to talk to the guy, know matter how had it is. I would not do it anonymously. I hate it when people do that. If the owner is a jerk, that is his problem. I would go as far as to tell him if it was not corrected you would send it to the highway patrol. If the highway patrol choose to do nothing it is there problem. If after the highway patrol talks to him he does nothing it is his problem. I would then move on and sleep at night.

Most people are reasonable, a lot myself included would appreciate you going to them first before going to the police. Even though they do not show it at the time.

I have been on both sides of this, afterwards I felt better with them coming to me first or me going to them.

 

[Rock Crawler]

My buddy who drives and hauls totally illegally every day would throw that note away and tell you to go insert a long cylindrical object into your colon. He cares not at all of your laws and regulations.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

My buddy who drives and hauls totally illegally every day would throw that note away and tell you to go insert a long cylindrical object into your colon. He cares not at all of your laws and regulations.

Seriously you think that is ok? They are not MY laws.

All I was trying to do is respond nicely to MechE1's request. I think his request was worded appropriately and did fit in with the implied context of this post. Personally responses worded the way yours is well could be toned down a bit and is one of the reasons why i choose not to respond or post much on this form. It is tough to word, type things as to not offend someone, Especially when typing is your second language. It does seem that the uncalled for seems to have increased as of late on this form.

Did you offend me NO, you did not. I maybe could pick a better word than offend, it is the best one I can think of What I am saying is WE(myself included) may want to pick what we type(say) a little more carefully if we want people to participate more in this form.