Bulldozer comes off of trailer, kills 2

[Rockbadchild]

Around here, the binders go around the logs, but do not attach to the trailer.

The logs don't just fall off. However, about 50 years ago I saw the results of a log truck slamming into a solid embankment. It wasn't pretty. The headache rack doesn't help much when the truck stops and 50 tons of logs are still moving.

I cant comment on this for out here I am not sure... and no that's for sure...

 

[CliffordK]

I followed a big rig / car hauler full of junked wrecked vehicles on Interstate 80 a few years ago. Various parts were falling off the wrecked vehicles and then skidding down the freeway in trail. I had to dodge several parts.

After one large chunk of sheet metal flew off the truck I called the Highway Patrol and reported it. At that time the truck was nearing the inspection station entering Nevada.

I've bought salvage vehicles, and hauled some odd loads.

I always spend some time checking that there is nothing loose on a trailer. If a hood is loose, a strap goes over the hood.

Look for loose parts like a seat cushion on a tractor that ordinarily would be held in place with gravity.

I try to get at least 2 straps onto everything in case one fails. And, 2 straps in any direction to hold vehicles.

By the time I leave, it often looks like Spiderman has made a visit.

In a pickup bed, light stuff on the bottom, heavy stuff on top. Be careful of anything that is above the bed sides.

Steel tracks on a steel deck are like ice. You might get by without securing rubber track machines but moving a steel track rig without proper chains is a terrible idea.

Most trailers I use have a wood deck, and for rolling loads, I have the emergency brake on. In gear if possible, and front and back ties. Yet this is a good reminder of also considering side to side movement of a load with metal to metal interface.

For the most part I'm not having major side to side G-forces on my loads.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Also, when they have two cables holding 50k lbs of logs, those cables are usually loose after a mile or so. There is that one loose log that wiggles it's way out and into your lane.

I never seen this... For us driver don't tie up their logs until they get to the pavement, many miles has been driven in the bush road before they get there, I also never seen them loosing a log in a bush road. Many steel cable is being used once they tie it down, still it wouldn't hold in the event of a crash.

 

[CliffordK]

I cant comment on this for out here I am not sure... and no that's for sure..

Attaching one's chains to the stinger or reach would be really bad as everything moves when going around corners.

I'm not quite sure how the bunks deal with going over hills or valleys. Perhaps the only thing that is really not moving with respect to the load is the bottom part of the bunk, and even that may need some qualification of not moving much.

 

[Rockbadchild]

View attachment 2410474

Attaching one's chains to the stinger or reach would be really bad as everything moves when going around corners.

I'm not quite sure how the bunks deal with going over hills or valleys. Perhaps the only thing that is really not moving with respect to the load is the bottom part of the bunk, and even that may need some qualification of not moving much.

ha I see... we don't have these type of trailer... out west yes but not in Ontario

 

[CliffordK]

I never seen this... For us driver don't tie up their logs until they get to the pavement, many miles has been driven in the bush road before they get there, I also never seen them loosing a log in a bush road. Many steel cable is being used once they tie it down, still it wouldn't hold in the event of a crash.

I don't know about the current practice here. But, I am sure my grandfather had chains on the logs at the landing where they were loaded, or not driving more than 100 yards/meters before the chains went on. At that time there were scaling stations (different from weigh stations), and I presume the binders were all checked at the scaling station.

It wasn't uncommon to put long logs on the bottom of the load and short logs on top, so the short logs would need to be secured.

 

[LHF2019]

I've bought salvage vehicles, and hauled some odd loads.

I always spend some time checking that there is nothing loose on a trailer. If a hood is loose, a strap goes over the hood.

Look for loose parts like a seat cushion on a tractor that ordinarily would be held in place with gravity.

I try to get at least 2 straps onto everything in case one fails. And, 2 straps in any direction to hold vehicles.

By the time I leave, it often looks like Spiderman has made a visit.

In a pickup bed, light stuff on the bottom, heavy stuff on top. Be careful of anything that is above the bed sides.



Most trailers I use have a wood deck, and for rolling loads, I have the emergency brake on. In gear if possible, and front and back ties. Yet this is a good reminder of also considering side to side movement of a load with metal to metal interface.

For the most part I'm not having major side to side G-forces on my loads.

I once got complemented on a large load of metal roofing at the scrap yard. Guy said was one of the best loaded loads he had seen.

Found a hood once in my driveway from local guy that strips cars then hauls to scrap yard. Always see him going by with crap waving in the wind.

 

[Renze]

Does not say if it was even secured to trailer

Still some folks only use some 2 ton straps on a 20k bulldozer.

In Germany highway police is very strict nowadays, enforcing new load securing regulations. The rated load of all lines, chains or straps should exceed the weight of the load. They prescribe direction of the lines in detail.

 

[WinterDeere]

One other thing most don't consider is how many heavy loads may be held on the trailer by nothing more than the thin plywood and aluminum skin of a trailer wall. Out of sight, out of mind?

 

[Quaffer]

I'm interested to see the follow-up reports, but fully expect the restraints were either undersized or non-existent. I've seen a few heavy equipment haulers towing totally unsecured excavators and dozers on local roads, thinking gravity will do the job.

I had a contractor who did this all the time with his equipment. "I'm only going a few miles ...."

 

[Renze]

I had a contractor who did this all the time with his equipment. "I'm only going a few miles ...."

On a demolition machine i worked on, i designed rigging points by having them torched in the 2 7/8" deck plates..

The heavy hauler ripped a lashing eye of his 100 ton lowbed when we told him we didnt make those lashing points for looks only and that they were intended to tighten it secure

He ended up hooking two smaller chains towards various lashing eyes on his lowbed, to the big shackle connected to said lashing point on our machine

When we commented "thats not going anywhere" he said "....definately!"

 

[RayIN]

I was taught to set safety chains, or straps as the case dictates, in an X pattern, front and rear on equipment.
This takes into account lateral stress when rounding corners, plus straight pull-front to back, etc.
Strength of chain or straps is dictated by whichever is lighter, load or trailer.
As to hauling a ZTR mower without straps, my little 48" Hustler Z weighs 1,000#, no way I'll attempt to haul it without restraints.

 

[ultrarunner]

Several times on long hauls tires on the towed vehicle have lost air pressure and softened and this is why I check and recheck binders along the way.

Also after anytime I’m away like stopping to eat… had a very nice binder stolen while having lunch with another on the same side with the clip hook not clipped.

 

[can do]

As a now retired trucker, I can say one of the main reasons I called it quits is because of the absolutely disgraceful quality of drivers that are now on the roads and highways.
I work in a mine now and I unload transports that deliver stuff and I have taken pictures of transport coming in with their loads not even secured, transports with pieces falling off on the road while driving, etc. I've sent the pics to our MTO heads, the police, my MP's and they all go ignored. The highways up here are closed at least once a week with wrecks. Unreal.

That's exactly why I got rid of my cdl when I retired after 40 years you get tired of the carnage. The place I use to park my truck use too call these green drivers steering wheel holders; They don't even call them that anymore they simply called cab occupiers, & I'm not saying this to be funny; It use be you could trust your fellow driver beside you our around you, & it's not just truck drivers anymore it's almost everyone around you they hand out licence like postage stamps anymore. Hell there are so many people that don't have a licence or insurance on the roads anymore.

 

[Portuguese Farmer]

As a now retired trucker, I can say one of the main reasons I called it quits is because of the absolutely disgraceful quality of drivers that are now on the roads and highways.
I work in a mine now and I unload transports that deliver stuff and I have taken pictures of transport coming in with their loads not even secured, transports with pieces falling off on the road while driving, etc. I've sent the pics to our MTO heads, the police, my MP's and they all go ignored. The highways up here are closed at least once a week with wrecks. Unreal.

Yep, retired after 41 years, O/O heavy equipment relocation, started going down hill the previous 10 years.