if i only had a camera

Bird · Jun 3, 2007

Welcome to Tractorbynet, Steve. I've never had a nut come off a hitch ball, but I sure agree about checking them now and then, and my current one has a cotter pin through the stem.

In 1972, we were enroute to Alaska, pulling a 25' travel trailer and the hitch work had all been done by the RV dealer near Chicago. Of course, we had made a few weekend trips, then to Texas, and then on toward Alaska. At one gas stop in Canada, as I was stopping, I told my wife that something's not right because I could feel a tiny bit of surging as I stopped. Sure enough, I found that big nut loose, but it hadn't come off and no damage had been done. But things like that will sure make you a believer in frequently checking everything.

Farmwithjunk · Jun 3, 2007

I've bypassed this thread until just a few minutes ago. A boring rainy/stormy sunday with not much to do so I started reading. And was I ever shocked at the replies of a few....

It never ceases to amaze me how many people simply throw caution to the wind, assume that "it'll never happen to me", and risk life and limb, both their own and that of others who just happen to be sharing the same highway, by neglecting to follow common sense saftey laws.

MAYBE...Just maybe you will get away with it. Good chance you might even get away with it for an entire lifetime. Or not. Involvement in fatal accidents isn't graded on a curve. "Only happened once" isn't an acceptable percentage.

Let's say for just a second you're one of these guys who think it's a waste of time and resources to properly secure a load. Let's say you loose that load and kill another person. Or better yet, let's assume another person looses his load and it lands on YOUR FAMILY. Would you still have that same cavalier attitude as you buried your loved ones? Would the same apply as another family buried their children because of your indifference to the general saftey and well being of the public?

You MIGHT get away with it. People get away with crimes every day. Sure, leaving a load unsecured isn't like making meth. It isn't rape or murder. But an intentional disregard for the saftey of the world around you is just WRONG any way you look at it.

RayH · Jun 3, 2007

Farmwithjunk said:
But an intentinal disregard for the saftey of the world around you is just WRONG any way you look at it.

Heres one I always like to see and I see it way too often, just the other day as a matter of fact.
Compact car, speeding, cutting from lane to lane, weaving, slowing down, speeding up ,braking, speeding up again, cutting other drivers off. I look down from my "traffic observation tower" Frieghtliner, to see this young lady with a cell phone stuck in her ear just jabbering away at someone. She obviously has no idea that anyone else is around her. Thats not the best part, it gets better. theres an infant in the rear seat (at least it was in a car seat). Still not the best part. Wait for it !
Theres a sign in the window that reads "CAUTION, BABY ON BOARD".

Farmwithjunk · Jun 3, 2007

RayH said:
Heres one I always like to see and I see it way too often, just the other day as a matter of fact.
Compact car, speeding, cutting from lane to lane, weaving, slowing down, speeding up ,braking, speeding up again, cutting other drivers off. I look down from my "traffic observation tower" Frieghtliner, to see this young lady with a cell phone stuck in her ear just jabbering away at someone. She obviously has no idea that anyone else is around her. Thats not the best part, it gets better. theres an infant in the rear seat (at least it was in a car seat). Still not the best part. Wait for it !
Theres a sign in the window that reads "CAUTION, BABY ON BOARD".

Agreed 100%

Another irritating traffic hazzard is those cell phone users who plod along at 45mph in 70mph intersate traffic, not paying one earthly bit of attention to anything not directly in front of them, totally oblivious to the fact that their driving is every bit as much a hazzard as those doing 30 mph OVER the speed limit. "Multi-tasking" isn't for everyone.

pennwalk · Jun 3, 2007

TBN is the reason I went out and bought 4 chains and 4 ratchet binders to tie down my little Yanmar tractor. I probably could have gotten away with the good ratchet straps I had but why take a chance.

Have you ever seen a landscaper with his mowers tied down at all? Last year I ran past a landscaper who had lost 2 zero turns up on 278 in Jersey. They were sweeping up the pieces. Chains and binders are cheep!!! Accidents do happen.

Chris

workinallthetime · Jun 3, 2007

pennwalk said:
TBN is the reason I went out and bought 4 chains and 4 ratchet binders to tie down my little Yanmar tractor. I probably could have gotten away with the good ratchet straps I had but why take a chance.

Have you ever seen a landscaper with his mowers tied down at all? Last year I ran past a landscaper who had lost 2 zero turns up on 278 in Jersey. They were sweeping up the pieces. Chains and binders are cheep!!! Accidents do happen.

Chris

easy there killer my ztr zd326 is always secured with 2 grade 70 chains and binders. tools locked in expanded metal box and small pusher straped to the front of the trailer ( no chains there it weghs about 100 lbs).
but i know what you mean i was behind one the other day who was having to drive on the wrong side of the road becase his pushers had rolled to the side of the bed and kept him from getting on his side. tell me why you would take a chance with 1600.00 bucks of honda mowers and not use at least a motorcycle strap?

mjarrels · Jun 4, 2007

My complaint is the folks taking trash to the landfill on Saturday with trash blowing out the back of the truck... road looks like a third world country!

mark

williekioti · Jun 7, 2007

A lot of good stories here, but really boggles the mind is the few that are complaining about reading too many "safety" warnings, stories in the "Safety" forum. I think some are in the wrong forum......

As to the LE perception, it is just that, individual perception and it's amazing how one's perception is skewed according the lense they are peering through. Commercial motor carriers are most definitely scrutinized more closely these days, just ask any trucker. For obvious, immediate safety concerns a regular road trooper will pull over anyone. Motor Carrier inspections have to be performed by those properly trained to do them and most states have specific units to deal with them. Two points on the "perception" that a cop/trooper turns a blind eye to what you see as an obvious safety violation; First, the cop/trooper may have a call with a higher priority as previously stated. Second, how do you know they did not radio another(possibly a commercial motor carrier unit) to deal with the commerial violation? Just something to think about when you observe a scene over the course of a minute or less on the highway. Did you really see/hear everything that went on there while traveling past at XX mph? In the area I live and work I think the CDLs would strenuously disagree with many of you that think they skate while the four wheelers get hammered.

I recall a CDL passenger carrier spending the weekend in the County's grey bar motel for speeding in zone and will probably lose his license/job. Of course he had a bus load of passengers and was going over 100 mph on the interstate. But on the flip side four wheelers are stopped everyday on that same highway for exceeding a 100 mph and almost none of them get locked up, just a little paper reminder that the bear is out there. CDLs are held to a higher standard and receive much higher penalties for violations. It is maddening to see the multitudes of little brains out there on the highways taking safety (our & theirs) for granted and not enough caught, but in my State the enforcement is equally distributed.

RayH · Jun 9, 2007

I agree with you but would like to add alittle more of my perspective.
I think commercial vehicles may get by with more minor violations while driving down the road simply because most officers realize that a seemingly small ticket for improper lane change or going 7 mph over the limit could have major consequences for a CDL holder. I think that commercial operators are hammered a little harder than non commercial operators for major violations because there is usually more at risk with the heavier vehicle. Commercial drivers usually arent bothered by local police officers because local guys ussually dont know too much about commercial regulations. An officer has to really know he has his stuff together to issue citations to commercial drivers because they are most likely going to fight it in court no matter what the cost because its more important to keep that driving record clean when you do it for a living. Many drivers and companies have law offices on retainer specifically for fighting driving related offenses. When DOT trained offices get involved, its usually a different story. They know what they are doing. they've got a much higher conviction rate.

mjarrels · Jun 9, 2007

Was out in the yard yesterday and watched a semi tractor pulling a 53' trailer go by... Duh? This guy MUST be lost? Dinky little back road that I live on can barely handle cars! It was fun watching the large wreaker pull that rig out of the ditch at the end of the road when he had no place to turn.

mark