A Downside of the Boom: Traffic fatalities up (Santa Fe, Plains: school, price)

[Granny Fats]

Another one over the weekend, so sad.

The oil field trucks are so heavy and powerful, and the number of big rigs is also increasing as more and more materials are needed here. A mistake while driving either the big trucks or a regular vehicle has such severe consequences. It's just heartbreaking how many fatalities our area has been having.

Not just here, but wherever you are, keep your eyes peeled and do your very best to think ahead, because these severe consequences of even a moment's inattention or a poor driving choice or bad weather is just too high a price to pay. Keep as safe as you can.

[Westerntraveler]

True

[need4speed2012]

Will do.

[SVTRay]

Keep in mind folks, those big trucks can't stop on a dime like a car or small truck. It wasn't uncommon to have some idiot pass you only to hit the breaks and turn. There is no way I could shut it down in time and with me hauling fuel, swerving wasn't an option either...high roller risk with fluid sloshing side to side. You would think they would cut that crap out around tankers but nope, they drove as if we could stop on a dime.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by SVTRay

Keep in mind folks, those big trucks can't stop on a dime like a car or small truck. It wasn't uncommon to have some idiot pass you only to hit the breaks and turn. There is no way I could shut it down in time and with me hauling fuel, swerving wasn't an option either...high roller risk with fluid sloshing side to side. You would think they would cut that crap out around tankers but nope, they drove as if we could stop on a dime.

I recall hauling meat-on-the hook in Texas in the 1970s. Only a fool would use the highway as a playground around liquid and swinging meat haulers but I'm sure they still do.

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

I recall hauling meat-on-the hook in Texas in the 1970s. Only a fool would use the highway as a playground around liquid and swinging meat haulers but I'm sure they still do.

Oh man, I've heard hauling swinging beef can be rough. The beef gets to swinging and trailers tip over. Do they still transport meet on the hook?

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by SVTRay

Oh man, I've heard hauling swinging beef can be rough. The beef gets to swinging and trailers tip over. Do they still transport meet on the hook?

I really don't know. I quit driving in the 1970s. Back then I pulled 40' Santa Fe Piggback refrigerated containers for mostly Swift and MBP in west Texas and eastern New Mexico.

Pic attached. (That may a 1964 Mack. I can't remember.)

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

I really don't know. I quit driving in the 1970s. Back then I pulled 40' Santa Fe Piggback refrigerated containers for mostly Swift and MBP in west Texas and eastern New Mexico.

Pic attached. (That may a 1964 Mack. I can't remember.)

Ya, I was just wondering seeing how stores receive their meet all cut up in boxes vs hanging beef.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by SVTRay

Ya, I was just wondering seeing how stores receive their meet all cut up in boxes vs hanging beef.

I believe there are still some trucking companies who haul beef on the hook and rail but from it's history, most young truckers I'm sure would probably rather haul wet TNT. It was sort of like pulling a 40,000 pound Mexican jumping bean where the center of gravity could change at the drop of a hat.

At any rate, I survived and it paid my way through school.

BTW, that van the Mack was pulled under was not a refer. I staged that pic the last day I was on the job at the Piggyback yard. I picked the cleanest Santa Fe trailer I could find for the pic and it happened to be a dry van. I think my then 8-year old daughter was up in the cab.