Another 1st. Rolling with 16 pulling 43k.

[quillcom]

So I blew a tire on the trailer. No biggy right, just get it fixed at your next stop. Happens at least once a year right?

Only this time the darn thread wrapped itself around the axle real good. So much so that it destroyed the hub.

And I was only 13 miles away from my delivery. That was the good part. So the mechanics who were an hour away, after the first one realized the hub was no good ( I did not know) they sent another guy to tie up the bare axle to the other one

We were wondering if this was legal but dispatch nor the techs knew.

So they secured the axle and they followed me to my delivery. I have certainly never seen another truck do that. It was on a state highway and I was doing 55mph.

It was the two rear passenger duals that were missing.

 

[Electric Chicken]

I think you're always legal if you're under the weight of the remaining tires and wheels.

 

[quillcom]

I think you're always legal if you're under the weight of the remaining tires and wheels.

I looked it up but still found nothing . A FedEx guy saw me and told me it was illegal but I was not sure where he was from.

 

[Electric Chicken]

I looked it up but still found nothing . A FedEx guy saw me and told me it was illegal but I was not sure where he was from.

I believe it's a case of "no law against it therefore it's legal."

Not that it's expressly allowed in the regulations.

Each of my drive tires is rated for 5675lbs when paired in duals, so each dual hub is 11,350lbs. Times 2 for the one axle and it's 22,700lbs just for the one axle. Add the second axle you're totalling 45,400lbs. If it's loaded legal max at 34k for that axle group then you can be missing two tires Because 6 out of 8 tires is 34,050 carrying capacity.

 

[quillcom]

Tell you what. At first they wanted me to take that trailer like that all the way back to the yard., but they initially said they would follow me. But then they told me they couldn't follow me.

So I said lets keep it here at receiving, you guys come and get it tomorrow I'm bobtailing out of here.

They agreed .

Not chancing going through the scales.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Tell you what. At first they wanted me to take that trailer like that all the way back to the yard., but they initially said they would follow me. But then they told me they couldn't follow me.

So I said lets keep it here at receiving, you guys come and get it tomorrow I'm bobtailing out of here.

They agreed .

Not chancing going through the scales.

Yeah I wouldn't either. I'd just run it the last couple miles to get to my destination instead of sitting on the road. Same as I did for that hub that one time. It got hot and cooked but I got enough new grease in it to limp to the customer a few miles away. Was way faster than road service.

I've limped blown tires too.

I probably wouldn't be bothered by sitting along the shoulder so much if I had a sleeper to chill out in while I wait. But it's hell in a day cab.

 

[quillcom]

Have you ever seen that before though?

The mechanic following me when I was loaded got nervous when I took a left turn. That trailer was leaning pretty good he thought I might lose it.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Have you ever seen that before though?

The mechanic following me when I was loaded got nervous when I took a left turn. That trailer was leaning pretty good he thought I might lose it.

I saw a flatbed with a chained up hub sitting at a rest stop in PA. Probably others too.

 

[Rigjockey]

I had something similar but not as bad. I blew a trailer tire, outside tire. the trailer was loaded but only around 2,000 Lbs.
The boss's son came out with the tire spoons, and we peeled that tire off and carried on to unload and reload at the same place.
Sure, we got a lot of looks and people honking and pointing but there was nothing illegal about having a bare outside rim.
I have done the same on a lift axle with a super single. Even better because that axle was raised and not in use.

 

[Duck]

So I blew a tire on the trailer. No biggy right, just get it fixed at your next stop. Happens at least once a year right?

Only this time the darn thread wrapped itself around the axle real good. So much so that it destroyed the hub.

And I was only 13 miles away from my delivery. That was the good part. So the mechanics who were an hour away, after the first one realized the hub was no good ( I did not know) they sent another guy to tie up the bare axle to the other one

We were wondering if this was legal but dispatch nor the techs knew.

So they secured the axle and they followed me to my delivery. I have certainly never seen another truck do that. It was on a state highway and I was doing 55mph.

It was the two rear passenger duals that were missing.

I had a rear left hub let go in the middle of South Dakota once. I'd just picked it up via relay in Rapid City and it made it almost to Murdo before it let go.

It was just before midnight, so I just parked it at Murdo and called the boss in the morning.

A mechanic they summoned from Pierre came down and chained it up so it could be limped back to the shop in N/W Iowa.

But the trailer was loaded. According to my guesstimate, the remaining hub on the left side was carrying close to 17,000 lbs and it's rated for less than 10k.

I refused to pull it.

There was a trailer shop like 20 miles further east, so I went there.

They said it would take them a few days to fix it, but had the facilities to unload my trailer and reload it into another trailer.

My idea was to have someone bring me an empty from the yard, only like 200 miles away, and document the breaking of the seal and the transloading and the reason for it, using my phone.

Then I would either bobtail to the yard or pull the broken one to the yard empty.

Boss didn't like that idea.

I said I ain't gonna pull it with the remaining hub carrying nearly twice it's rated capacity when its failure would almost definitely cause a rollover accident.

So they sent a RETIRED driver who does local work for them merely as an excuse to get away from his nagging wife.

He came out in the company minivan and drove it to the yard in Iowa at 50 mph while I followed him in the minivan, keeping an eye on the remaining hub. We also stopped & checked it's temperature every 50 miles or so.

At the yard in Iowa they swapped out the whole "buggy" or "bogie", whatever they call the tandems when they're not on a trailer. And the load made it to Virginia on time.

 

[quillcom]

I have done the same on a lift axle with a super single. Even better because that axle was raised and not in use.

Yeah I was thinking about those lift axles. Only in my case only one side was "lifted", lol.

But have you seen that though with an axle tied up like that?

 

[quillcom]

I said I ain't gonna pull it with the remaining hub carrying nearly twice it's rated capacity when its failure would almost definitely cause a rollover accident.

Yep. Your situation almost mirrors mine. If it was not for the fact the it was only 13 more miles to go from the 80 mi trip I probably would have refused to pull it also.

Just those 13 miles the tech following me thought I might roll on the one turn I did.

I will never forget I almost witnessed a rollover right in front of me on the interstate a few years back. I was only like three truck lengths behind it. And it was like the driver did not even realize it because after it righted itself there were no brake lights or slowing down whatsoever.

 

[Uncle Birchy]

So I blew a tire on the trailer. No biggy right, just get it fixed at your next stop. Happens at least once a year right?

Only this time the darn thread wrapped itself around the axle real good. So much so that it destroyed the hub.

And I was only 13 miles away from my delivery. That was the good part. So the mechanics who were an hour away, after the first one realized the hub was no good ( I did not know) they sent another guy to tie up the bare axle to the other one

We were wondering if this was legal but dispatch nor the techs knew.

So they secured the axle and they followed me to my delivery. I have certainly never seen another truck do that. It was on a state highway and I was doing 55mph.

It was the two rear passenger duals that were missing.

Ya work a good company not the kind ya stick a tooth pick and bubble gum in a leaky air line because that hadda be there tommorrow.

Keep that job ya doing Really Good

If I had a better "Track Record" I could get those Good Jobs.

But I am a freaking "Moron" I like the "Adveture" just living off the seat of my pants

 

[quillcom]

But I am a freaking "Moron" I like the "Adveture" just living off the seat of my pants

Stop it. Don't say that.
Good to hear from you though. What are you up to nowadays. Last I heard you were a forklift driver or something?

 

[Uncle Birchy]

Stop it. Don't say that.
Good to hear from you though. What are you up to nowadays. Last I heard you were a forklift driver or something?

I still driving bus weekends and working at the grocery store.

Im parking lot patrol.

The boss once said people come in here looking for carts and I pushed em all back inside the store.

Those people though used just grab one in the parking lot.

I smoke weed on break & pretend Im a Freight Train.

Ya only supposed push 4/5 carts together.

I go gather them up I make train horn sounds too the Union Paciffic coming by.

I also chase shoplifters.

Now Im not supposed to "Touch Em" just keep an eyeball on then until the Cops get here

 

[Duck]

I will never forget I almost witnessed a rollover right in front of me on the interstate a few years back. I was only like three truck lengths behind it. And it was like the driver did not even realize it because after it righted itself there were no brake lights or slowing down whatsoever.

I almost witnessed a rollover once, in my side mirror, idling in 1st gear through a parking lot behind the McDonald's in Gilman, IL.

I was pulling doubles, and my rear wagon looked like it was about to tip over when it's wheels fell into one of the giant canyons in the gravel lot.

 

[Uncle Birchy]

I still driving bus weekends and working at the grocery store.

Im parking lot patrol.

The boss once said people come in here looking for carts and I pushed em all back inside the store.

Those people though used just grab one in the parking lot.

I smoke weed on break & pretend Im a Freight Train.

Ya only supposed push 4/5 carts together.

I go gather them up I make train horn sounds too the Union Paciffic coming by.

I also chase shoplifters.

Now Im not supposed to "Touch Em" just keep an eyeball on then until the Cops get here

Ive lost 15/20 pound since I started at the Piggly Wiggly.

Burned out 2/3 pairs of shoes too..

Ya know why because Im out there and "Moving" all the time..

Now the pay aint very great but everbody knows me I gotta Family there too

 

[Uncle Birchy]

Behind the grocery store is Welfare Apatments

After dark I go back there "Recover" our Shopping Carts outta the apartments.

Now the lady supervisor she dont like me being out there after dark.

She dont like me out on the cold wind & blowimg snow

So she had me on a laddee squgee the windows had me stocking shelves inside.

Now the Boss asked her ya learned ya lesson yet.

This guys a a WILD ANIMAL and I hired him do the Parking Lot

 

[Uncle Birchy]

I wanna go down slow..

oh oh oh oh

 

[Uncle Birchy]

Id really love upgrade my akills from piggly wiggly parking lot to the Truckstops.

Ya be safe driver Uncle Birchy chase all the bums outta the parking lots.

Uncle Birchy "Pee-Lot" Party Row Patrol.

I was thinking they could give me a pick up truck too and I empty all the trash cans at the fuel pumps.

I see some crack heads bothering our "Paying" Customers I go run em down