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Several weeks ago on Huntsville TV Trooper Sommerville stated that cars were agressivly driving

around and near Semi-Trucks. I would challenge Trooper Sommerville to take off his uniform and get into a normal everyday family car and drive to Muscle Shoals from Huntsville and back 5 or 6

days in a row and see just who is agressive. By the time he has done this, looking at Grills in his rear view mirrors he might just see who is agressive. .  They are targeting the wrong drivers.

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The reason I suggested he be naked, if they see him or her in uniform will behave. I had one run me off the road near Town Creek and just as he did a Staate Trooper came over the high spot and the guy slowed down. I got his truck number and business name off the side of the truck and called his job. The boss man said they had a lot of problems from this guy. I doubt they said anything to him. He was speeding, weaving on the road and tail-gating. Really dangerous. I could go on and on , but there is no point. The trucking industry has a powergful Lobby we are screwed if we attempt to enforce the same laws on them that applies to the general population.

I was in my POV coming home one afternoon after working 1st Shift patrol. I met a loaded gravel truck on my side of the road as I entered a curve. When he swerved to get back into his lane he showered my NEW truck with pea gravel, cracking my windshield. I went to the gravel pit, ID'd the truck, time and direction of travel. The yard foreman asked if I could 'prove' it was his truck.... Did I mention that I was in UNIFORM?????

 

In another instance I was off-duty, sitting at a traffic light waiting for it to turn 'green'. When it did I began to enter the intersection, only to have yet another gravel truck blow the light.  I followed him to a service station where he pulled in to fuel up.  I approached him, ID'd myself and called dispatch and requested a patrol car at my location.  I advised him of what he did, asked for his D.L. and proceeded to write him a citation.  His 'excuse'? 'There wasn't anyone coming.....' Jeeeezzzz.........

 

 

Dog, I have had this exact same experience (well other than following them and being a uniformed officer and all) and had to replace a windshield before.

My question is this:  Is there not a law that requires trucks loaded with gravel or other loose material to be tarped?

It is especially bad here in B'ham on the interstate and this is something I have wondered about.

Perhaps as a LEO you could answer my question.  Thanks.

rocky,

 

Each state has laws governing such, but usually pertain to the HEIGHTH of the load inside the bed of the truck. Usually, loads such as gravel cannot be more than 'X-inches' (varies by state) above the top of the sideboards. Some states dictate that all such loads MUST be 'tarped', while others don't have any such restrictions, or fail to enforce them, usually due to ignorance of the laws on the part of the LEOs.

 

 

Thanks for the info Dog.  This is a safety issue that could be easily fixed if either existing laws were adherred to or enforced or if there are no tarp requirements could be enacted.  I wonder how many accidents have been caused due to this problem?  MAN, for those who complain about traffic and drivers in the good ol Shoals, go down I-65 at malfunction junction during rush hour or try to navigate Hwy 280 through construction.  I'll never say a discouraging word about Cox Creek Pkwy AGAIN!

Originally Posted by rocky:

Thanks for the info Dog.  This is a safety issue that could be easily fixed if either existing laws were adherred to or enforced or if there are no tarp requirements could be enacted.  I wonder how many accidents have been caused due to this problem?  MAN, for those who complain about traffic and drivers in the good ol Shoals, go down I-65 at malfunction junction during rush hour or try to navigate Hwy 280 through construction.  I'll never say a discouraging word about Cox Creek Pkwy AGAIN!

280 at all let alone construction. It is worth it for Superior Grill though.

I drive OTR. I challange ANY of you to go on the road with me for a week to observe the unbelievable amount of STUPIDITY by POV's I have to deal with on the daily basis...

 

Not sayin' there's not morons driving big rigs. Google "CSA 2010"....this new system of rating drivers and companies will CERTAINLY thin the herd over the next few years.

 

But people in cars? Sheesh....they just can't seem to comprehend the fact that an 80,000 pound vehicle can squish them like a little cockroach.

Originally Posted by rocky:

Dog, I have had this exact same experience (well other than following them and being a uniformed officer and all) and had to replace a windshield before.

My question is this:  Is there not a law that requires trucks loaded with gravel or other loose material to be tarped?

It is especially bad here in B'ham on the interstate and this is something I have wondered about.

Perhaps as a LEO you could answer my question.  Thanks.


Most of those guys have a warning on the tailgate letting you know they're not responsible if you're following closer than 300 feet.

Originally Posted by RoadHawg:
Originally Posted by rocky:

Dog, I have had this exact same experience (well other than following them and being a uniformed officer and all) and had to replace a windshield before.

My question is this:  Is there not a law that requires trucks loaded with gravel or other loose material to be tarped?

It is especially bad here in B'ham on the interstate and this is something I have wondered about.

Perhaps as a LEO you could answer my question.  Thanks.


Most of those guys have a warning on the tailgate letting you know they're not responsible if you're following closer than 300 feet.

*******

 

Which means NOTHING! One can not absolve oneself of liability by simply posting such a notice.  And even if you were over 300 feet back and they spilled stuff that damaged your vehicle, they would likely deny responsibility anyway.

 

Most, if not all states have laws regulating the confinement of materials on trucks freighting such stuff as rock, gravel, rubble, brick and other  earthen or demolition materials that can damage property and cause injury.  Here is a complete listing of such state laws:

 

http://www.pulltarps.com/State...uck_Tarping_Laws.htm

Originally Posted by dogsoldier0513:
Originally Posted by RoadHawg:
 

Most of those guys have a warning on the tailgate letting you know they're not responsible if you're following closer than 300 feet.

TN has a law that requires semis be AT LEAST 300 feet apart. Most ignore it....and most LEOs, unless they are Motor Carrier Enforcement officers, are ignorant of that law.

 

I'm willing to bet that not all MCE officers are aware of it either....

 

I got a level two inspection in MD a couple years ago and after she had checked most of the normal points the officer asks ME if she'd covered everything......huh?

 

Originally Posted by dogsoldier0513:
Originally Posted by RoadHawg:
 

Most of those guys have a warning on the tailgate letting you know they're not responsible if you're following closer than 300 feet.

TN has a law that requires semis be AT LEAST 300 feet apart. Most ignore it....and most LEOs, unless they are Motor Carrier Enforcement officers, are ignorant of that law.

 

 

300 feet!!!   That warning would need 10 foot high letters before I could even read it!

Originally Posted by Mr.Dittohead:

It doesnt matter what some sign says...if it falls off their truck, they're responsible, whether its 10 feet or 300.

 

 

 

At 300ft the chance of something falling off and striking your windshield lessen CONSIDERABLY....

 

Shouldn't even take a sign for anyone with even a smidgeon of common sense couldn't figure out for themselves. Then again...you gotta have warnings on plastic bags for those that think you're supposed to put them over their heads too...

 

Originally Posted by RoadHawg:

I drive OTR. I challange ANY of you to go on the road with me for a week to observe the unbelievable amount of STUPIDITY by POV's I have to deal with on the daily basis...

 

Not sayin' there's not morons driving big rigs. Google "CSA 2010"....this new system of rating drivers and companies will CERTAINLY thin the herd over the next few years.

 

But people in cars? Sheesh....they just can't seem to comprehend the fact that an 80,000 pound vehicle can squish them like a little cockroach.


I thought you drove a bus.

Originally Posted by ReleaseTheElephant:
Originally Posted by dogsoldier0513:
Originally Posted by RoadHawg:
 

Most of those guys have a warning on the tailgate letting you know they're not responsible if you're following closer than 300 feet.

TN has a law that requires semis be AT LEAST 300 feet apart. Most ignore it....and most LEOs, unless they are Motor Carrier Enforcement officers, are ignorant of that law.

 

 

300 feet!!!   That warning would need 10 foot high letters before I could even read it!

TN's '300 foot' law is to allow room for vehicles attempting to pass semis adequate room to merge back into their correct lane of travel. Unfortunately, too may semi drivers want to 'draft' the semi in front of them, thus preventing passing motorists from safely passing them. However, this 'opens up' a 'window of opportunity' for an observant LEO to cite such semi drivers for 'following too cloaely'. Such violations don't look good on a semi driver's MVR.

Originally Posted by rocky:

Thanks for the info Dog.  This is a safety issue that could be easily fixed if either existing laws were adherred to or enforced or if there are no tarp requirements could be enacted.  I wonder how many accidents have been caused due to this problem?  MAN, for those who complain about traffic and drivers in the good ol Shoals, go down I-65 at malfunction junction during rush hour or try to navigate Hwy 280 through construction.  I'll never say a discouraging word about Cox Creek Pkwy AGAIN!

Another bad thing about Bham is they can't or don't get stuff off the roads quickly.  Things like tire carcasses and such.  There was a time when it seemed like I couldnt drive to Bham without cracking a windshield (I went through four or five in a year that year).  And they werent falling off of trucks, it was rocks thrown up off the road by cars ahead of me (both my lane and in the lane next to mine) and (believe it or not) cars on the other side of the median.

 

Thats the problem with that 300 ft 'rule' the truck drivers like to throw in your face.  Your crap is still on the road when you dont keep it in your truck.  The interstates down there are hazardous enough without you dropping little pebbles all over the road for every car that drives over them to throw up.  GET A TARP!

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