God damn Semi-trucks with snow on their roof... Cousin got in an accident

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Steve

Lifer
May 2, 2004
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Doesn't seem too hard to build a truck roof cleaner, basically a short 'tunnel' just a few feet long with a wide, rotating brush from the top to scrape it off. Can be added to existing truck stops.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: sm8000
Doesn't seem too hard to build a truck roof cleaner, basically a short 'tunnel' just a few feet long with a wide, rotating brush from the top to scrape it off. Can be added to existing truck stops.

yes, but again...it all costs. Plus, what happens when you are DRIVING to those. Maybe we should put them in every 20 miles at taxpayer expense.

The other thing to realize is that they ARE responsible for this, but they aren't getting paid unless the wheels are turning.

It's a catch 22, we want them to remove the ice, but we don't want to pay for that. Maybe we should make a law that as a truck gets on the freeway, the car behind them has to pull over and pressurewash the ice off the top of their truck?

As for the whole "pressurewasher for each truck" solution....can you imaging climing an icy ladder, fighting an icy hose, and spraying liquid in sub zero temps?

As much as possible, I think folks SHOULD remove ice/snow from vehicles (and I do...if I lose visiblity the chances of my hitting a deer go WAY up). The reality is that it's not as feasible to just drop a law into place.
 

Agentbolt

Diamond Member
Jul 9, 2004
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yes, but again...it all costs. Plus, what happens when you are DRIVING to those

Snow's not going to accumulate while you're driving, chumley. Too much wind for it to stay on there.

A scraper at each truck stop would cost comparatively NOTHING. 18 wheelers are a uniform height, installing some kind of brush system at each stop for ever truck would be simple to build and maintain. When you consider how many trucks are on the road a 1000 of these things would be a drop in the bucket, monetarily speaking.

Of course, no one's going to spring for them now, but when (not if) someone gets decapitated from one of these huge chunks of ice and somebody gets sued for 50 million dollars, you better believe they'll install them then.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: Agentbolt
yes, but again...it all costs. Plus, what happens when you are DRIVING to those

Snow's not going to accumulate while you're driving, chumley. Too much wind for it to stay on there.

A scraper at each truck stop would cost comparatively NOTHING. 18 wheelers are a uniform height, installing some kind of brush system at each stop for ever truck would be simple to build and maintain. When you consider how many trucks are on the road a 1000 of these things would be a drop in the bucket, monetarily speaking.

Of course, no one's going to spring for them now, but when (not if) someone gets decapitated from one of these huge chunks of ice and somebody gets sued for 50 million dollars, you better believe they'll install them then.

I wasn't saying it would accumulate when driving, my thought was while it's sitting outside and someone sleeps, but I would guess you just park yours in the garage?


You would need well over 1000 of these...and trucks are NOT all a uniform hight. Not to mention, Uhaul's wouldn't work, nor would smaller trucks, what about hook trucks that change containers.....It's not like there is a solution in place, nor a solution ready to drop into place, nor money to pay for that solution.
 

Number1

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
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I would assume that most ?responsible? people who take the time to remove ?all? the snow off their cars before driving also speed on occasion. (Probably to make up for the time they spent removing ?all? the snow off their cars and then speeding in hazardous winter driving conditions)

Speeding is much more dangerous then snow on a car. Countless people die every day due to speeding. So what is more irresponsible, speedng or leaving snow on the car? I say speeding is a more repreensible activity.

So, to the people who remove "ALL" the snow off their cars every time , good for you, but don't lecture others because they don't because god knows, you're not perfect either.

People who live in glass houses should not throw rocks.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: Number1
I would assume that most ?responsible? people who take the time to remove ?all? the snow off their cars before driving also speed on occasion. (Probably to make up for the time they spent removing ?all? the snow off their cars and then speeding in hazardous winter driving conditions)

Speeding is much more dangerous then snow on a car. Countless people die every day due to speeding. So what is more irresponsible, speedng or leaving snow on the car? I say speeding is a more repreensible activity.

So, to the people who remove "ALL" the snow off their cars every time , good for you, but don't lecture others because they don't because god knows, you're not perfect either.

People who live in glass houses should not throw rocks.

actually....

no, I don't speed either. On a 25 mile drive (which I take to work) I can speed and gain maybe 5 minutes overall...is a fine worth that? no...when it snows, I trudge out to the car early to start it and scrape it...I usually get the wife's too, so she doesn't have to before leaving (and we have a huge one to get the top of the minivan she drives)
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Originally posted by: MrWizzard
That?s sad, hope she is ok.

But in defense of the truck driver.

1. It's highly unlikely that he knew the ice fell off. My grandpa was a truck driver and was rearened by a VW Bug, took the guys head off, he didn't even realize it until a motorist pulled next to him to tell him a car was stuck under the back of his truck. The beds weigh a ton don't communicate what is going on to the driver very well.

2. If he had just pulled a long haul the ice may have built up while driving and there is nothing he could have done to prevent it or know about it, he was just doing his job.

That being said if he did know about it and decided to ignore the danger. THAT is bad.

I don't think anyone is blaming the trucker for not stopping...because you're right, he probably didn't realize what happened...however, the trucker is responsible for keeping his roof clear of ice...there's no defense there, he was simply lazy...it's just like if he was carrying logs and one of the logs came off, damaging another vehicle. The trucker would be responsible...same here...

There is a difference between an act of god, such as weather and an item like a log which is secured by human and must checked to ensure securement is still, uhhh, secure... :D

Drivers are ABSOLUTELY responsible for load securement. As for snow/ice removal from roofs, I spent 18 months (2 winters) driving long haul in the eastern 1/2 of the country. I've NEVER seen any driver clean the rook of the trailer or any kind of mechanical device to do the same.
 

getbush

Golden Member
Jan 19, 2001
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VirginiaDonkey I think you need to look up the difference between a "fun debate" and just arguing for the sake of being a douchebag. There are some subtle differences there that I don't believe you're aware of.

Here's a random pic of my street with mine and my gf's cars. Mine was covered in snow the same way hers was that morning, but then I had to go somewhere. Notice the general lack of snow on the vehicle. It isn't that difficult.
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?

Maybe they should use a shovel and a ladder, MacGyver?


Many trailers aren't designed to support a person walking up there....

Of course, we could just either retrofit or scrap all the current trailers and put deicers on the top, but I don't want to hear your whining when your twinkies go up in price.

If they can't support a person up there, then I don't think they should have a couple hundred lbs of ice up there either.

The ice and snow are spread out across the entire surface area. Two little feet placed in one small area is more pounds per square inch. Trailer skins are not very thick. The sides can warp and rattle in a strong wind.
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
Originally posted by: TrukinDave
Hello

Im not defending either side, Just voice an opinion.

I drove a truck for 25 years, (0) tickets

There is a law that covers ice, snow or whatever that comes off a vehicle in certain states. If this causes an accident or property damage you are liable in those states.

But just understand when you are at a truckstop, Toll plaze, rest area an so on.. And you are parked at night and it starts snowing, How do you expect drivers to get on top of A 13'6 Trailer to remove ice and snow? The roofs on the trailers are made of metal or fiberglass. If you start trying to break ice off the roof of a trailer with a Fiberglass roof. You are going to damage the roof. Then more danger kicks in, Once a roof either metal or Fiberglass gets a hole in it and its an enclosed trailer, That can cause the whole entire roof to peel off going down the road.

A very good point, but as for the states that DO issue tickets , the truckers obviously get them off somehow. I'm not against you or anything, I'm just saying there must be a way to get it off. I mean, a $250 ticket vs. a couple thousand dollars in damage to the car behind you... it's a lose lose situation, so why wouldn't you clean it off? Truckers obviously clean it in the states where it's illegal. How? I have no idea.

I seriously doubt any drivers clean off their trailers. Anywhere.

I wonder what OSHA would have to say about a driver walking up there without a safety harness or anything to keep them safe.
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: Agentbolt
yes, but again...it all costs. Plus, what happens when you are DRIVING to those

Snow's not going to accumulate while you're driving, chumley. Too much wind for it to stay on there.

A scraper at each truck stop would cost comparatively NOTHING. 18 wheelers are a uniform height, installing some kind of brush system at each stop for ever truck would be simple to build and maintain. When you consider how many trucks are on the road a 1000 of these things would be a drop in the bucket, monetarily speaking.

Of course, no one's going to spring for them now, but when (not if) someone gets decapitated from one of these huge chunks of ice and somebody gets sued for 50 million dollars, you better believe they'll install them then.

Incorrect. Trailer heights range from 12'6" to 14'.

If you get some scratch together, it sounds like a service ripe for capitalizing on. Scales for weighing the tractor/trailer cost $8 per weigh, plus $1 per reweigh if you need to adjust your axles to comply with weight limits. Charge $10 per 'brush off' and the driver will front it, but the companies will reimburse them. Just expect EVERYTHING you buy to cost more!
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
Originally posted by: TrukinDave
I can answer that

If they are close to a Truck wash. They have the means to get on top and powerwash the ice off the truck with a de-icer solution. But sometimes like in Mass, DC, MD, PA, NY, Alot of the eastern and Northeastern states its hard to find a truckstop or a Truck Wash facility. If the snow is a powder and its done snowing, Snow can blow off a truck in 20-30 minutes.

Alright, well using a little bit of my brain... here's what I've come up with. Why don't truckers keep their own powerwasher with them with de-icer solution? Someone mentioned a while back in this thread to have a ladder hang off the side of the truck somehow, that way you would have no problem power washing the top of your truck. Maybe even have something that heats the roof of the trucks so you wouldn't even have to worry about it. Just thinking.

How would you carry a power washer to the top of the trailer? Could be as high as 14' to get up there. Power washers are like 50 pounds and up. Water supply for said power washer?
 

getbush

Golden Member
Jan 19, 2001
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You know, there was a time when cars didn't have seat belts either. If enough of these incidents occur, you will see new or more regulations.

No one said it would be entirely simple, but when it comes down to it it's removing snow from a flat surface that happens to be 14 feet in the air. It won't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to get it off there if/when it becomes common practice.
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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I had some more thoughts whilst in the shower. Thinking time ya know?

First, it's great no one was hurt after this incident.

Second, this a general statement, not for the OP's relative or anyone. Just everyone. There is way too much tailgating (and tailgating's twin brother; cutting off) of semis by 4 wheelers. A safe following distance is 3-5 seconds or more. Regardless of traffic conditions. It should be more when traffic is heavy. Of course other people are going to fill the gap. Keep the gap between you and the car ahead at all times. No matter what.

I don't care if you have ever had a semi right on your ass. I'm speaking in general terms. There are thousand and thousands of drivers with millions of miles of accident and ticket free experience. There are also thousands of dumbasses who got slammed through a 6 week "training" course that consisted of his trainer sleeping for 8 hours, then taking over at the wheel while the trainee slept his 8 hours. Rinse repeat. These are problems within the industry. Those are the drivers you should avoid when encountered. The next time you see a driver do something nice, how about a call to their safety department. Say something positive. A google search will likely turn up the company's website or at least a phone book entry. This would take you 10 minutes after you get to a computer.

Ever had a truck drift into your lane? It's very possible they were avoiding a hazard in the road that would be a whole lot worse that moving into your 12' or wider lane. It's not always "TRUCK DRIVER DRIFTED INTO ME AND TRIED TO KILL MY FAMILY."

Try to have a little respect for the lifestyle. Most drivers are not home but 100 days a year or less. All so you can have stuff to buy. It's not an easy life and when cars are tailgating or cutting off the trucks, crashes happen. Say a truck is in the process of slowing from 40 to 10 mph for an all lane slowdown. As he's reaching 20 mph, a car darts into his lane (signal (or that wonderful "half signal" I used to see so much) or not) and slams on the brakes because they need to be one more lane over and the only opening in traffic is coming up. BAM. Now an "EVIL TRUCK DRIVER" has rear ended my Acura. I would wager that 7 or 8 out of 10 news stories about this exact crash never mention the car and its behavior. And I would win. It's always the truck following too closely.

Just think.
Take 5 more minutes.
Watch your surroundings.
Pass a truck as quickly and as safely as you can. Don't hang out halfway down the trailer for 30 seconds.
Don't cut them off. Plan ahead. If you need to exit, don't be in the effing left lane with 500 feet before your exit and all lanes are full. You can always double back. ALWAYS. If you don't you may tie up everyone else for your crash and ruin some driver's 18 year clean driving record.
 

TrukinDave

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2005
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A scraper at each truck stop would cost comparatively NOTHING. 18 wheelers are a uniform height, installing some kind of brush system at each stop for ever truck would be simple to build and maintain. When you consider how many trucks are on the road a 1000 of these things would be a drop in the bucket, monetarily speaking.

Thats Actually incorrect:

Straight trucks, Flatbeds, Oversize loads, And other trucks are different in how tall they are, 85% of the tractor Trailers out there is 13'6 But there are shorter and taller ones.
Also tire size plays a role in it as well.. Plus if its Air ride equipped the Air bags may be overinflated or underinflated that also will change the Height of a Trailer
 

getbush

Golden Member
Jan 19, 2001
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While that's true, how hard would really be to make this hypothetical scraper adjustable for height? Not very. It's a non-issue.
 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: getbush
While that's true, how hard would really be to make this hypothetical scraper adjustable for height? Not very. It's a non-issue.

Neither I nor TrukinDave are contending that the varying height issue negates the need or the actual use for/of a device. Just pointing out more apparent ignorance from the general motoring public. It seems to run rampant when discussing trucking.
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: cliftonite
Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
"But he should know that he had 10 inches of snow on his roof."

and that's his fault how?


Do you clean all the snow off your car before you drive?......... Didn't think so!

I do and I take care to clean all of it off the roof to avoid these situations.

And my Honda civic does not have a large area to accumulate dangerous amounts of ice.
 

Doggiedog

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
12,780
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Originally posted by: fallenangel99
I didn't read all of the replies to see where the accident happened, but in NJ, its illegal to have snow on your roof. You can get a ticket for it.

Yes. In NJ its the law to clean the snow and ice off of your car. It was posted on the electronic signs everywhere last weekend. Still, people don't clean off their cars.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
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Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
Jeff7: of course you follow along with the flock

and crosshairs, it's only a hazard if it comes off and causes damage/injury

not one person has posted a link that states " it is against the law to not clean the hood/roof/trunk along with the windshield/windows. No one here is getting owned but the flock .

Just drink the Kool-Aid and get it over with

In many states (New Jersey for one) it is illegal not to clean ice & snow off of your vehicle, not simply becasuse it obstructs vision but because it creates a hazard for other drivers when it flies off.

It happens however the in Connecticut where I live there is no law specifically requiring snow to be cleaned off of a truck or car, that has no bearing on how I feel about people who don't do it though.

 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
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Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
Originally posted by: deerslayer
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?


I was wondering the same thing. I would love to watch a trucker cleaning the ice off the top of his trailer.


invention time

big car wash type affair at the depot. like a bridge type structure loaded with big fans that blow hot air across the bridge and the parpets, then it just moves down the length of the truck melting the ice and snow off the truck

it could employ pressure washers that use a de-icer mix, or hot water to blast stubborn chunks off.

humm what about OTR drivers who never stop except for pickup and delivery? your system would totally snarl the trucking industry when it snows for something (ice flying off a trailers roof) and causing injury. oh trailer heights are not the same.
 

Steve

Lifer
May 2, 2004
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www.chicagopipeband.com
Heat-related cleaning solutions wouldn't be good for refrigerator trucks.


My idea of the rotating brush scraper is meant to include varying heights. Think of the big one that comes down on the hood of your car in a car wash, and does the hood, windshield, roof and rear window and trunklid.