On the way home from class this 18 wheelers trailer looks like it jumps up a foot in the air and starts swaying left and right.. im like I hit the brakes and next thing I now this 3 foot chunk of tire is coming at the max... I knew better than to swerve and cause a pile up so I just left the max out there to take the hit (felt like watchin ur kid get his first shiner or something) Thankfully it hit the lower bumper and only smashed my right marker light... Ill order another one tonight prob but man that was scary for a sec... thought id tell a quick story before I go waste gobs of money on Valentines dinner/drinks etc...

 

That sucks, thats why you gotta be careful when your getting road head, pay close attention to the flying tires

 

LOL to ^^^

as for the tire, that sucks - did you get any info of the semi/trailer that had the tire blow - could try to get them to pay for it since they are more than likely self insured or could file a claim.

 

Feel your pain... Got hit by one of those large chunks too on hwy... Busted a headlight, scratched up bumper, hood, fender on passenger side... Twaz $1500 damage...

 

Did you get the truck's lisense plate or anything? Seems like you had control of the situation, and could have seen it.

 

As tractor trailer drivers, we can tell you, yes, we are self-insured (way too much a month because of frivolous law suits for fender benders, or idiots jamming on brakes after pulling in front of us), but we also pay a 'heavy use road tax'- (for you accountants form 2290). That covers all of this. Contact your local Department of Transportation and have them pay for damage to your car. We spent $951 in January to renew our 2290, and we pay this annually, and the IRS makes this money hands over fists. I'd like to know that is actually being spent where they say it goes. Most people don't think to contact DOT and get money for the damage. So technically, we are throwing money at the IRS because we are being nice?!? Also, as truck drivers, we rather you collect from a pot of funds given to the IRS than try to collect from our insurance and watch that go up even more. Our monthy insurance now is more than most 6th gen Maxima payments. (Not meant rudely, just irritated that it is so easy to look at us and think we are rolling banks, inevitably, we do pay through the nose for our insurance). We have perfect driving records. So please, contact your DOT, make them give you some of the money we have already paid out. If you need any assitance, pm and I'll help dig up some info for you.

 

Honestly, I didnt have my glasses on so I can see the road fine but not the small print of a plate (just a bit too fuzzy) plus i wouldnt really file a claim against the driver for a $20 set or blinker lights, accidents happen and aslong as it doest jack up the car im ok... I will however take money from the govt in any legal moral way I can so do you think i could file the claim with the DOT without having the plate?

 

I got a nice dent in my hood from a piece of tire debris off a semi last spring, wonder if it is too late to claim? Looks like it can be fixed by one of those suction cup pullers but there is still a chip in the paint where it bends.

 

Damn that suck. I couldnt imagine having something flying toward me while I'm driving like that. At least you didnt panic and make things worst than what they were.

 

I often see the treads of the big rigs in the road, and have had many close calls myself just missing them. I assume the treads come off because the tires are re-treads? Correct? If so, I have always wondered why they are allowed to be used since flying tread seems to be a problem and a safety issue for other drivers.

 

I often see the treads of the big rigs in the road, and have had many close calls myself just missing them. I assume the treads come off because the tires are re-treads? Correct?


Yes, you are correct, they are re-treads. We chose not to use them on the trailer at all. We use the Michellin xza-2's. It is usually cheaper to retread than to purchase new tires. Much cheaper.

 

I would like to see the govt paying out, at least that's how they justify taking it from us. So go ahead and try to collect for your $20 set of blinkers, and whatever else may have been marred by this. Getting the plate may help, usually they (law enforcement) are too lazy or apathetical to do anything about it. They view it as menial since the damage is minor and it will cost more to work the case than to put it back in your court.

Thanks for letting me vent. Go get Deal!

 

That sucks..

This is precisely why I dont drive beside or right near 18 wheelers, specifically to avoid getting hit by a blown tire. If I get stuck beside one I'll either speed up or slow down so I'm not in hitting range

 

while that is a good defensive move, may I suggest that :
1) being hit by a blown tire might be the least of your concerns being right beside a t-tlr. You are sitting in their blind spot. If they were to sverve, change lanes...then what?

2)runaway tires are the most dangerous as the come off these large trucks when they are travelling in the OPPOSITE direction. The momentum/size/weight of one of these coming at you is often fatal! This can happen in city or highway situations - can you sverve to avoid fast enough - without running over the sidewalk,pedestrians, light poles?

4myswe - care to elaborate?

 

Sure! Would I care to elaborate about what specifically?

 

I thought that, you as a trucker would either confirm or bash my above statements...

 

Max, I don't think we're talking about an entire wheel. Quite possibly we're talking about a re-tread that peeled off a tire that went flat. And that doesn't carry enough mass and momentum to be fatal. Unless you're on a motorcycle and you wipe out and then get ran over by a car and then fall off a cliff. It could happen! In the extremely bizarre event that an entire wheel and tire fell off, yeah, you probably want your Will filled out for that one.

4MySwee... Does this money apply to all States that you know of? I was wondering if it would also apply to someone running into a ladder or couch in the road. (Or any other item, whether or no it was dropped by a tractor trailer.)

 

hey do u have any pics of the damage?

 

Not sure.....That is a really good question. It would be worth pressuring the DOT for the money though. If you think about all the trucks that run the US, ALL of us pay $550 a year for the 2290 form I was talking about. We paid more our first year owning our new truck because they pro-rate your last few months plus a year in advance, and then hit you with penalties and fees. Very big heaping pile of cow dung. Just another defunct government ran system.

 

Never thought about one coming at me in the opposite direction.

Blind spots are definately an issue. Also, when folks jump in front of us and nail their brakes, it takes us literally a football field to stop, and that's when we are going 50mph. One thing a lot of people also don't know, (I didn't before we started driving) is that, for a truck to get up to 35mph from a dead stop, takes us 9 gears. The 10th is merely for cruising. Everytime we have to come to a stop, we have to double shift for 9 gears only to reach 35mph.
Food for thought, and thanks for letting me be me! Y'all rock.....

 

That and flying rocks....

 

i'd be thankful if didn't do any real damage...

 

damn samething happen to me bro, but i didnt stop i got the trucks plates and ins... worked it out

 

dam that sucks, i know last time my friend ran over a tire, his lip, ypipe, and cat got destroyed

 

i personally try to stay as far away from trailers as I can, they have like a 5-10 foot blind spot behind them and beside them. If I do have to be close to one I either stay far enough behind them, so I can see the driver in the side mirror(I see him, he can see me). If I am beside them, I either get into another lane or find another way not to be in that blind spot

 

I read about a cop that was killed down south by a runaway tire from the opposite lane... came right through the windshield. That really sucks

No pic.. its a busted clear blinker and some smudge ill polish out, not too bad

 

When I am pulling the boat I get the same thing. People see something huge coming down the road and just go for it, I have never understood that. My boat is 10,000 pounds and acceleration and braking are quite a bit slower. When people pull out you just have to hope they are giving it the gas and you dont plow into their bumper.

 

so, the brakes aren't powerful enough to lock up the tires?

Also, I thought that blind spots were only an issue if a truck has only one mirror on each side... Most of you guys have at least two.

 

Brakes will lock and can do it very easily. When they do that, our trailers will swing out from under us. (nasty situation).

Our tractor is 81 feet long, blind spots are still a possibility. We have three mirrors on each side of our tractor, and if you are sitting by our bunk, you are unseen to us.
As well, if you are on our tail, you are unseen to us.

 

What do you mean 'so the brakes aren't powerful enough to lock up tires'? Yes, they are. But when you lock up the tires, it's a mechanical free-for-all. No Good, like being on ice or hydroplaning.
Forgive me, I am not getting what you are getting at? Was there a confusing statement I made? Did I clear everything up all right?

 

I was trying to find out the reason why it takes that long to bring the truck to a stop. I know that locking up the brakes is never a good idea, especially when you are towing a trailer. lol
I thought that the cause of a long stopping distance were relatively weak brakes, but now I'm confused again because I see that it's not an issue.

 

The stopping distance is so great because we have to try and stop fast without locking them. Locking trailer brakes is incredbily easy. When we are loaded, we are close to 80,000 lbs. That takes a long stopping distance.


It's also easy to lock them on just the tractor when we have no trailer. The trailer actually aids in stopping us. So, I was merely stating that jumping in front of a tractor/tractor trailer combo wasn't a great idea. I apologize for the confusion.

 

Lets rephrase this to, Dont jump out in front of something big traveling down the road. Chances are it probably isnt going to stop very fast. Wait for it to pass then pull out.