Lost my windshield today

[Big_Dave]

Just before 4 pm, I was headed back to the quarry for another load. I had just gone past the end of the 4 lane and was n/b on MN Hwy 22 between Mankato and St. Peter MN. 3 of our other trucks were behind me.....2 of them within a 1/4 mile and the 3rd about 1 mile back. The 2 closest to me were still on the 4 lane and saw the whole thing happen.

A light blue truck pulling an aluminum end dump went sailing past me going s/b with a red cab/black dump box tandem with a couple 'pusher axles' was right on his azz.

It was a beautiful day here.......70 degrees, low humidity and NO wind to speak of, so I had my window down, enjoying the afternoon sun and weather.

Suddenly my windshield 'exploded' into a large assortment of 'spider webs' and large chunks of glass missing (large chips), and my left arm and face was being peppered with rock/gravel. Thankfully the inner layer of the windshield didn't let go and the spray of rocks/gravel didn't cave the entire Volvo 'picture window' into my lap. :wow:

As I regained my composure, I grabbed the CB mic and hollered for the other guys to get a description, company name and unit number of the truck.

One of the guys came back with part of the info and the other got the rest :cheers: ..........along with telling me that the end gate wasn't locked shut and just 'flapping in the breeze' and the load was just 'pouring out'. :wow: :wtf:

I got to the quarry and I noticed that a car had followed me in, so I walked back to the car. The guy was pissed and claimed that "I" had taken out his windshield and upon closer inspection, the plastic grille also. Then he points at me and says, "You're bleeding". :wtf: I have gotten a small cut on my left cheek between my eye and ear and one on my left bicep....along with a few welts. :wtf:

We talked and I showed him my windshield and he finally figured out that "I" wasn't the culprit. By that time, the two guys that were fairly close behind me rolled in and the 4 of us discussed the whole situation. This car was the third of 4 between me and our next truck behind me. The guy said those other cars made evasive actions but were peppered also. I wish that they would've followed me into the quarry also.........if only to get their info so they could be compensated also 'if' the truck was found.

All said and done, my boss 'found' the company and the truck that did this. He also took a few pics of my windshield. My truck WILL be getting a new windshield soon, compliments of this other company.....and so will the guy with the car. :cheers:

F***ing careless steering wheel holder! :vmad: I want so much to kick this clowns ass! :vmad:

[Kranky 1]

You're a very lucky man, Dave.

If that windshield had let go the rest of the way you could have got a facefull of glass and been permanently blinded, not to mention the possibility of crashing your truck.

Wonder why that driver with the unlocked tailgate couldn't see something going on "back there" in the mirrors?

.

[Joethemechanic]

You're a very lucky man, Dave.

If that windshield had let go the rest of the way you could have got a facefull of glass and been permanently blinded, not to mention the possibility of crashing your truck.

Wonder why that driver with the unlocked tailgate couldn't see something going on "back there" in the mirrors?

.

Radio turned up loud, and texting his GF

[snoope]

Big Dave, Glad you are OK, now "drop kick" that s.o.b. and his company PLUS how the hell did he leave the loading area with gate open;usually when "tamped" down the gate will give and at the very least........leaving any entrance should give the "Bread crumbs' trail.......

S

[Big_Dave]

how the hell did he leave the loading area with gate open;usually when "tamped" down the gate will give and at the very least........leaving any entrance should give the "Bread crumbs' trail.......
Since the truck belongs to a small construction company (a home builder I think), they probably loaded at a building site. Therefore, no scale, no scale master, no nothing.......just the equipment operator and drivers judgement (or lack of).

To be honest, I never saw a thing until my truck and I were pelted with rocks.

[Kranky 1]

Since the truck belongs to a small construction company (a home builder I think), they probably loaded at a building site. Therefore, no scale, no scale master, no nothing.......just the equipment operator and drivers judgement (or lack of).


I still can't believe that driver was that comatose as to not notice that sh*t was dumping out of the gate as the truck was going down the road.

When I'm in a dump truck I'm always looking in the mirrors, and frequently double checking that the air tailgate control is in the closed position.

OCD I guess.

.

[Big_Dave]

Hell Kranky! I do the same thing dragging a belly dump! :wtf:

Sorry to say that while I'm NOT the most professional driver, I try my best to the at least one of the most courtious drivers.

Trust me when I say that I've been the 'focus point' many times after the bossman gets a call from a pissed off citizen. :wtf:

Ever since a couple years ago when I got 'nailed to the wall' for not making a 'complete stop' at a stop sign (with a under-powered Volvo :yikes: ........and yes, it IS possible to stop completely with a auto-shift truck......without pushing the clutch pedal in), I make damn sure to 'watch my back' for observers. These sorry back-stabbing sunsabitches that call my employer for no reason, are among the lowest life forms in todays world.

Rotten bastards!!! :dont_know:

[Rockjockey]

I still can't believe that driver was that comatose as to not notice that sh*t was dumping out of the gate as the truck was going down the road.

There are entirely to many truck drivers who do not know what those shiny things hanging off the truck are for, or how important it is to constantly use them.

[snoope]

RJ,

you "Nailed it".....I still smile when a "Newbie" turns to look out his/her back window while in reverse with a "Dump Bucket".pretty grey steel staring back at them:asking:..

Big Dave,the "office" is now instructed to "beep" a truck if a "bitc& " phone call is made to find our "20" and exactly what/where/when just happened.....We changed to a larger,brighter logo and easier to read #'s for the scale houses and the phone "rings" constantly....:dont_know:...I still get "razzed" about driving to "SLOW" through the EZ-Pass lane:rofl2[1]:

Kranky1, only thing better than an open gate is a "Mario" coming in a site at high speed and their "mud locks" flip on.....ever seen that "look" when a truck starts towards the sky because the load is pinching at the gate but not coming out....twist the gate just a "touch" if only one side is locked and the pressure trys the other side..

I'm showing my age..........EVERYONE ENJOY THEIR WEEKEND........

S

[Kranky 1]

RJ,

you "Nailed it".....I still smile when a "Newbie" turns to look out his/her back window while in reverse with a "Dump Bucket".pretty grey steel staring back at them:asking:..

A few years ago, my niece Heather decided she wanted to learn to drive dump truck, so I let her "practice" on a Mack CH613 tandem I had at the time.

During her first "lesson" I told her, OK, now back up between those piles over there. First thing she did was turn around & try to look out the back window.
When she realized what she had done, the look on her face was priceless.


Big Dave,the "office" is now instructed to "beep" a truck if a "bitc& " phone call is made to find our "20" and exactly what/where/when just happened.....We changed to a larger,brighter logo and easier to read #'s for the scale houses and the phone "rings" constantly....:dont_know:...I still get "razzed" about driving to "SLOW" through the EZ-Pass lane:rofl2[1]:

When I had my trucks I went through that sh*t too, most of it was unjustified, but when the calls were legitimate, the cause was corrected, or in the case of "driver error", I'd have a "fireside chat" with the driver.

My boss gets those calls too, sometimes I hear a message going out on the 2 way about it.


Kranky1, only thing better than an open gate is a "Mario" coming in a site at high speed and their "mud locks" flip on.....ever seen that "look" when a truck starts towards the sky because the load is pinching at the gate but not coming out....twist the gate just a "touch" if only one side is locked and the pressure trys the other side..

I'm showing my age..........EVERYONE ENJOY THEIR WEEKEND........

S

You mean like this?

http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/3940/1292833807065739904S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1292833807065739904xEffAh)

:laugh1::laugh1::laugh1::laugh1:

[The_Governor]

I did that once and it scared me so bad I damn near $h!t myself:bravo:

[Old Guy]

Kranky, when you set it on the tailgate like that you njust bail out and grab your grease gun. You will never have a better chance to grease it without getting dirty.

[tahoetr]

Big Dave,
Glad for most part your ok. I for one, would of made a visit to the guy's employer and showed him, what his driver's carelessness caused.