Brakes Just Caught On Fire And Burned Trailer.

I see quite a few red flags with this situation but don't currently have the time to elaborate. No drug test (federally required) including running you through the clearinghouse. Basically no training especially with that weight.

Point blank you're making a decision that has long term ramifications that will negatively impact you and your family. The short commute is nice but is it better than working somewhere you want long term? I have a 45 minute commute that pays $27.50 OT after 40, 4 day work week with brand new equipment on top of all the benefits most companies offer(and then some). I could find something closer but the benefits and pay aren't close to what I'm already making. I promise you there's much better opportunities out there but you'll never get to see those by continuing what you're currently doing. This incident will negatively impact you for a bit, but another in a short amount of time very well may end your career.

I've been thinking about this, too, and I agree with everything Rob T. just typed.

Any owner that puts someone off the street into that equipment, then into situations like this is NOT someone you want to work for. That's high risk AND low pay. These should never go together. Everybody is hiring right now, so taking shortcuts is going to bite you in the long run. Maybe the short run, as your incident illustrates.

One thing I always tell new drivers is Don't Make The News. You're on your way there.

If y'all wanna hear dumb and scary, the National Guard trusts soldiers fresh out of "training" to drive a LET (HEMMT tractor) with a trailer and Paladin to mingle with civilian traffic. No mountain roads, but 70 tons of rubber, metal and diesel is a little concerning no matter what. I don't drive for work anymore, but I'm among the most experienced of those doing it in my state (technically working for the state, not part of normal "soldier" duties) which is terrifying. However, those engine brakes will bring everything to a stop pretty quickly, even on a steep grade without touching the brakes.

I'm thinking about getting back into dirt work, and I have three littles myself so I understand your concerns about OTR. Listen to the advice here, it's solid!

Rob T!!! Thank you so much. Sincerely. I’m gonna keep on fishing for other opportunities. Hopefully, someone will pick me up soon. I think I’m worth it. I think I handled that situation well and was responsible to protect other drivers and myself. It’s yet to be determined but they saying it wasn’t my fault. I’ll keep you all posted about that. I do just want to make an honest living and just be in good hands. I really do enjoy tractor dumpsters, I really do. I wouldn’t mind a flatbed, I guess. My license is precious to me and I really love it. There was a union opportunity for a dump truck but the pay was $23 an hour. I cancelled that interview to Jump on this. I’m pretty sure it was going to be the same deal. This is the third time an employer has just handed me over the keys to the truck. So far this has been the most comfortable to me. The other 2 guys I ran from. ( they had missing mud flaps, the other guy wanted me to drive his truck with no speedometer. I kid you all not) I came across this company they have a pretty big office it all seemed legit. This is all the play by play.

I just received a letter from a company called TQM they are requesting information from FMCSA and clearinghouse. I went ahead and approved the query consent. We will see what they are talking about. I have been sending out so many emails I kinda lose track and the phone calls and emails are overwhelming at this point. I just need something good. I’m not a teenager anymore...lol. Thanks for all your time guys, it really means allot. Seriously.

You asked how the brakes caught fire. How were you using them coming down the mountain? Riding them all the way down?

I have been losing sleep over this actually. Been watching YouTube videos for a few days now. I’m green , but I don’t think I’m a complete moron. I’ve studied enough to know, a little something about truck brakes. I know you want to drive with distance and speed as to not resort to using your service brakes too much.

on my trip there, it’s only 100 miles each way. I basically take I 84 straight down. from the last exit to the destination it’s about .5 miles of mountainous driving, if that. ( I make a right on mountain rd and that leads me into slate hill road, so you can imagine the trip.. lol) i use maximum engine braking and a little stab breaking if needed. I arrived at the quarry no problem. I raised my axles dropped the load, picked up another, weighed and all was good. I pulled out and was feeling good about myself. I’m sure someone would have noticed if I had smoking brakes. No on the way back up it’s all incline pretty much. Which I what I don’t understand. My dad said maybe I didn’t depress the trailer brake in all the way. You know I’m not gonna rule that out. I really hope that wasn’t the case. And it’s something I will be looking out for in the future. (Experience gained +1💡). Either way I’m moving on along and I didn’t notice smoke till about 10-12 miles upon leaving the quarry. I Immediately pulled over to a nice fat shoulder and went to check and I called dispatch and told them I was smoking. I was told to then call the mechanic. The mechanic wasn’t too helpful said maybe a rock got stuck and I blew a tire and that he needed to know what was exactly going on. All the while the smoke is getting kinda worse now. I hung up the phone and then just took matters into my own hands. I started to see flames now so I grab the fire extinguisher till it was empty. it sorta died down, but then it’s like I just ****ed it off. Boom goes one tire. It got worst. So now I’m dialing 911!! I kept dispatch in the loop all the while. And was like this is out of my control now. Fire department is on the way. Boom another tire. I was just really disappointed and just worried. Fire department said it looked like the inside tire blew, because the rim was chewed up. But my this time, tow truck guys and everyone had an opinion. So I’m still waiting to hear back. I don’t know. One guy said it could have been a line or something. I don’t know man. But I’m supposed to call on Monday to see what the deal is. Police wrote up an accident report. So I don’t know how that’s gonna look and reflect on me, going forward. But I really want to drive. I really do like the dump truck outfit. And that’s about all I got to say about that. 🤷🏼‍♂️

You asked how the brakes caught fire. How were you using them coming down the mountain? Riding them all the way down?

I have been losing sleep over this actually. Been watching YouTube videos for a few days now. I’m green , but I don’t think I’m a complete moron. I’ve studied enough to know, a little something about truck brakes. I know you want to drive with distance and speed as to not resort to using your service brakes too much.

on my trip there, it’s only 100 miles each way. I basically take I 84 straight down. from the last exit to the destination it’s about .5 miles of mountainous driving, if that. ( I make a right on mountain rd and that leads me into slate hill road, so you can imagine the trip.. lol) i use maximum engine braking and a little stab breaking if needed. I arrived at the quarry no problem. I raised my axles dropped the load, picked up another, weighed and all was good. I pulled out and was feeling good about myself. I’m sure someone would have noticed if I had smoking brakes. No on the way back up it’s all incline pretty much. Which I what I don’t understand. My dad said maybe I didn’t depress the trailer brake in all the way. You know I’m not gonna rule that out. I really hope that wasn’t the case. And it’s something I will be looking out for in the future. (Experience gained +1💡). Either way I’m moving on along and I didn’t notice smoke till about 10-12 miles upon leaving the quarry. I Immediately pulled over to a nice fat shoulder and went to check and I called dispatch and told them I was smoking. I was told to then call the mechanic. The mechanic wasn’t too helpful said maybe a rock got stuck and I blew a tire and that he needed to know what was exactly going on. All the while the smoke is getting kinda worse now. I hung up the phone and then just took matters into my own hands. I started to see flames now so I grab the fire extinguisher till it was empty. it sorta died down, but then it’s like I just ****ed it off. Boom goes one tire. It got worst. So now I’m dialing 911!! I kept dispatch in the loop all the while. And was like this is out of my control now. Fire department is on the way. Boom another tire. I was just really disappointed and just worried. Fire department said it looked like the inside tire blew, because the rim was chewed up. But my this time, tow truck guys and everyone had an opinion. So I’m still waiting to hear back. I don’t know. One guy said it could have been a line or something. I don’t know man. But I’m supposed to call on Monday to see what the deal is. Police wrote up an accident report. So I don’t know how that’s gonna look and reflect on me, going forward. But I really want to drive. I really do like the dump truck outfit. And that’s about all I got to say about that. 🤷🏼‍♂️

You asked how the brakes caught fire. How were you using them coming down the mountain? Riding them all the way down?

So you were going uphill when it happened?

I’m not aware it’s possible to partially release your brakes. And if your gauges showed air it isn’t a leak not allowing them to fully release. Your gladhand hoses weren’t torn were they?

If he left Mountain Rd to go back to NYC he was going downhill. It's a steep incline down. So steep, that there are signs for trucks to test their brakes before exiting at exit 1. Way too step for an inexperienced driver to be taking at over 100k pounds.

If it started smoking 10-12 miles out, it's possible you didn't push in the trailer air brake at all. Like grumpy says, I don't think it's possible to push it partially. It's possible that there was an air leak you didn't notice or that you burned the brakes going down.

According to my dad it is not possible to partially release the brakes, when you push the button it is all or nothing.

More than likely you either over heated the brakes or you had a bad brake chamber and one brake was dragging causing it to over heat.

I went down at exit 126 Chester, right there. I don’t feel I was riding the brakes. I would stab them just to slow down, as needed. I definitely wasn’t speeding. I use the trucker app and it goes red if you are over the speed limit. I like to drive 10 below the speed limit. Everyone passes me by on the road. It feels good that you know where I was at. Yeah, it’s pretty hilly. Like I said I felt good and was just so disappointed when this happened. It is an automatic maybe I’m underestimating the weight and should have gone slower. I was getting comfy and was doing 5 miles under the speed limit on this go. I was looking forward to bringing back the load to the yard and showing them I could handle it. I did give a few stabs on the service brake before hitting a curve here and there. Trying to play back I think I have a little habit of giving a stab, before hitting any type of curve, especially if I’m not familiar with the road.

If he left Mountain Rd to go back to NYC he was going downhill. It's a steep incline down. So steep, that there are signs for trucks to test their brakes before exiting at exit 1. Way too step for an inexperienced driver to be taking at over 100k pounds.

If it started smoking 10-12 miles out, it's possible you didn't push in the trailer air brake at all. Like grumpy says, I don't think it's possible to push it partially. It's possible that there was an air leak you didn't notice or that you burned the brakes going down.