Trucking Accidents...

Be safe out there everyone... I work in hospitality and am about ready to quit and seriously considering trucking. I've only ever seen truck accidents on television from the vantage of the new chopper, but the other night I'm on my way home and got to regrettably see one in person. Where Irving, TX gives way to Farmers Branch and Dallas along highway 635 I came over a rise and saw all the fire engines so I knew it had to be a bad accident but didn't know what exactly was involved (they had the digital signs signalling pretty far back on the highway to let us know to slow down and be ready). It was something like 1am and there was no traffic, but as I scooted on by at a very slow speed similar to everyone else; you could see a slew of fire engines, police cars and what looked like a trailer on its side partly in the grass. Then got to the head of things and when I passed the last fire engine I let out an "oh my God" which as someone who's not an emotional person is saying something. They were righting the tractor and the entire frame was twisted up and the body of the tractor, the driver/passenger area, looked as if it had just been folded ninety degrees flat nearly on the frame. The whole tractor looked like a cheese grater had been taken to it, I'm sure it flipped and slid down the highway before sliding down the grass median coming to a stop a little ways before it would've slid off the overpass to a cross street below How someone could've been inside when the accident happened I don't know. I don't know what caused the wreck, but all the rest of the way home I kept hoping whoever had been in that cab would be okay. So whether or not I get into trucking, and I probably will, stay safe out there folks and know some of us four wheelers are pulling for you if you ever God forbid take a spill.

Be safe out there everyone... I work in hospitality and am about ready to quit and seriously considering trucking. I've only ever seen truck accidents on television from the vantage of the new chopper, but the other night I'm on my way home and got to regrettably see one in person. Where Irving, TX gives way to Farmers Branch and Dallas along highway 635 I came over a rise and saw all the fire engines so I knew it had to be a bad accident but didn't know what exactly was involved (they had the digital signs signalling pretty far back on the highway to let us know to slow down and be ready). It was something like 1am and there was no traffic, but as I scooted on by at a very slow speed similar to everyone else; you could see a slew of fire engines, police cars and what looked like a trailer on its side partly in the grass. Then got to the head of things and when I passed the last fire engine I let out an "oh my God" which as someone who's not an emotional person is saying something. They were righting the tractor and the entire frame was twisted up and the body of the tractor, the driver/passenger area, looked as if it had just been folded ninety degrees flat nearly on the frame. The whole tractor looked like a cheese grater had been taken to it, I'm sure it flipped and slid down the highway before sliding down the grass median coming to a stop a little ways before it would've slid off the overpass to a cross street below How someone could've been inside when the accident happened I don't know. I don't know what caused the wreck, but all the rest of the way home I kept hoping whoever had been in that cab would be okay. So whether or not I get into trucking, and I probably will, stay safe out there folks and know some of us four wheelers are pulling for you if you ever God forbid take a spill.

Thanks, Kevin; and best wishes with YOUR future, out there! I spent MANY years in hospitality, myself. Thanks for that, too!

I've been sending MY GUY out on the roads for 20 years... and about a DOZEN of my dearly beloved pals; many right from here, on TT.

I know the area 'a bit' .. that you mention; sure couldn't find ANYTHING on the news. I'll let YOU peruse, and share which one it might be?!? Seeing an accident as a passerby might not even 'appear' how it appears, at first. IDK!

Thanks for wishing the guys and gals WITH THE 18 wheels well; our families appreciate it, indubitably !

~ Anne ~

ps: Irving/Dallas near 635 ~ 18 wheeler accident/incident.

pps: Read Brett's book, for free: .. It'll help your 'considering' immensely! Best to ya, man!

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Hopefully everyone involved is going to be ok. Things happen very quickly on the road and the damage can be very significant when a truck is involved. With the amount of nasty wrecks I've seen in the past month (in dry roads!) It's setting up to be a very interesting winter.

Fun side note had 1 of 2 high speed chases involving stolen escalades in the area fly by me yesterday. Was getting ready to pass when I seen it coming. Ultimately decided to wait for them to pass rather than get involved by doing something unexpected. Had 1 trooper right behind him with another 6 about 30 seconds back playing catch up.

If you don't mind my asking Anne, if you aren't in hospitality anymore what made you get out? I'm thinking of getting out for a number of reasons which I can tell of you'd like but I'm curious about your decisions?

If you don't mind my asking Anne, if you aren't in hospitality anymore what made you get out? I'm thinking of getting out for a number of reasons which I can tell of you'd like but I'm curious about your decisions?

I know you were asking Anne, but after 35 years in almost every aspect of the restaurant from owner/chef down I am pretty much done with John Q. Public myself. Spent months lurking and reading all the diaries, blogs and sage advice to make sure this is something I could/would/should do. It is not an easy lifestyle. But I have faith in myself, am learning everyday (mostly from mistakes) and know that I am committed. First 1k miles under my belt and ready for more.

Best of luck and be sure to use all the resources here that the "Welcome Mom" has posted!

If you don't mind my asking Anne, if you aren't in hospitality anymore what made you get out? I'm thinking of getting out for a number of reasons which I can tell of you'd like but I'm curious about your decisions?

The toll it took on my body. Shoulders needing cortisone shots to function, carpal tunnel, foot problems (still untreated but tolerated,) to name a few. Thirty years took its toll. Bartending, serving, managing . . . ENOUGH! LoL.

The grand finale? I began disliking PEOPLE. Passionately!!!

Hope that helps; what's YOUR story?!?

~ Anne ~

If you don't mind my asking Anne, if you aren't in hospitality anymore what made you get out? I'm thinking of getting out for a number of reasons which I can tell of you'd like but I'm curious about your decisions?

The toll it took on my body. Shoulders needing cortisone shots to function, carpal tunnel, foot problems (still untreated but tolerated,) to name a few. Thirty years took its toll. Bartending, serving, managing . . . ENOUGH! LoL.

The grand finale? I began disliking PEOPLE. Passionately!!!

Hope that helps; what's YOUR story?!?

~ Anne ~

Never would have “diagnosed” you as someone who dislikes people. Welcome Mom, YOU can’t dislike people. ;) Just saying.

If you don't mind my asking Anne, if you aren't in hospitality anymore what made you get out? I'm thinking of getting out for a number of reasons which I can tell of you'd like but I'm curious about your decisions?

The toll it took on my body. Shoulders needing cortisone shots to function, carpal tunnel, foot problems (still untreated but tolerated,) to name a few. Thirty years took its toll. Bartending, serving, managing . . . ENOUGH! LoL.

The grand finale? I began disliking PEOPLE. Passionately!!!

Hope that helps; what's YOUR story?!?

~ Anne ~

Never would have “diagnosed” you as someone who dislikes people. Welcome Mom, YOU can’t dislike people. ;) Just saying.

Ya got me, Kerry.

I should've said PEOPLE in PERSON, hahahaha!

~ Anne ~

ps: I LOVE you guys.... (on HERE, LoL!)

Mark!!! I think we talked already, thanks for chiming in... Yeah I imagine it's not a lifestyle for everyone, but I've never been afraid of working. It can also be a nice way to see the country and make some bank. Plus hospitality which I'm in now is just getting to me and by accounts I'm told, I could stand to more or less be my own daily boss and double my income.

Thanks for the response Anne... I'm certainly not that bodily bad, but I just did recently have surgery on my ankle for bone spurs. Interestingly enough, it would hurt like no other at work but at home it was tolerable if not just fine. But coming up on thirty years, I'm tired of everything being my fault, getting treated well by some but like a servant if not like crap by others... And don't get me started on the pay. I do alright, but the savings aren't really where I'd like them, I see all the advertisements and what I've been told by those I've talked to in the trucking industry and the pay has the potential to be double what I'm making now. I want things, I want to prepare for my old age (just turned 49 on 11/19) and don't want to be my father who's elderly and dependent upon my brother and myself as he has nothing financial what so ever. If it wasn't for my brother and I to supplement his Social Security he'd be homeless. I see trucking as being my own daily boss, for the travel and sure for the money to have my quality of life today and through savings a quality future.