30, 000 Pounds Of Bananas

If you haven’t heard of this song by Harry Chaplin, google it for a listen. You will probably have to google the lyrics to understand the story. This happened to a new driver in 1965. Based on a true story.

Michael recovered a 40,000 pound load of bananas last year (a bit of a circus chain of events) and he had not heard about the song. When I searched for it I found that the family was upset that Chapin made a song about the tragic event.

The road in Scranton PA where this actually occurred is prohibited to trucks.

He smoked his brakes… happened with an older truck not equipped with an engine brake.

Good grief! Could there be a more cheerfully morbid song?

A few things I noticed....

1. He didn't check his bills because bananas are usually 40 to 42,000 pounds. He would have had a claim for shortage anyway

2. External distraction of thinking of a woman will kill.

3. He wasn't reading signs.

4. My trainee did the same thing near GTowns Walmart DC. Followed the GPS to "Gordon Mountain Road" ... "Gordon Mountain avenue" and "Happy Mountain Way". Notice the common words... mountain.

And people wonder why drivers dont want to train anymore 😂

Not only do I know the song, but I met him a couple of times. Once at the local Carvel.

Good grief! Could there be a more cheerfully morbid song?

Yeppers;

The Day they Closed the Factory Down.

W.OLD ~ But you can travel on ten thousand miles and still say where you are.

Why are we even here, discussing this ?! Matches MY mood and monotony.

~ Anne ~

ps: The 1st one is said to be in reference to Ohio; don't doubt it.

Not only do I know the song, but I met him a couple of times. Once at the local Carvel.

Which ONE ?!?!? Nice. I MISS Carvel !

~ Anne ~

The road in Scranton PA where this actually occurred is prohibited to trucks.

He smoked his brakes… happened with an older truck not equipped with an engine brake.

Dang. Sheesh. Well, there's MY cheer for the nite, thanks, BK !

~ Anne ~

ps: RAINY, good observations. Very. Only YOU!

Not only do I know the song, but I met him a couple of times. Once at the local Carvel.

Intresting that you met Harry Chapin? Must have been long ago since he's been gone 41 years.

Ironically he died in 1981 in a fiery crash with a tractor trailer.

Good grief! Could there be a more cheerfully morbid song?

Yeppers;

The Day they Closed the Factory Down.

W.OLD ~ But you can travel on ten thousand miles and still say where you are.

Why are we even here, discussing this ?! Matches MY mood and monotony.

~ Anne ~

ps: The 1st one is said to be in reference to Ohio; don't doubt it.

Not only do I know the song, but I met him a couple of times. Once at the local Carvel.

Which ONE ?!?!? Nice. I MISS Carvel !

~ Anne ~

The road in Scranton PA where this actually occurred is prohibited to trucks.

He smoked his brakes… happened with an older truck not equipped with an engine brake.

Dang. Sheesh. Well, there's MY cheer for the nite, thanks, BK !

~ Anne ~

ps: RAINY, good observations. Very. Only YOU!

Anne, I’m glad I was able to help, lol. And Kearsey, G-Town, thanks for pointing out that lessons can be learned from every accident as a warning to other drivers.

I never listened to the song at the beginning of Smokey & the Bandit until I came.out trucking. Then I was like "oh... I know Monteagle! Tackled that with my permit during week 1" 😂