Truck Stuck On Grade Crossing!! Train Coming!!! EEEEEK!!!!!

What is the best way to avoid this situation? What is the best action to take should you end up in this situation? In the video, it looks like the forward drive axle is not even engaged observing the smoke coming off only the rear tires of the truck tractor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nx4JimRFKY

I could be wrong, I never pulled those types of trailers. But I think you are in general supposed to avoid railroad crossings in trailers that sit that low. The only way I could see to avoid it, is to do more in-depth trip planning if you have a trailer sitting that low.

This is a classic case of structural gauge and loading gauge not fitting one another like a glove. The railroad industry designs railroad infrastructure and rail vehicles to fit one another precisely. The motor freight transportation industry and the civil engineers of America don't all seem to be on the same page: to make trucks, trailers and roads all fit one another in perfect harmony. The railroads experience the joy of having both the roads and the trains in house: all under one roof. The rail carriers own both the trains and the tracks. There is good order where there are uniform standards.

Did you see your shadow last week Todd?

What is the best way to avoid this situation?

Proper trip planning and reading all signs. Every rail road crossing like this has signs warning the truck drivers about it. This is the kind of stuff that separates the dangerous truck drivers from the professionals. The professionals are diligent and safe. Basically they pay attention to the details.

What is the best action to take should you end up in this situation?

Disconnect from the trailer fast and get yourself and your tractor out of harms way. If there's no time for that then jump from the tractor and run for your life.

There is good order where there are uniform standards.

Precisely. That is why you are "an experienced driver" who spends most of his day sitting on the couch.You've been unable to rise to the standards for driving a big truck.

No way driving a couch! This is the look of fitness no matter what handle it goes by

The driver in that video looked like a young pup. Perhaps not seasoned enough to try handling lowboys. Maybe?? My experience has been driving large Army diesel trucks and repairing them as a mechanic/service tech by MOS. Never any lowboy driving experience.

No way driving a couch! This is the look of fitness no matter what handle it goes by

Definitely Fittin his meals in....and mine, yours and a few others too.

Classic example of a trailer trying to go over tracks when it's ill-advised. Drivers of these trucks are typically trained to avoid crossing tracks for exactly this reason. Just as it has already been pointed out, trip-planning avoids this. But, it's not just an issue for a lowboy trailer. A driver with A Hazmat load has to follow a precise route to avoid roads that forbid Hazmat. Not all Hazmat is equal. Some roads, especially tunnels, have restrictions on certain types of Hazmat. Oversize and over-dimension loads have to follow precise routes to avoid getting caught in a compromising situation. A situation like that truck getting stuck on the tracks can happen when a driver decides to follow GPS routing without checking the route for potential issues. It can happen when a driver misses a turn for the pre-planned route and decides to follow GPS for rerouting without stopping to find a reroute that doesn't lead to the vehicle and load being compromised. Trip-planning is not optional. It's not simply a way to see where the good places to fuel and park are located. Trip-planning is an essential part of the job in order to make sure that the destination is reached safely and without unnecessary delay.

You post comments and questions that create good conversations, but sometimes I wonder what your real aim is.

Classic example of a trailer trying to go over tracks when it's ill-advised. Drivers of these trucks are typically trained to avoid crossing tracks for exactly this reason. Just as it has already been pointed out, trip-planning avoids this. But, it's not just an issue for a lowboy trailer. A driver with A Hazmat load has to follow a precise route to avoid roads that forbid Hazmat. Not all Hazmat is equal. Some roads, especially tunnels, have restrictions on certain types of Hazmat. Oversize and over-dimension loads have to follow precise routes to avoid getting caught in a compromising situation. A situation like that truck getting stuck on the tracks can happen when a driver decides to follow GPS routing without checking the route for potential issues. It can happen when a driver misses a turn for the pre-planned route and decides to follow GPS for rerouting without stopping to find a reroute that doesn't lead to the vehicle and load being compromised. Trip-planning is not optional. It's not simply a way to see where the good places to fuel and park are located. Trip-planning is an essential part of the job in order to make sure that the destination is reached safely and without unnecessary delay.

You post comments and questions that create good conversations, but sometimes I wonder what your real aim is.

My real aim on the gun range or archery range is to always hit bullseye, of course. Going hunting, I aim to harvest game lawfully, safely and ethically for the freezer but I never thought of a social media site such as this one as a target range for taking aim at something. But I digress.

I'm just here for fun and to talk some old-fashioned American shop. I'm not here to make enemies. One of my hobbies is to study things and learn things. I thought the truck's getting hung up on the tracks was a serious matter and that it might interest some here. I ran into that video purely by accident while searching for something else altogether.

Speaking of my "large frame" as some have commented here, I'm glad to say at least I don't smoke, drink or do dope. I have a perfect driving record, no felonies and an honorable discharge for military service. I'm not perfect. I'm just human. The more you get to know me, you might find I'm not all that bad.