Author	[Modern View]
Hoofer B 09-15-2012 15:06:12 64.7.166.43 Report to Moderator	I have some OTR semis and we pull loads for a big trucking company. One of my new drivers shows up at his drop location in Kansas with only six wheels on the trailer. 10 wheels bolts were sheared off. Driver claims he heard or felt nothing. Big trucking company says driver error and $4000 damage. I fired him because it was his second issue in the three weeks he worked for me. So I have him come over to the shop to clean out his truck and hand in his paper work. His wife and kids came along. She was crying a lot and I felt pretty bad because they just moved from California. A lot of F words were flying out of his mouth. He called me later to apoligize for his behavior. It's not always fun or easy being the boss. [Reply]   [No Email]
dzc3 09-17-2012 16:31:34 166.181.3.144 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   I drove OTR 15 years had this happen to a trailer I was pulling. I did not know this happen until I got out to do a walk around. Never heard anything. GOOD drivers are almost impossible to come by. Maybe a sitdown with this guy, honestly and in no uncertain terms lay out your objectives. Miles per week loads taken revenue to truck, bottom line is this guy a team player? If he is not you cant keep him [Reply]  [No Email]
Brokengun 09-16-2012 11:57:36 4.254.87.28 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   I spent 7 years in commercial tire sales and things like this happen. It is very possible for a set of duals to come off a trailer and the driver not know! I have seen trailers brought in to the shop with rims so loose that they had to be banging but the drivers were un-a-ware. These were good drivers too. Men that I would put my trust into. Whether the duals came off from being over-tightened or loose or bad parts it really doesn’t matter. Things like this happen even with the best drivers you can find. P.S. From My experience who ever tightened up the wheels snapped the lug bolts. A lot of times the air wrenches are turned up high to break the nuts loose but they don’t set the air-wrench properly to tighten. Since this is another company’s trailer I would say someone needs to talk to their shop foreman! [Reply]  [No Email]
Agri King 09-16-2012 06:03:19 216.222.183.148 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   How is it the drivers fault if the wheel studs are snapped off? It's not even your trailor. Who knows what was done to it. I don't truck I'm just asking. I bet the wheel was incorrectly torqued (not enuff) and as bolts/nuts loosened they snapped the bolt off. I have seen this happen on other things. [Reply]  [No Email]
Retired Farmer 09-16-2012 02:36:33 207.200.116.139 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   Sounds like to me that whoever changed the tires on the trailer, OVERTORQUED the nuts and stretched the bolts. They then crystalized and sheared off from vibration. [Reply]  [No Email]
jon f mn 09-16-2012 06:04:02 166.249.201.22 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Retired Farmer, 09-16-2012 02:36:33   Either that or left them loose, that's the only way that the bolts shear off. [Reply]  [No Email]
wilson ind 09-15-2012 17:38:55 70.239.85.123 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   Had that happen on service truck wheels just went before could stop naturally noticed as with only one set of wheels truck fell to pavement. if on rear he may not have noticed. One of my best ever drivers doubled a fuel ticket. caught it he was so embarresed . Kept him and was with me till I sold trucks. [Reply]  [No Email]
casenut1 09-15-2012 17:21:40 107.8.39.45 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   sounds like he hit something with the trailer. was it the front set or the rear set? [Reply]  [No Email]
jon f mn 09-15-2012 16:21:28 166.249.201.222 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   He probly is telling the truth. Had a wheel bearing go out on a trailer couple a years ago, I never noticed it either till another driver told me on the cb. It is however his resposibility to do a pretrip and he should have seen loose bolts unless the tire was just changed. That would be a hard call for me, but since it's he second time I think you did the right thing for your safety. Although we've all had a run of bad luck/decisions in the past. Glad I'm not in your place. [Reply]  [No Email]
Tom (Kansas) 09-15-2012 16:15:17 67.142.179.27 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 15:06:12   He may still have his job if he just told you the truth about what happaned to the trailer. "It just fell off", I have heard that too many times. Don't feel bad, you did your job. [Reply]  [No Email]
Hoofer B 09-15-2012 16:40:19 64.7.166.43 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Tom (Kansas), 09-15-2012 16:15:17   10 bolts were sheared off. The nuts did not come off, and the bearings did not go out. I guess for me, that is the difference. [Reply]  [No Email]
Retired Farmer 09-16-2012 06:27:09 207.200.116.139 Report to Moderator	Re: what would you do??? in reply to Hoofer B, 09-15-2012 16:40:19   You evidentally haven't driven over the road very much in a semi then. Things happen. Years ago I was driving along about sixty mph. heading up a mountain road one afternoon. Happened to look out beside me and saw a ring rolling down the road beside me. Finally passed me and went on ahead and off the road to the left and thru the fence. Couldn't figure out what it was until I was a little further down the road and realized it was a lock ring off the rim. Pulled over and got out and checked. Had a flat on the outside dual and the lock ring had come off. Never heard or felt anything. Changed the tire, went back and found the ring and went on down the road. [Reply]  [No Email]