Jon F MN, wish I had your stability control today!

On M31 today north of Manistee, 2 miles from the log landing I was headed to get loaded at, some deer ran out in front of me. I slowed down, going up a very long steep hill, raining. More deer ran out, still slowing gradually, missed them, then one from a third group went right under the right front tire. Not sure exactly what happened, but I believe as I was still on the brakes, he actually caused my front tire to skid then lock when he went under. I was still straight until that point. As soon as he went under the tire, I immediately started sliding sideways, doubles still straight behind me. When it started sliding around on me it was so fast I didn't even have time to think it happened so fast. When it slid, if it was flat pavement I don't believe it would have been so bad, but instead, there was a dirt bank along the edge of the road that caught the front tire causing it to plow and bring the tractor around quick. Almost has the cab pulled off the frame, it will for sure be totaled. The guy I work for was at the landing, he dropped his trailers and once the wrecker dragged the tractor from under the trailer, he hooked into them and once we were done we loaded them and brought a load home for tomorrow. I feel bad as this truck is normally driven by another guy who wanted a day off, and now the guy I work for is short a truck. His other truck, a spare, has been in the shop for 3 months after his other driver had to swerve to avoid a motorhome that pulled out in front of him, he was loaded. Not only did he hit the motorhome, but he rolled the truck, dumping logs all over M66 in Ionia, causing it to be closed for hours. I'm still here, got my heart rate up, but fine otherwise. Still feeling bad about shorting the guy I drive for a truck, but he was very understanding. The Manistee County Sheriff's deputies were very friendly, he said he wasn't going to inspect anything, his words "I'm not the State Police, and your rigs look to be well taken care of, and I respect you are just trying to do your job, I'm not going to hassle you for that". Said he didn't want the venison after I offered it to him.

Ross

Sorry, looks like a bad day.

Ross, I'm glad you're OK. Must have been quite a ride!

Stability control, antilock etc help, but it very likely could have been just the same outcome. They don't cure everything and in some cases with an experienced driver can do unexpected things and get into even worse situation. Drive long enough and things like this are bound to happen, glad no one got hurt this is what insurance is for!

Ross, glad your OK. Deer are a pain out here and I just missed one last week with the pickup. Greg

Might be the reason why guys used to unhook the front brakes ?

Glad you came out of that OK. Looks like if it would have slid in the other direction the front of the trailer would have been into the drivers door. John

Serious question: Would those brakes you refer to be the ones on the front trailer and why would you unhook them?

Switchie

(quoted from post at 18:39:43 10/24/15)
Serious question: Would those brakes you refer to be the ones on the front trailer and why would you unhook them?

Switchie

Click to expand...

He is referring to what was called "West Coast Front End". It used to be thought that trucks could be controlled better in an emergency situation without front brakes, and they could be ordered from the factory that way, perfectly legal. I knew someone who had a 1976 GMC Astro with no front brakes.

It was a ride all right, tossed me against the door pretty good, I had bought a cup of coffee about 40 miles back, hadn't taken a drink yet. That flew out of the cupholder and down my right leg. Then, to make it worse, I found a tick on my arm on the way home! Hate those things, I wasn't in brush or anything, I'm guessing it fell off one of the logs I was tying down on the other load.

Ross

No kidding! They are thicker down here where I'm from (nothing to set when I used to hunt and see 100 by lunch!), but there seems to be plenty up there too. Probably happened because my twin brother hit one last week (always hitting a deer), and I was riding him about that. This one made number 3 for me.

Ross

Yeah, you're probably right. No skid marks until where the deer went under the tire, then ground up hair and deer in a line to the dirt embankment, so it's just my guess of what happened of what I can remember anyway.

Ross

Glad you came out of it OK. The truck can be replaced though we do seem to become attached to them as if they are family.

When you mentioned the loss of the spare truck my thoughts went to my son and his business partner's situation. They lease out feed semi feed trailers to owner operators. In the past month two trailers and trucks have ended up on their sides in the ditch. I don't want to be involved with cleaning up another one for a long time, or forever for that matter. Right now the spare truck is in full use hauling feed until the driver can find another truck of his own so we don't have a truck to put under a grain hopper for the harvest. No one was physically hurt through all this so that is a blessing. Come to think of it I've been involved with cleaning up three truck roll overs since August. The first one was a pot load of hogs on it's side laying across a busy highway.

I real glad your ok! Too bad about the truck, but that's what insurance is for. I know what you mean about happening quick too, I'm sure it takes a lot longer to read the story than it took to happen. It's hard to estimate times, but I would guess it was over in a hand full of seconds.

Back in the late 70's we had two GMC conventional tandem axle Detroit powered tractors with no brakes on front axle.

my brother has a Ford tandem built in that era that has only rear wheel brakes

Glad you are ok. In the last picture I can see the guilty parties head in the dirt.

They are real thick in my area as well (western Shiawassee/eastern Genesee county). Always someone hitting one on my road.

They are good eating, but I don't like to harvest them with the front bumper either.

WOW! Good thing you weren't loaded.

Yeah no kidding! As was said, one of the other trucks is still setting in the body shop after he rolled it on M66 in Ionia, trying to avoid a motorhome that pulled out in front of him. Logs clear across M66, closed for hours.

Ross

(quoted from post at 09:55:25 10/25/15) WOW! Good thing you weren't loaded.

Click to expand...

Loaded may have kept the drivers planted tho.

An empty semi can can get away from you quick.

I used to run an Autocar pulling a dump outfit with no front brakes back in the day & empty or bobtail could be an adventure when wet or snowy.