Please please please if you haul rocks and gravel to tarp your load
Posted by hiddenbus@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 96 comments
Got a not so fun surprise while on the road and now I gotta replace the windshield quicker than I wanted to. (The bottom crack was already there)
Esplicit@reddit
Ya know most of those trucks have a “do not follow at X distance”
UltraViolentNdYAG@reddit
And check your dualies! 360°
MainConnection6742@reddit
Not responsible for broken windshields. Stay back 500 ft . Lmao fuck those guys. Sorry this happened to you.
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
He was driving on the other side of the road. And I hate that they are not responsible if they don’t secure their own load, big load of bs
Syllables_17@reddit
Those signs don't hold up in court if you have evidence.
Cardinal_350@reddit
What evidence exactly? Are you bringing the rock in to prove it's theirs?
Chamber53@reddit
I think we found the person that doesn’t tarp. Why are you coming off so dense and defensive?
Cardinal_350@reddit
I'm not. I find it funny how people think shit works and how it actually works
Syllables_17@reddit
You're an actual idiot if you think a fucking sign on the back of a truck removes you of liability for damaging other people's property.
Genericsoda4@reddit
You’ve never heard of a dashcam?
1Stack_Mack@reddit
What about the 5 to 8 second following safe distance?
Cardinal_350@reddit
Soo a rock came off the road and hit your windshield?
SquirrelInATux@reddit
If it came off the road it's irrelevant, it's road debris and they're not liable. If your dashcam shows their improperly secured load, regardless of whether it's large debris or pebbles, falling out and damaging your vehicle, they're liable.
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
Nope off a rock hauler driving the opposite way
aczoz@reddit
Dashcam
doobersthetitan@reddit
Duh? Dash cam?
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
Dashcam
NioNoah@reddit
Dashcam
GoMake_me_a_sandwich@reddit
If you call and report an Unsecured load, it may be evidence enough. And even if not, the guy at last can still get a ticket.
1Stack_Mack@reddit
The cops aren't gonna issue a ticket just because Trucker Tom said he got hit with a rock. What world is everyone living in? 🤣
SchityCityGangBang@reddit
One with cameras.
unregrettful@reddit
As much as I agree, ive been hit by trucks going opposite that were hauling water, or tankers. Clearly have been on the road for a while and just happen to pick up a rock on the road and flick it up. It sucks.
unloader86@reddit
They are responsible. Try to find the company name and call your insurance with it.
derekmt95@reddit
The sign may say that, but I'm holding them responsible for not securing their load anyway.
nekaiser@reddit
Don’t forget to secure your big load of bs. Else, it may fly off and hit some poor four wheeler
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
lol thank you for the laugh I needed that today
errie_tholluxe@reddit
Yeah stay back 500 ft written in letters so small that at 500 ft you couldn't even fucking see them
MainConnection6742@reddit
That's the joke
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
Those signs hold no legal ground btw, it’s a scare tactic
NitroBike@reddit
Yeah like imagine a dry van guy with the doors wide open and a sign saying "not at fault if this pallet of soda cans falls out of the back and you crash into it."
stripperjnasty@reddit
Exactly the example I use. I haul water
John9250@reddit
The loophole is it has to come directly from the truck to your windshield. If it hits the highway first, then they’re not responsible. Something like that
iami_uru@reddit
No footage and a lawyer can argue the rock was on the road and went flying after the truck drove over it.
If there is dashcam footage of the rock leaving your vehicle and bouncing off the pavement into a windshield, truck driver's fault for failure to secure.
Secure your load.
SamuraiJono@reddit
Who told you that?
Responsible-Baby-551@reddit
It’s the law in most places to tarp your load with a few exceptions like rip rap or sand
e0240@reddit
Colorado anything bigger. Than 1 1/2 doesn't need tarped.
ImmortalEmos@reddit
Most? Isn't it the law in every state?
SquirrelInATux@reddit
Every US state is a place, but not every place is a US state.
SchityCityGangBang@reddit
Far out man
aeroxan@reddit
Whoa
gypsydog17@reddit
I definitely tarp sand
buderooski@reddit
Otherwise you'll lose a fourth of it blowing down the highway lol
UpholsturdToilet@reddit
underrated comment
Responsible-Baby-551@reddit
At least in NY state you don’t have to. I always did too back in the dump truck days
BigDaddySodaPop@reddit
I work for Pulltarps, we have a page on our website the shows each state's tarping laws: https://www.pulltarps.com/resources/state-federal-regulations/
tvieno@reddit
I had a similar incident in my big truck. On coming was a concrete mixer and from his tandems came flying a rock about the size of a small softball and punched a hole in my bumper.
GRF999999999@reddit
"a small softball". So, a baseball?
tvieno@reddit
Familiar_Effective84@reddit
a large baseball
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
Yeeesh
GoMake_me_a_sandwich@reddit
Call the cops on those guys and say the driver has an "Unsecured load." A DOT officer will come.
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Snitch
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Bunch of nancies
FancyRoom8541@reddit
Sensitive little fella, aren’t you
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Who, me? Quite the contrary. I enjoy watching the down votes pour in. Hate keeps me warm
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Pansies
GoMake_me_a_sandwich@reddit
When those guys breaking my window too, hell yeah. Do your job and secure your load.
SeaRow556@reddit
I mean with that attitude you suggest we turn a blind eye to everything? About 2 years ago I reported a driver for drinking whiteclaws at the shipper. He was arrested and i heard from the customer he blew a .18 . Are you calling me a snitch, he was just about to get his paperwork and drive off, so what would you have done differently?
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Calm down Hoss. Learn to take a joke. You're a youngster I take it? You keep getting your patience in a bunch every time you're offended, you're gonna have a short life. Take a breath
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
I would’ve but unfortunately I had to cell signal and I couldn’t get bearings on where exactly I was.
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
Lots of places it's not required
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
It IS required to have a secure load though
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
No it's not. There are lots of counties and rural areas tarping is not required. I only own 5 end dumps... what would I know
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
I didn’t say you had to have a tarp, I said you must have a secure load. The moment DOT catches you spilling any of your load, you’ll get a ticket
Renamis@reddit
Tarping isn't required. Securing your load is required. If it leaves your truck it isn't secured.
You're focusing on there being no tarp specific requirement, when the national requirement is just to make sure the load doesn't leave the truck.
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
Your making alot of assumptions here guy. We don't all live in usa
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
It should be, it’s a safety hazard
jecastro_2000@reddit
Us belly dumps dont have too
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
😐
jecastro_2000@reddit
It's not law
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
It should be
Imaginary-Badger-119@reddit
Buy a good dash cam company is still libel for this in every state ..
McJesusOurSaviour@reddit
I mean, a grain guy passed me a while back and threw a rock that made spot that size. Nothing he could do about it really. Might’ve just been a rock off the road.
Beneficialsensai@reddit
Tarp doesnt prevent the loose rocks,it was not loaded properly or not wiped off the sides or tailgate.
TRexDriver@reddit
I just had this happen a couple weeks ago and my company wrote me up because I needed a new windshield
Odd_Studio2870@reddit
Many miles I have spent behind a load of sand, on my.motorcycle, without a windshield. 🖕
Odd_Studio2870@reddit
The driver with said rocks, does not care.
John9250@reddit
I hate that shit. I caught one the other day like that too
AutumnBrooks2021@reddit
Mine is always warped and the back tailgate is cleaned off. Doesn’t mean I can’t kick a rock up from the road though.
1Stack_Mack@reddit
This is gonna be an unpopular opinion and I'm eagerly awaiting the downvotes, but in 29 years I've never had a busted windshield from rock haulers or similar. It's called situational awareness and staying far away from things that might throw shit on your vehicle. Stop tailgating
Confident_Season1207@reddit
Hard to stay away when it's coming from the other way
robs104@reddit
Hmm, so when my brand new windshield got destroyed in south Louisiana by some asshole with a 40 year old dump trailer hauling #67’s and a leaking tailgate I could have just situational awarenessed my way out? Damn. Okay. I guess the fact that he passed me on a divided 4 lane highway where he was blasting ass at 80 past me doesn’t matter? Maybe I shoulda drove off the road to avoid it as he blew past? Please enlighten me Super Trucker.
Zodi88@reddit
Seems like a case of "I'm lucky, but I don't realize it .. so let me act important and condescending on the Internet."
I'm curious, how do you prevent oncoming traffic from throwing up rocks? You've got all the answers! 🙏
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Your response seem like you are the one that is important and condescending. And before you respond, be aware that I don't care about what you think. 29 years safe driving isn't lucky, son. It's being aware.
Zodi88@reddit
It's always great when people like you get knocked down a leg 😅
1Stack_Mack@reddit
I can always spot the young Gen Z losers. You think us old guys give a shit. We don't.
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
That’s true people shouldn’t tailgate. Unfortunately for me the truck and rock came from the other side of the road
Few_Jacket845@reddit
Seems like that's the most common for me, I'll see it fly across the road from something oncoming.
That being said, often time it's not tarping that's the problem, it's laziness not cleaning off fenders, pintle hitch area, etc. I'm a recovering dirt hauler, so I saw it all the time.
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
That’s a fair point watching my dash cam back I did see the tarp off but it still could’ve been anything when the speed limit was 75 mph
Few_Jacket845@reddit
Not tarping is definitely also a problem, but if you can't see the materials above the sides of the beds, it's technically legal. Even sand and dirt and stuff. 🤦🏼♂️
1Stack_Mack@reddit
Yea, I saw your follow up post after I posted that. Life sucks. New windshield needs ordered
Snookfilet@reddit
Only one I’ve lost in the last few years was from a snowplow headed the opposite direction during a storm on I80 in PA. I agree with you generally.
BrupBurp@reddit
But the warning sticker reads "If You're within three miles of this truck we're not responsible for any damages!"
Hipjig@reddit
That's why I make sure I have glass coverage on my insurance policy. Makes it a fairly painless (and covered) process if anything happens to my windshield.
bernfranksimo@reddit
I second the guy who says to exercise safe distances when nesr commercial vehicles like rock haulers.
But also, if I were OP, I wols have done my dambdest to follow that truck and get him to stop or at the very least get his info.
hiddenbus@reddit (OP)
He was going the other way unfortunately