Don't Try This At Home

Sometime back in the early 80's, I don't remember the year, I was slowly trudging my way back home to Cleveland, Oh from Dundalk Marine Terminal in Baltimore, MD the day after a nasty winter storm. Me and several other drivers were rolling W on I-70. We had just crested the top of Town Hill along the north slope of Emmaville Mountain on I-70 and started making our way down into Breezewood, PA. It was early and there weren't many trucks rolling due to the aftermath of the storm. Roads were very spotty in places and I broke traction a few times trying to get up that hill. None of us carried snow chains nor were they required. We actually had intelligent conversations on the CB radio back then and as we got closer to Breezewood, we could hear some other drivers on the radio warning us about ice on about the last mile of that hill before Breezewood. It was suggested that we pull over and think twice about coming down until the salt shaker had made a pass.

Somewhere in this conversation, compounded by sitting for over 30 minutes waiting on the salt truck, I decided in all my new found wisdom that if the other driver had made it down, I could too. I was told that although there were long stretches of ice, there were also some stretches in between of dryer pavement especially near the end. We decided to go down the hill one at a time and I decided that I would go first. I started to make my way down ever so slowly and as I came up on the first stretch of ice, I came to a complete stop before proceeding any further. I let off the brakes and she started to roll. No words can express the regret that I felt as my truck slowly started to roll down that hill and gain speed. I believe that I had it in 3rd or 4th and as the truck started to gain speed the RPM's started going higher and after awhile the engine can no longer hold you back if there is no traction underneath and your tandems start to slide. I slapped into a higher gear so the wheels would stop sliding and I had hit nearly 45 mph before I came upon what looked to be one of those dry spots.

I hit the brakes as hard and as smoothly as I could and got down to almost 20 before I ran out of dry pavement and had to release the brakes and let her roll again. Best I can remember, this maneuver was repeated probably 3 or 4 times before hitting the final dry stretch before the stoplight. With my heart racing and feeling like it was going to come out of my chest, I got on the radio and told the other drivers that I had made it but if I had to do it again that I probably would have waited for the salt truck. I also told them precisely what to expect and to attempt it at their own risk. That was a long time ago and If I remember correctly, 2 other drivers followed in my foolish footsteps before the others had been graced with the arrival of a salt truck. The other 2 drivers who slid down the hill along with 1 or 2 others who had heard it all over the radio and I sat down for coffee at what was then the 76 Truck Stop and proceeded to exchange stories.

In conclusion I would like to say that I was a young guy back then who had much to prove to the world before acquiring the true wisdom that only comes with time and experience. I have had many other experiences in my early days of truck driving that have made for some great tales at the truck stop but in hindsight, they were foolish decisions that could have cost me my life. Some of my decisions were rooted in a lack of proper training. Driving schools were rare back then. You had to know someone that was willing to teach you how to drive a semi and the requirements were less stringent and mostly at the discretion of the employers. The best thing I can say about those parts of my career is that I survived it.

I posted this in another post and I would like to post it again. When it comes to making decisions I ask myself 4 questions:

1. What is the best thing that will happen if I do this? 2. What is worst thing that will happen if I do this? 3. What is the best thing that will happen if I don't do this? 4. What is the worst thing that will happen if I don't do this?

Remember: A smart driver is always learning

In aviation we have a metaphor that can be applied to trucking. There are old pilots and there are bold pilots. But there are no "Old Bold" pilots.

Dave: Did you ever drive for either Emeryville Trucking, Team Transport, Aero Trucking, or Nick Strimbu? Seems to me that I remember that night you described in your post. Not fun!

Thanks for the questions we should ask ourselves, and for the metaphor. The account of that night set up both perfectly.

Stay Safe!

Thanks Dave for your knowledge i appreciate it.

Dave: Did you ever drive for either Emeryville Trucking, Team Transport, Aero Trucking, or Nick Strimbu? Seems to me that I remember that night you described in your post. Not fun!

Thanks for the questions we should ask ourselves, and for the metaphor. The account of that night set up both perfectly.

Stay Safe!

No, I can't say that I drove for any of those people.