I Have A Rollover. I’m Looking For A Company That Will Accept Me.

That’s not windy! Get both sides off the ground and that’s an adventure.

In certain scenarios, a rollover may not be your fault, being caused by another driver or 4 wheeler. But someone will always criticize the driver for "not doing this," or, "doing that."

It's not so much that others will "criticize the driver for not doing this, or not doing that." It's simply that most safety directors will consider them as preventable accidents. Think up a scenario where you'd consider it someone else's fault, then think through the principles in the "Smith System," and how you could have applied them in that same situation, and I think you'll begin to understand why they are considered as preventable accidents.

I wasn't taught, nor have I studied the Smith system. Maybe some homework is in order.

My noob question is, how are ALL rollovers preventable? I mean I can def see taking a turn to fast is preventable but what about other scenarios? What if someone pulls out in front of you and you swerve off into the ditch and roll over?

The scenario you mentioned would still be considered preventable in my opinion because you chose to take the ditch. I think taking the ditch is a much better option than rear ending a vehicle but unfortunately it's a lose/lose situation. It seems to be the best option, however defensive driving and anticipating a vehicle doing something stupid like that could help avoid being in that situation. One thing I've gotten in the habit of to try and avoid this is if it's a high traffic area doing a little under the speed limit. It will help maintain safe following distance but also give you more time to react if that happens. If I'm on a 4 lane divided highway in the middle of no where (typically US Highways) if traffic is minimal I will move into the hammer lane if I see a vehicle approaching to allow them to enter after they've stopped. It's not always possible, but it helps ease the worry that they will pull out in front of me.

Danielsahn I had a similar situation! Wind gusts up to 60 mph and I was doing 40 I believe. I watched my driver side tandems come off the ground and heard it slam back down. Very uneasy feeling. It was my first experience with wind that strong and I underestimated the affect it would have on an empty trailer.

Yes I always do the same thing in heavy traffic scenarios. Even sometimes when traffic is moderate but there are a lot of stop lights. One of the most stressful things for me sometimes is trying to gauge if the light is stale 😂 go figure.

Just out of curiosity, if you're parked & you get blown over, is that still considered preventable?

Just out of curiosity, if you're parked & you get blown over, is that still considered preventable?

Depends on where you park. Park on a slanted uneven ground or soft shoulder, then yeah. It was preventable.

Park on level solid ground and drop the landing gear for better support then no. It would show you did all u could. You were parked as safely as you could. Parked against a wall if possible and maybe u stay upright

Geez! I saw a video where the guy was parked in the breakdown lane & got blown over like a tonka toy. Had no idea all those factors were looked at. I do remember you saying the part about dropping the landing gear & have had to use it once already. Trailers looked like they were on an ocean rather than on solid ground.

Geez! I saw a video where the guy was parked in the breakdown lane & got blown over like a tonka toy. Had no idea all those factors were looked at. I do remember you saying the part about dropping the landing gear & have had to use it once already. Trailers looked like they were on an ocean rather than on solid ground.

I saw 2 parked that blew over.

1.) WY when I-80 got closed at Sapp Bros Cheyenne. It was slanted and i parked right behind him. Felt unsafe so i moved to level ground. By morning i heard BOOM! Realized at that point that could have been me.

2.) Guy parked partly on grass, partly on asphault on shoulder of Rest Area. First the truck slid down a slope when the ground became a mini mudslide, then BOOM! Fell on its side.

Both could have been prevented. Recognize that knot in your stomach people!

See it all the time out here in So Cal. on the I-15 north bound side usually. Right there on the breezeway as they are nearly out of Fontana area. I think its soft aside the asphalt. Have seen 7 all on their sides one day! The gusts get that bad right in that same area ! I was in my service van one time during bad gusts as Nissan forklift tech. I pulled off freeway, and parked by a concrete light pole! to wait it out Imagine its a LOT worse in a tractor-trailer! yikes

Rob wrote:

however defensive driving and anticipating a vehicle doing something stupid like that could help avoid being in that situation. One thing I've gotten in the habit of to try and avoid this is if it's a high traffic area doing a little under the speed limit. It will help maintain safe following distance but also give you more time to react if that happens. If I'm on a 4 lane divided highway in the middle of no where (typically US Highways) if traffic is minimal I will move into the hammer lane if I see a vehicle approaching to allow them to enter after they've stopped. It's not always possible, but it helps ease the worry that they will pull out in front of me.

*like on the above...

Great advice Rob, words to drive by and live by!

In certain scenarios, a rollover may not be your fault, being caused by another driver or 4 wheeler. But someone will always criticize the driver for "not doing this," or, "doing that."

It's not so much that others will "criticize the driver for not doing this, or not doing that." It's simply that most safety directors will consider them as preventable accidents. Think up a scenario where you'd consider it someone else's fault, then think through the principles in the "Smith System," and how you could have applied them in that same situation, and I think you'll begin to understand why they are considered as preventable accidents.

You forgot the part where I said "technically, all rollovers are preventable."

What I meant by criticize, is that they (other drivers, not the company) will not even consider the wellbeing of the driver, before they start ripping into them. Especially if certain logos are on the truck/trailer.

The company may be more forgiving in certain circumstances, but they will take a fine tooth comb through the incident.

The company may be more forgiving in certain circumstances, but they will take a fine tooth comb through the incident.

As they should.

This is how we learn. Oftentimes we need an objective perspective into how accidents could be avoided. I've learned a great deal by swallowing my hard headed pride and listening to a different perspective than my own.