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Old 10-12-2019, 11:45 AM   #1
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2019 30' Classic
Belen , New Mexico
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Run off the road by a Semi

A Prime Inc truck driver apparently thought I was her ex or something. She deliberately tried to sideswipe me 4 times traveling at 65 mph and then pulled in front of me to brake check me. This was the result of the fast, wild gyrations of the trailer at speed while I fought to not have a collision and maintain control.

I have no idea why she did this and I have it all on dashcam. I had been traveling in the right lane for over two hours with the cruise control set at 63mph.

I've already sent the dash video to the safety division of Prime and they've opened a claim number. I'll have to call them on Monday to see how to proceed.

We were stranded in a rest stop for 24 hours waiting for CoachNet to find a mobile service to come out and get us back on the road. the wheel has had the lugs replaced and the spare is on. The original wheel is nowhere to be found. I love Dexter torsion axles as the drum did not grind on the ground.

BTW, the state police had no interest since no one was hurt. They took info over the phone and that was all. When we get better Internet, I'll post the dashcam video.

by the sound of the safety person I spoke with, I wouldn't want to be that driver about now. It doesn't really show in this picture, but there is extensive damage to the wall of the trailer as the wheel left for parts unknown.
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Old 10-12-2019, 11:52 AM   #2
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Old 10-12-2019, 11:57 AM   #3
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Truck drivers are getting worse and worse. Prime and Swift both have reputations for basically hiring anyone, and they become trainers before the even know how to drive. I was deliberately hit by a Swift truck. Luckily a witness pulled over and gave me his name and numbers because the Swift driver said I tried to cut him off. I was almost in the median. He came all the way over from the right lane because he didn’t want to be passed as we were approaching a construction zone. At about walking speed. I got in the median and stopped. He hit me anyway, I guess for good measure. Google Swift truck accidents. There are 100s of YouTube videos of their drivers exploits. Maybe the driver was watching a movie, and you interrupted it somehow.
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Old 10-12-2019, 12:39 PM   #4
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Old 10-12-2019, 01:22 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ephraim View Post
A Prime Inc truck driver apparently thought I was her ex or something. She deliberately tried to sideswipe me 4 times traveling at 65 mph and then pulled in front of me to brake check me. This was the result of the fast, wild gyrations of the trailer at speed while I fought to not have a collision and maintain control.

I have no idea why she did this and I have it all on dashcam. I had been traveling in the right lane for over two hours with the cruise control set at 63mph.

I've already sent the dash video to the safety division of Prime and they've opened a claim number. I'll have to call them on Monday to see how to proceed.

We were stranded in a rest stop for 24 hours waiting for CoachNet to find a mobile service to come out and get us back on the road. the wheel has had the lugs replaced and the spare is on. The original wheel is nowhere to be found. I love Dexter torsion axles as the drum did not grind on the ground.

BTW, the state police had no interest since no one was hurt. They took info over the phone and that was all. When we get better Internet, I'll post the dashcam video.

by the sound of the safety person I spoke with, I wouldn't want to be that driver about now. It doesn't really show in this picture, but there is extensive damage to the wall of the trailer as the wheel left for parts unknown.
Wow! That could have been a lot worse. Hard to understand why people do such things but it good you had a dash-cam. Keep us posted on the outcome. And glad no one was hurt!
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Old 10-12-2019, 01:53 PM   #6
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In New Mexico?
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Old 10-12-2019, 02:09 PM   #7
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That could easily have become a tragedy!

The dash cam is a great idea.
LoLoHo recently tested one in the hundred dollar range.
Which one did you choose and are you happy with it?
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Old 10-12-2019, 03:21 PM   #8
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Glad you're ok and not hurt! Deserves to be fired for sure!
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Old 10-12-2019, 03:38 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Dan and Liz View Post
In New Mexico?
Yes, Eastbound between Santa Rosa and Tucumcari.

By the way, I had a ProPride hitch and the rear camera has a fantastic view of the hitch working to keep the trailer from swaying out of control. I already sent the video footage to them as well.
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Old 10-12-2019, 04:07 PM   #10
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So how did you loose the whee? Is it possible the truck was trying to get your attention to alert you?
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Old 10-12-2019, 04:15 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ephraim View Post
A Prime Inc truck driver apparently thought I was her ex or something. She deliberately tried to sideswipe me 4 times traveling at 65 mph and then pulled in front of me to brake check me. This was the result of the fast, wild gyrations of the trailer at speed while I fought to not have a collision and maintain control.

I have no idea why she did this and I have it all on dashcam. I had been traveling in the right lane for over two hours with the cruise control set at 63mph.

I've already sent the dash video to the safety division of Prime and they've opened a claim number. I'll have to call them on Monday to see how to proceed.

We were stranded in a rest stop for 24 hours waiting for CoachNet to find a mobile service to come out and get us back on the road. the wheel has had the lugs replaced and the spare is on. The original wheel is nowhere to be found. I love Dexter torsion axles as the drum did not grind on the ground.

BTW, the state police had no interest since no one was hurt. They took info over the phone and that was all. When we get better Internet, I'll post the dashcam video.

by the sound of the safety person I spoke with, I wouldn't want to be that driver about now. It doesn't really show in this picture, but there is extensive damage to the wall of the trailer as the wheel left for parts unknown.
So she hit your trailer, broke the wheel and caused you to struggle with control as the rear end of your Airstream swayed? Which of her four sideswipe attempts hit the mark? Sounds like a good case for assault.

I experienced some crazy big rig drivers in New Mexico and Arizona last week while towing our Airstream on I 40. Both states need to lower truck (and tour bus) speed limits to 55 mph as in California. It feels like they are on the ragged edge of control at 75 mph.
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Old 10-12-2019, 04:19 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mollysdad View Post
That could easily have become a tragedy!

The dash cam is a great idea.
LoLoHo recently tested one in the hundred dollar range.
Which one did you choose and are you happy with it?
I know this was not asked to me but I went with the BlackVue 900 series two cam system. It is awesome. Built in Wifi makes transferring video from the cam to your phone or iPad super easy. Parking mode is also nice.
It always watching.....
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Old 10-12-2019, 04:19 PM   #13
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I'm thinking it was a disgruntled, out of work, Flamma employ who didn't like your bike rack.
Seriously, there is no accounting for that kind of motorized assault. The driver's reaction to whatever slight, real or imagined, was totally irrational. So glad you were not injured.
We will be heading out on I-40 west on our way to Mesa, AZ tomorrow morning. We are always so happy to get to Holbrook, where we can exit I-40 and get away from the truck drivers. Even the narrow, two-lane road from there to Heber is a relief.
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Old 10-13-2019, 01:13 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ephraim View Post

I have no idea why she did this and I have it all on dashcam. I had been traveling in the right lane for over two hours with the cruise control set at 63mph.
It sounds like you hadn’t checked the lug nut torque on your wheels and lost one wheel while driving. The truck driver was likely trying to get your attention to a serious problem with your rig and your loss of the wheel caused the instability in your rig.
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Old 10-13-2019, 04:51 AM   #15
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It sounds like you hadn’t checked the lug nut torque on your wheels and lost one wheel while driving. The truck driver was likely trying to get your attention to a serious problem with your rig and your loss of the wheel caused the instability in your rig.


That could be very well what happened . Perhaps the truck driver saw the wheel flying
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Old 10-13-2019, 05:27 AM   #16
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So how did you loose the whee? Is it possible the truck was trying to get your attention to alert you?


I’d prefer flashing lights, blowing horns, or any other warning signal than side swiping and brake checking - I may be old fashioned that way.... [emoji3]
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Old 10-13-2019, 05:42 AM   #17
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So sorry for what you have been through, Ephraim. Very traumatic, indeed!

In view of the recent comments, could you please clarify the sequence of events in your original post? In particular, did these "wild gyrations" happen first?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ephraim View Post
. . .
This was the result of the fast, wild gyrations of the trailer at speed while I fought to not have a collision and maintain control.
. . .
. . . and could those gyrations have been caused by you losing the wheel first, before any actions by the semi truck?

Thanks,

Peter
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Old 10-13-2019, 05:43 AM   #18
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Like a few others, never seen a wheel come-off from being brake-checked or cutoff. Could be the truck driver was trying to let you know there's a car with an Airstream wheel through their windshield back down the road a few miles.
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Old 10-13-2019, 06:28 AM   #19
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Did you lose the driver side wheel? If so it may be that the driver of the truck driver was attempting to alert you, That’s the wheel that would be most visible to the truck driver.
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Old 10-13-2019, 06:34 AM   #20
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Like a few others, never seen a wheel come-off from being brake-checked or cutoff. Could be the truck driver was trying to let you know there's a car with an Airstream wheel through their windshield back down the road a few miles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15 View Post
So sorry for what you have been through, Ephraim. Very traumatic, indeed!

In view of the recent comments, could you please clarify the sequence of events in your original post? In particular, did these "wild gyrations" happen first?



. . . and could those gyrations have been caused by you losing the wheel first, before any actions by the semi truck?

Thanks,

Peter
Quote:
Originally Posted by rintintin View Post
That could be very well what happened . Perhaps the truck driver saw the wheel flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adventure.AS View Post
It sounds like you hadn’t checked the lug nut torque on your wheels and lost one wheel while driving. The truck driver was likely trying to get your attention to a serious problem with your rig and your loss of the wheel caused the instability in your rig.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverWind View Post
So she hit your trailer, broke the wheel and caused you to struggle with control as the rear end of your Airstream swayed? Which of her four sideswipe attempts hit the mark? Sounds like a good case for assault.

I experienced some crazy big rig drivers in New Mexico and Arizona last week while towing our Airstream on I 40. Both states need to lower truck (and tour bus) speed limits to 55 mph as in California. It feels like they are on the ragged edge of control at 75 mph.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumatic View Post
So how did you loose the whee? Is it possible the truck was trying to get your attention to alert you?
Like I said, I'll post the video when we get to better Internet. It's a very large file for just three-minute segments. but it's HD. She never made contact with us (though not for lack of trying apparently). The first incursion wasn't even into our lane, but enough to wake me up and turn off the cruise control. It was very windy and I did not assume it was intentional at that point. I just figured it was the wind. As that point, she she began to accelerate from parallel with me to slightly ahead of me. the rear of the trailer becomes even with the front of my airstream. She then wags the cab into my lane causing the trailer wheels to travel about two feet into my lane and I ran onto the shoulder to avoid hitting her. I began to actively slow down and she slows down right along with me to stay even. there is a third "threat" that doesn't cross into my lane and then a fourth where the cab and the trailer cross almost 3 feet into my lane. At that point, I slow to the point where she is pretty much forced to pull ahead as she has trucks behind her. when she is only about 15 feet in front of me she pulls fully into my lane. when she realizes that I am actively slowing down and she is about 45 feet in front me, she brake checks me.

I did not lose the wheel at that point. We pulled off on the next exit and check things and all seemed fine. It wasn't until about 30 minutes later that we lost the wheel. I heard a "bang" as it left the trailer. Because of the terrain, we were unable to recover the wheel. I drove on the shoulder at a slow rate with emergency flashers to the next exit which had a rest stop.

The service guy said he'd never seen one with sheer patterns on the bolts like that. It was NOT caused by loose lug nuts.
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