After Deadly Accident Many Question Log Truck Safety
By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 NEWS
Updated: October 11, 2012
Thousands of pounds of lumber, stacked onto big rigs, then driven all across Arkansas. It's no surprise many drivers find it to be an unsettling sight.
"Apprehensive, very apprehensive," said Richard Harrison. "They look like they'll fall off at anytime."
"Nervous," said Laura Bueker. "I'm thinking final destination rolls off and hits your car and possibly kills you."
A tragic reality after a horrific accident Tuesday.
Two logging trucks tailing each other on Highway 10.
The driver of one truck attempted to pass the first, clipping the back of its load of logs sending his truck into head on traffic hitting an SUV before striking a tree.
The driver of that truck did not survive.
"Make sure our straps stay tight," said Chuck Shamlin. "Unfortunately we've arrived safely every trip."
Shamlin owns a land and lumber company in Little Rock, he and his drivers have thankfully never had a wreck but he has seen all kinds of poor driving on the roads.
"Come around you," said Shamlin, "Dip right in front of you, hit breaks real, real hard."
He said you have to anticipate all sorts of erratic behavior when you're carrying such a heavy load and your stopping distance is literally cut in half.
Even though it's not mandatory, Shamlin insists all his drivers are certified to operate their large vehicles.
"You can't pay attention enough," he said the risk is just too big.
"I know my drivers," he said. "Won't put a driver in there that I don't know very well."
The other two drivers involved in that crash are said to be stable.
"Apprehensive, very apprehensive," said Richard Harrison. "They look like they'll fall off at anytime."
"Nervous," said Laura Bueker. "I'm thinking final destination rolls off and hits your car and possibly kills you."
A tragic reality after a horrific accident Tuesday.
Two logging trucks tailing each other on Highway 10.
The driver of one truck attempted to pass the first, clipping the back of its load of logs sending his truck into head on traffic hitting an SUV before striking a tree.
The driver of that truck did not survive.
"Make sure our straps stay tight," said Chuck Shamlin. "Unfortunately we've arrived safely every trip."
Shamlin owns a land and lumber company in Little Rock, he and his drivers have thankfully never had a wreck but he has seen all kinds of poor driving on the roads.
"Come around you," said Shamlin, "Dip right in front of you, hit breaks real, real hard."
He said you have to anticipate all sorts of erratic behavior when you're carrying such a heavy load and your stopping distance is literally cut in half.
Even though it's not mandatory, Shamlin insists all his drivers are certified to operate their large vehicles.
"You can't pay attention enough," he said the risk is just too big.
"I know my drivers," he said. "Won't put a driver in there that I don't know very well."
The other two drivers involved in that crash are said to be stable.
