There's a show on the Weather Channel called Highway to Hell. It's about the towing outfits up around Hope, British Columbia. It gives you real insight into the jobs these men do and the risks they take. My hats off to them.
I have a friend who owns a wrecker service and it's not unusual to have to unload a trailer before it can be moved, and the owner sometimes doesn't want the cargo so he has to dispose of it. A couple of years ago he worked a wreck with a cargo of 40,000 pounds of pork that couldn't be sold so he was told to haul it off. He called everyone he knew to come help. Most of the cargo was salvageable and people left with pickup trucks loaded to capacity.
Driving to work just outside Paris, Texas, in snowfall a bunch of years back, I saw a 1-ton truck pulling a Miller Lite trailer jack knife in the opposite lanes. Must have been six pickups stop and drivers headed to the truck, going to lend a hand. Maybe for a little gratuity, maybe just because it was Texas.
There are crews that specialize in it. They cost a lot, but get paid really well. Though they're on-call 24/7/365 and show up QUICK when you call them.
One of many things I learned in a short career as a wrecker driver.
One of the others? DUIs happen at all hours of the day. Hooked up cars/trucks for DUI arrests at hours that surprised the shit out of me.
Way worse in a snow storm.
ReplyDeleteThere's a show on the Weather Channel called Highway to Hell. It's about the towing outfits up around Hope, British Columbia. It gives you real insight into the jobs these men do and the risks they take. My hats off to them.
ReplyDeleteProof the fifth-wheel is adjusted correctly. There is an unnatural amount of faith in a piece of steel two inches in diameter.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who owns a wrecker service and it's not unusual to have to unload a trailer before it can be moved, and the owner sometimes doesn't want the cargo so he has to dispose of it.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years ago he worked a wreck with a cargo of 40,000 pounds of pork that couldn't be sold so he was told to haul it off. He called everyone he knew to come help. Most of the cargo was salvageable and people left with pickup trucks loaded to capacity.
Driving to work just outside Paris, Texas, in snowfall a bunch of years back, I saw a 1-ton truck pulling a Miller Lite trailer jack knife in the opposite lanes. Must have been six pickups stop and drivers headed to the truck, going to lend a hand. Maybe for a little gratuity, maybe just because it was Texas.
ReplyDeleteAt least it is not a Swift truck, for a change.
ReplyDeleteThere are crews that specialize in it. They cost a lot, but get paid really well. Though they're on-call 24/7/365 and show up QUICK when you call them.
ReplyDeleteOne of many things I learned in a short career as a wrecker driver.
One of the others? DUIs happen at all hours of the day. Hooked up cars/trucks for DUI arrests at hours that surprised the shit out of me.