Interesting day in the semi today.

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ChazRam

1964 Valiant V200
Joined
Feb 17, 2005
Messages
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Location
Carol Stream Illinois
It all started around 6:30 am at Ohare airport in Chicago. Had to 'slink the truck around 757s and little Commuter Jets. had to make a delivery to "B" concourse out on the tarmac. It was more busy than it is on most Mondays. They had me thread my truck between a 757 and a wall. That wingtip is really close (closer than it looks in the pictures). and on the way out of "B" concourse I snapped some pics of the backup in the distance. At one point had to snake between two fueling trucks, a tug, and two larger airliners. My truck is 13ft 6inches high, had the shorter trailer today so my truck was only 62 feet long. It is the biggest truck out there on the field when I make deliveries their and man do I get the looks sometimes. Cracks me up when I see people in the jets waiting to taxi and they are taking my picture. Anyhow, got out of Ohare and made it to my second stop in Melrose Park. That is when the stuff hit the fan!!
It was about 8am and I just unloaded and was leaving the stop. I looked out west and noticed the sky was just about black. Turned on the weather band to hear that a fast moving storm was just about on top of my location. Just minutes later it hit. WOW, instant 80mph plus winds, heavy rain and lightening everywhere. Trees branches were flying all over the place. Power was out just about everywhere from lines being brought down by wind and tree limbs. I was right by Maywood Park race track and watched a roof get tore off of one of the buildings in front of me to my left. When the roof went it hit lightpoles and trees and brought down high voltage wires right on my truck. They hit the top of the cab and bounced up and caught on the top left corner of my trailer along with some larger limbs off of a nearby tree. I was able to back up and get away from the lines and the wind blew the branches off the truck. I made a u turn and got out of there without any major damage. Within 15 minutes all was calm and the storm was gone. What a morning!!!
Chas.
 

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glad you are safe but sounds like another day at the job p.s. i haul cars for a living so i feel your pain bro ,keep the shiny side up and greasy side down
 
A couple of the building to the left, notice the roof and the wires over the street. That wire was bouncing all the way to the ground and shooting sparks and then it was going way up in the air. The one picture is the wire caught on the front corner of my trailer after it bounced off the roof of that cab a couple of times. There are some pictures of tree limbs and though they look small branches like them 4 to 6 inches were flying all over the place. It was sure interesting!!
Chas.
 

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I wouldn't want your job for anything. I have trouble backing up the 'Cuda ](*,)

No power steering and only the drivers side mirror.


Great backing there. Glad you came out ok in the storm.

Be safe in your travels.
 
Yeah 42, thanks Iggy, I keep my 'tin in the wind' and 'turn and burn' as much as I can. Keep it under 14 hours a day and just log my 400 to 500 safely 10-4!!
Chas.
 
Thanks Tony.
36 years February and still have 10 or 15 more left in me. Its been a heck of a ride!!!
Chas.
Anybody see Santa??????
 

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i run from north carolina to california ever week and man its impressive how fast a storm can come and go. be safe out there.
 
Got lucky and made it home with my truck. Left the windows down though. Always something.
 
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