The fire that ended our dream job
SRT out of Texarkana AR. is the Co. we were driving for.
The last time we were in the yard they had done some maintence to the truck & stuck a DOT sticeker on it. Even though it wouldn't pass. (our wiper washer didn't work. & that is one of the "musts")
Anyway, we were sent to pick up a load of paper in SC & take it to a printer co in Chicago. For what ever reason, they sent is through back roads. (US 25) Through NC & TN. OUr weight was near max (80,000) but not quite, so no reason to go off the HWY. Wayne was driving. There were curves & mountains all along. Twice he had to come to a near stop due to a golf cart & the other a lawn mower, on the road.... Just at the edge of NC (hot springs) he had to stop for a long train.(appox 15 min) Then it was mostlty an uphill climb.
After about 10 miles, Wayne noticed smoke in the back. There was also a car there so thought it was them. When the car finally backed off he realized it was coming from the truck/trailer. At the 1st available place he pulled over. Grabbed the extingusher & told me to send message to dispatch.(no cell scv, even on roaming.
I sent two msgs befor the first loud "pop" sound. At that point my butt was outta that truck. (with just a night gown on. no shoes etc.)
It seems one of the air bags(shocks) exploded due to intense heat. Threw Wayne into the fence behind him. (he was trying to put the flames out) (Also, let me note, we were heade to a fuel stop & was completely out of water). The fire ext. ran out at that time also. But NOT the fire.
Well, I was flagging down all the traffic I could, trying to find someone with cell svc. Wayne kept getting back in truck, trying to get someone at the CO to call for us. They just kept telling him to contact breakdown... Uh, we have no cell svc. & they were aware of that.
An hour later a volunteer fire truck showed up... about the time the second fuel tank blew... Two more vol FT showed up... but alas, all was lost. & I mean all... it was 45 min. AFTER the last f/d showed that the co called them. 1hr.45 min after 1st contact we had with them...
Now mind you, we were going up hill... The co (after leaving us sitting in a motel room 2 days (me having nothing but a night gown, no shoes... terminated us!!!
There was never an investigation. The truck & trailer were sold within those 2 days. We did get a chance (on our way home) to stop & retrieve my camera, bilfold, a few tools.(at this time we didn't know the truck had already been sold. We MIGHT have been able to see what was salvageable, had we known...
No one will hire us now, Wayne is fighting his DAC (USIS)I am trying(with no luck) to find an attorney here that can practice in AR

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