Here are the requirements for an escort driver in New York State:
https://www.dot.ny.gov/nypermits/repository/escort.pdf
Railroads are not mentioned, from what I can see...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
blue streak 1 What does it take to be an escort driver? Just a driver's license? You would think insurance company would require some training for escort drivers as well as load drivers and be certified.
What does it take to be an escort driver? Just a driver's license? You would think insurance company would require some training for escort drivers as well as load drivers and be certified.
Bottom line: They didn't call the railroad.
BaltACDThe Escort job IS NOT just driving ahead or behind the oversized load with one head up his posterior. That being said, the DRIVER of the oversize load is the party ultimately responsible.
I think it remains to be seen where the lead escort's head was, but it does not look good.
With all the parties that were invovled and should have been involved, the question as to whether there was enough room on the farside of the crossing to hold the truck and its load should have been resolved before the truck arrived. If it was not resolved ahead of time, the driver should not have crossed unless he was given the approval to cross by the forward escort.
If the forward escort gave the driver approval to cross while there was not room to completely cross, then it would be the fault of the escort who gave the okay to cross.
EuclidHere is some information from this link: https://newschannel9.com/news/local/rail-traffic-resumes-but-questions-remain-about-collegedale-train-collision-derailment-norfolk-southern-starette-trucking-company-bridge-beam-accident-video “Our video shows the truck is owned by Starette, an Augusta, Georgia- based trucking company that specializes in transporting large items like bridge beams.” “They say the company responsible for transporting the load hired two escort cars for the tractor trailer. One escort car was in front and another behind the oversized load when the train struck. All permits for oversized load escorts are granted through the Tennessee Department of Transportation, according to Collegedale police.” Here is a very recent article from 1/12/23 in which people comment that the driver does not bear the blame, and that publishing his name and photo was out of order: https://www.overdriveonline.com/channel-19/article/15305468/tennessee-train-derailment-brings-felony-charges-for-driver The article makes the point that the driver had veered into the wrong lane with oncoming traffic. It seems obvious that this move was deemed necessary to swing wide in order to make the turn with the ultra-long trailing load. The article seems to imply that this was a failure of the driver to maintain lane control. Here is the synopsis from Facebook, including the driver’s photograph: https://www.facebook.com/CDalePD/posts/pfbid0skd5prCbYvfjcMC3wC6VoRLG8JNdfpCwM8HaQfGScn7UwvA61JFBpYXiTiLtNfXKl It seems strange to rush to put the blame entirely on the driver when this move legally required escort protection and guidance, a permit from the state, an application for the permit by the trucking company, notification of the railroad, notification of the police, and operational response and protection from the railroad.
The DRIVER did not clear the crossing with his load. Escort SHOULD have directed traffic at the light the driver stopped for, so that the driver could make a CONTINUOUS move in getting his load over the railroad crossing.
The Escort job IS NOT just driving ahead or behind the oversized load with one head up his posterior. That being said, the DRIVER of the oversize load is the party ultimately responsible.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Euclid Backshop The truck driver has been charged with failure to yield and NS wasn't contacted about the shipment. Truck driver involved in Tennessee train derailment charged (yahoo.com) It sounds like there were no spotters/escorts used for this move. I wonder who the driver was working for.
Backshop The truck driver has been charged with failure to yield and NS wasn't contacted about the shipment. Truck driver involved in Tennessee train derailment charged (yahoo.com)
The truck driver has been charged with failure to yield and NS wasn't contacted about the shipment.
Truck driver involved in Tennessee train derailment charged (yahoo.com)
It sounds like there were no spotters/escorts used for this move. I wonder who the driver was working for.
" I now find that it does say that two escort vehicles were hired, and one was placed ahead of the truck and other was placed behind it.
Euclid So, yes it raises the question of whether the driver was an independent contractor working for the State.
While the state was likely overseeing the project, I would suspect that the company moving the beam was a subcontractor to the construction company contracted to build the bridge, or even a subcontractor to a subcontractor.
As such, the state was likely only on the periphery of the whole operation.
BaltACD Erik_Mag What I got out of the article is that no one contacted the NS before the move, but there were no details on whether the truck driver was an independent contractor or was employed by someone as this would affect who was responsible for contacting the NS. Another imprtant detail was who was insuring the move, if the move was not insured, the driver's customer would likely be liable for damages as they failed to do due diligence. Which brings up a final question. Was the 'customer' a private entity or was it a governmental entity? Beams like the one that was destroyed are normally used in the construction of bridges and other similar governmental undertakings.
Erik_Mag What I got out of the article is that no one contacted the NS before the move, but there were no details on whether the truck driver was an independent contractor or was employed by someone as this would affect who was responsible for contacting the NS. Another imprtant detail was who was insuring the move, if the move was not insured, the driver's customer would likely be liable for damages as they failed to do due diligence.
Which brings up a final question. Was the 'customer' a private entity or was it a governmental entity? Beams like the one that was destroyed are normally used in the construction of bridges and other similar governmental undertakings.
Erik_MagWhat I got out of the article is that no one contacted the NS before the move, but there were no details on whether the truck driver was an independent contractor or was employed by someone as this would affect who was responsible for contacting the NS. Another imprtant detail was who was insuring the move, if the move was not insured, the driver's customer would likely be liable for damages as they failed to do due diligence.
What I got out of the article is that no one contacted the NS before the move, but there were no details on whether the truck driver was an independent contractor or was employed by someone as this would affect who was responsible for contacting the NS. Another imprtant detail was who was insuring the move, if the move was not insured, the driver's customer would likely be liable for damages as they failed to do due diligence.
Backshop I'm sure there were escorts. It was just a poorly researched article, like so many are nowadays.
I'm sure there were escorts. It was just a poorly researched article, like so many are nowadays.
Most moves like that will have some form of escort. The issue with the railroad is another thing, though.
....or a missing seat-cover
Which means someone in the permit department in the State of Tennessee highway department right now is trying to cover state liability in this right now.
Just to move that load in the state of TN required 4 escorts one of which had to be a freaking highway patrolman. Escorts are required in TN to be bonded and insured by the State of TN plus have a copy of the permit in the vehicle at all times. They have the power to flag traffic to get past lights needed. Yet somehow all these requirements including notifications to the railroad that a 134 bridge beam was being delivered to a construction site less than 500 feet from a crossing wasn't done. Someone someplace dropped the ball. The carrier involved had a perfect safety record and safer score until this accident for the last 15 years.
Probably some new undies involved in there somewhere...
BaltACDWhile this one wasn't hit by a train - it got wedged under a 'subway' bridge
While this one wasn't hit by a train - it got wedged under a 'subway' bridge
https://news.yahoo.com/south-africa-fuel-tanker-explosion-124936838.html
I would think the crossing signals activating would give enough advance warning that things were going to get interesting rather fast. Enough time to change over to their camera and video settings.
Jeff
EuclidI can, but I can't imagine them all aiming them at the crossing and starting to record video before impact. Although there is a large truckload sitting on the track, I doubt most people would anticiapate a crash. They just would not assimilate all of the details. A train approaching with horn blowing would likely seem normal despite the obstruction.
Maybe they were simply shooting video of a 134 foot bridge girder being moved and got an added "bonus..."
zugmann Euclid I can’t imagine several people out there just happening to be in the right place at the right time. You can't imagine several people sitting in their cars with their phones out at once?
Euclid I can’t imagine several people out there just happening to be in the right place at the right time.
You can't imagine several people sitting in their cars with their phones out at once?
I can, but I can't imagine them all aiming them at the crossing and starting to record video before impact. Although there is a large truckload sitting on the track, I doubt most people would anticiapate a crash. They just would not assimilate all of the details. A train approaching with horn blowing would likely seem normal despite the obstruction.
EuclidIt seems very lucky for the crew to have survived, because that beam was elevated to contact the locomotive several feet above the ground. The crash protection must have done its job well.
If that were a standard cab, it may have been ugly.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
A clearer view of the impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JbWampOS6Y
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