re no nap allowed  (by: CountryGirl  -   1/14/2009)

Rusty, I agree with you for the most part. The DOT rule of log books ONLY pertains to those drivers that are out of their 100 mile home base(I am pretty sure that is how they word it). Fruit season is very dangerous in itself, it also gets more dangerous when you add the multitude of snow birds to our area. I know this accident did not involve that. The only thing to do during this season is: When you come to a red light/stop sign, do not just go....Look at the other directions. You may ad a few seconds to your trip...but this could mean your life.

7!  (by: PickyPickyGal  -   1/14/2009)

How do you fit seven people in one of those semis hauling oranges? I have seen the size of some of those cabs! maybe this was a major contributing factor in the accident... and it's no wonder on injuries who was able to have a seatbelt? Oh and Rusty, nice to see you behaved...lol. I also agree that some of these owners are greedy SOB's... I think all truck drivers for citrus and including shale rock, should have to do a truck drivers course, and have a license and paperwork to show for it. .. and here I used to think the dumptrucks were bad

Accident  (by: mbaker  -   1/13/2009)

As someone once very involved in the industry in management, I have to agree with most of what Rusty has to say. Most importantly, these drivers are a hazard to other drivers.

citrus haulers  (by: AP girl  -   1/13/2009)

My dad was a native floridian, as myself. He used to say that they would hire anybody to haul fruit. He used to call the :wheel holders", meaning they knew little about how to handle a semi pulling a trailor loaded with fruit. You know what? Nothing has changed. I suggest to you during fruit season, even if you have the right of way; take a pause and check before you proceed.

NO NAP ALLOWED!!  (by: Rusty Shackleford  -   1/13/2009)

First of all people,let me inform you of one thing.For those that dont know,picking season in Florida is extremely dangerous!I dont know the specifics of this particular incident,but please allow me to introduce a few FACTS!Truckers hauling fruit do not have to comply with many of the rules that those hauling other things do.Truckers hauling fruit are often asked to "make one more run" despite being on the road way too long for one period of time.The independent truckers are threatened by the harvesting managers that they will "find someone else to pull that fruit" if they dont pull one more for the night,despite being tired from multiple runs that day.The drivers employed by the harvester are met with the unspoken "rule" that they will drive and drive,even if they have to prop their eyes open with toothpicks.So ladies and gentlemen,greed makes this a very unsafe time to be on the road in Florida.Those oranges will be on the trees tomorrow.However,I do not,once again,know this drivers personal circumstances,just thought I would offer some facts.Of course,we could wonder why there were so many people in his truck.I will point out that all drivers pulling fruit are NOT dangerous,and I personally know some very good ones that operate locally,but watch out,because the bad by far outnumber the good.I cant verify this at the time,but I was told fruit haulers dont even have to keep a log,which would contain accounted downtime for drivers to assure they are resting for the periods prescribed by the D.O.T.Please do not quote me on that,look it up if you are sincerely interested.