Semi-Truck Accident Recovery | Page 3 of 3

Split Trailer Blocking the I-405 in Renton Needed Accident Recovery

by cdcidevel | Nov 18, 2020 | Accident Recovery, Heavy Duty Tow, Heavy Duty Towing, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery, Spill Recovery, Truck Accident, Truck Accident Recovery, Truck Recovery

On August 31st, 2020, Team Pro-Tow received a dispatch requesting a heavy-duty tow truck to assist with a semi and a fully loaded trailer that was stuck and blocking the highway. The trailer had melted in the middle and collapsed on the I-405 near Renton, WA.

Our team arrived to perform accident recovery, pushing through heavy traffic. We reported to the incident command on-site, including the Washington Department of Transportation, Washington State Police, and the driver of the truck-in-trouble. After some planning, we got authorization to start with heavy-duty tow and load recovery services.

Load Recovery

Both Team Pro-Tow and our Pro-Enviro division worked to unload the broken trailer. We lifted the load, piece by piece, and loaded it carefully on our flatbed trailer. We used our heavy-duty tow truck with a rotating crane-style wrecker to lift the pallets loaded with cargo out of the trailer. Once they were out of the trailer and on the road, the bobcat forklift moved them onto the flatbed. With the shipment secured on our flatbed, it was ready to move out of the way to a safe location.

Trailer Accident Recovery

Now it was the trailer’s turn. We performed an overhead crane lift using specialized equipment at the crack of the trailer. We got it lifted safely and loaded on a flatbed trailer. We had to lift and move the trailer in two separate pieces. Then both Team Pro-Tow and Team Pro-Enviro got to work cleaning up debris so we could open things back up for the rush hour traffic on the I-405.

Load Recovery Continued

Once we used a heavy-duty tow truck and trailer to get the broken trailer’s cargo in our yard, it was time to unload. We neatly stored the loaded pallets in our secure property so the customer could come to retrieve it when they could and get it reloaded to complete their delivery. We signed off the paperwork and performed a manifest of the debris.

Another successful accident recovery and load recovery for Team Pro-Tow!

If you require truck accident recovery, give Pro-tow 24-Hour Towing a call.

Holy Smoked – Burnt Out Truck Accident Recovery

by cdcidevel | Nov 4, 2020 | Accident Recovery, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery, Spill Recovery, Truck Accident, Truck Accident Recovery, Truck Recovery

This summer and fall, Washington State was in crisis mode due to wildfires. In this incident on September 10, 2020, during this wildfire crisis, a battery cable shorted out in this truck while the driver was asleep in the sleeper berth. It started a fire, destroying the tractor. Fortunately, the driver was able to evacuate and get to safety in time.

Team Pro-Tow and Team Pro-Enviro were called to the scene to assist with the truck accident recovery and spill recovery. The tractor was destroyed and was lifted onto a flatbed trailer for transport. The trailer, though it suffered notable damage, was in good enough shape to be towed away.

Once the tractor and trailer were out of the way, we got to work on the spill recovery. With the help of industry partners, we got to work clearing debris and cleaning the contaminated area. After a long day on the job, we completed the truck accident recovery. The scene was cleaned up and looking like it never happened.

What Causes Vehicle Fires?

A failure in a vehicle’s electrical system is one of the leading causes of vehicle fires. Battery cables carry enough current to ignite anything combustible. If the cables have frayed or are losing insulation, it can cause a short circuit. A charging battery will produce hydrogen gas, and this is combustible. Combine the two, and you’ll likely have a fire.

There are things in the vehicle’s electrical system to help prevent arcing and short-circuiting. Fuses and circuit breakers add safety to the system, but all components can break down over time. Poor installation or repair jobs and not regularly inspecting the system can render these safeguards useless in extreme cases.

While proper maintenance of your fleet vehicles can help prevent most vehicle fires, accidents still can happen. In this case, it was fortunate the driver woke up in time to escape safely from the vehicle.

If you require truck accident recovery, give Pro-tow 24-Hour Towing a call.

Truck Accident Recovery on Tiger Mountain Summit

by cdcidevel | Oct 7, 2020 | Fuel Spill Cleanup, Heavy Duty Tow, Heavy Duty Towing, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery, Semi-Truck Towing, Truck Accident, Truck Accident Recovery, Truck Towing

In this incident on October 22, 2019, Team Pro-Tow responded to an emergency dispatch from the Washington State Police about a tractor-trailer that had overturned on the I-90 at Tiger Mountain Summit. The trailer was loaded with laundry and had gone 20 feet off the roadway.

We dispatched a heavy-duty rotating crane style wrecker and a heavy-duty recovery truck. At least one lane of WB was able to be left open, because of the location of the crash. To safely handle this truck accident recovery, we brought in another heavy-duty crane style wrecker. Leaking fuel oil and motor oils were spreading across the roadway, so we dispatched our spill response equipment and a team to safely handle the fuel spill cleanup.

Pro-Tow reported to the incident command post and after reviewing the situation, we created a recovery plan. This job required difficult additional rigging, equipment and careful operation because of the location of the truck. First, we installed rigging and performed a test lift to make sure all emergency personnel would be safe. Specialized high-pressure air bags were used to lift the trailer, and wide recovery straps were added for support to prevent any rupturing.

We were able to not only safely and successfully upright the truck, but we were able to do so with minimal lane closure and in little time. With the truck accident recovery successful, the truck was then moved to a nearby parking lot.

Moving Onto Cleanup Duty

Next was handling the excessive amounts of casualty debris on the roads. The debris was collected and contained, and the roadway swept and cleaned. The embankment also needed reshaping, which we did to the maximum practical extent. Emergency fuel spill cleanup response protocols were implemented to handle the fuel and motor oil spills and a compact trailer used to remove the contaminated soil.

In the end, the tractor and trailer were safely transported to the storage yard, and all equipment was returned to its original location. A job well done and safely handled by our Pro-Tow team!

Smoked in Issaquah: Heavy-Duty Tow Needed for Burnt Out Tractor and Trailer

by cdcidevel | Sep 14, 2020 | Heavy Duty Tow, Heavy Duty Towing, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery, Semi-Truck Towing, Truck Accident, Truck Accident Recovery, Truck Towing

On March 7, 2020, Team Pro-tow received an emergency dispatch regarding a fully burned-out semi-tractor and trailer that was blocking the I-90 near Issaquah, WA. The Washington State Police requested a heavy-duty tow truck to the scene, as well as a cleanup crew to clean up the truck accident and get the roadway back open.

Team Pro-Tow Quickly Responds

Without delay, we were able to mobilize a team of professional semi-truck accident recovery personnel, and the heavy-duty tow equipment required to handle this unusual and challenging incident. Both Pro-Tow and Pro-Enviro were on the scene, bring our specialized equipment, and certified and trained operators in no time. We were ready to get to work on this recovery.

Hookup, Tow, and Cleanup

After surveying the scene of the fire and truck accident, Team Pro-Tow was able to safely hook up the semi-tractor and trailer to our towing equipment and remove it from the roadway. Once the tractor and trailer were out of the way, we employed our truck accident recovery and cleanup crew. To do this, we used a Bobcat compact track loader, industrial-grade grapple, and a specialized street sweeper.

All the debris, ashes, truck parts, and contaminates were cleaned up and secured in a dump trailer for safe disposal. Our tireless teams worked through the night to restore I-90 to a safe condition, so all regular travel on the roadway could continue.

Once the cleanup and truck accident recovery was complete, all Pro-Tow and Pro-Enviro teammates returned the tractor and trailer to our secured storage yard in Auburn, WA. Here, we continued unloading the debris, prepared the manifest, and completed an extensive cleanup of all equipment.

Service Undisrupted During COVID-19 Crisis

Pro-Tow, Pro-Enviro, and Motorplex would like to inform our clientele, and the greater public, that there will not be a disruption in service as we endure the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that the trucking industry is critical at this time, moving vital medical supplies, food, and goods throughout the nation. We are committed to supporting this industry, through our heavy-duty towing and repair services as well as full accident and spill recovery services.

Almost Made it, Almost Didn’t: Heavy-Duty Towing Required

by cdcidevel | Jul 1, 2020 | Accident Recovery, Heavy Duty Towing, Recovery, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery

Earlier last month, the SR18 was closed. When a highway closes, semi-trucks will take alternative routes to get where they’re going. In some cases, the driver might not be as familiar with the new route. An unfamiliar road and tight turn was the problem in this semi-truck accident recovery incident.

A semi-truck and trailer loaded with paper rolls were on a new route, and the corner was a little tighter than the driver anticipated. He didn’t quite make the turn, and it nearly caused the truck and trailer to flip. This recovery was a job for Pro-Tow and our heavy-duty towing crew.

The truck was about 80,000 pounds, which meant we had to use our heavy-duty crane style wrecker to undo this mistake. After we carefully set it up and rigged the trailer properly, we were able to relocate the loaded container to a better position and location. Then the driver was able to continue his travels and make his delivery of paper rolls.

Semi-Trucks Need To Make Slow Wide Turns

Cornering a semi-truck and a loaded trailer is something any driver will have to do, whether in the city or coming on and off roadway ramps. Unfortunately, even a small miscalculation, when cornering, can cause a big problem. If you have too much momentum and not enough area to turn in, your load will start to push the rig into the turn. In bad cases, this can cause the trailer to want to flip.

The key to safely turning semi-trucks is to take the turn slowly. That’s why you’ll notice most big rigs taking their turns at a near crawl. If they slow down too late, it can cause the momentum to shift cargo, and then accidents happen. Trucks also need plenty of space when turning. Truck drivers need to pay close attention to surrounding traffic, but for those of us in regular vehicles, we need to make sure we are giving them the space they need to turn safely. Remember, both loads and lives might depend on it.

Pro-Tow offers heavy-duty towing services and semi-truck accident recovery. Count on us 24 hours a day.

What Causes Vehicle Fires?

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm

DROP US A CALL