In my early years, it was common for log truck drivers to bail out of a log truck on steep roads when the brakes would heat up too much to slow it down. I don’t remember hearing any of them got killed.
Judy
Looks like possibly an Autocar truck.
L.E.
I hope the driver bailed. Looks like lumber might have gone through the cab window.
Kenn
Mechanical brakes and only on the rear axle, not a combination that contributes to long life for drivers, loads or trucks.
Charlott
Growing up on the bottom of Fir Mountain we could hear those old logging trucks coming from way up the mountain side. There was a culvert under the road. We would hear those trucks coming and the race would be on. We would line up head to toe in the culvert and talk about a thrill when that logging truck went over us.
I remember a couple of truck wrecks up there. Once those old things got rolling they weren’t all that easy to stop. I agree, the drivers tried to bail. I kind of recall one didn’t make it though.
There is a face above Pine Grove that has the remainder of an old road. A truck rolled off that road and did for some reason stop about half way down. I can still see the load of logs, which for some reason stayed together.
Kenn
Early log trucks had water streaming on the brakes on downgrades for brake drum cooling. A water tank was mounted high on the rear of the cab with a valve to open on down grades. Coming down a grade if you saw the twin streaks of water on the road, caution was in order as there was a slow truck ahead.
Kenn
In comment above I should have mentioned the water on the brakes was replaced when the Jacobs engine brake (Jake Brake or compression brake) was developed that we hear so often on trucks. From one axle brakes on a truck (even when trailers were added) to water cooling, to air brakes to present day engine braking. Vacuum brakes were tried on the first trailers but the road dust did them in.
Buzz
In my early years, it was common for log truck drivers to bail out of a log truck on steep roads when the brakes would heat up too much to slow it down. I don’t remember hearing any of them got killed.
Judy
Looks like possibly an Autocar truck.
L.E.
I hope the driver bailed. Looks like lumber might have gone through the cab window.
Kenn
Mechanical brakes and only on the rear axle, not a combination that contributes to long life for drivers, loads or trucks.
Charlott
Growing up on the bottom of Fir Mountain we could hear those old logging trucks coming from way up the mountain side. There was a culvert under the road. We would hear those trucks coming and the race would be on. We would line up head to toe in the culvert and talk about a thrill when that logging truck went over us.
I remember a couple of truck wrecks up there. Once those old things got rolling they weren’t all that easy to stop. I agree, the drivers tried to bail. I kind of recall one didn’t make it though.
There is a face above Pine Grove that has the remainder of an old road. A truck rolled off that road and did for some reason stop about half way down. I can still see the load of logs, which for some reason stayed together.
Kenn
Early log trucks had water streaming on the brakes on downgrades for brake drum cooling. A water tank was mounted high on the rear of the cab with a valve to open on down grades. Coming down a grade if you saw the twin streaks of water on the road, caution was in order as there was a slow truck ahead.
Kenn
In comment above I should have mentioned the water on the brakes was replaced when the Jacobs engine brake (Jake Brake or compression brake) was developed that we hear so often on trucks. From one axle brakes on a truck (even when trailers were added) to water cooling, to air brakes to present day engine braking. Vacuum brakes were tried on the first trailers but the road dust did them in.