More Pictures From Feed Truck Wreck 4/29/08

A Special Thanks

I would like to thank my mentor, Eric Thomas, for all of the time, help, and knowledge he has given me. I would also like to thank everyone else at Secrest Wrecker Service. They stepped in to help me in any way they could. For more information on the company visit www.secrestwrecker.com

More Pictures

Final Stage of Product Complete

Today I finished the final part of my product. I used the knowledge I have gained over the past few weeks to upright a semi truck. My mentor rolled the truck over onto its side, and I then had to analyze the situation, choose what equipment I needed, rig it for an upright, and then secure and tow it. Everything went very smoothly. I chose wrecker number 33 to perform this recovery due to its size and pulling power. I positioned it uphill from the rolled over truck, and ran the two boom winches through snatch blocks off of the recovery spades of the wrecker to the front leaf spring and the rear pintle hook. It was then just a matter of easing the truck back over onto its wheels by feathering the controls. After the truck was upright again I backed up to it and chained, lifted and secured it to the wrecker for transport.

More Real-Life Experience

Last week I was lucky enough to be able to experience another real-life heavy vehicle accident recovery. A feed tanker overturned into a ditch on a farm. A crane and two wreckers were needed to upright it. I learned how a crane can be used in recovery situations, and how to do what the industry calls a "reverse roll" with two wreckers. This was a particularly good example for me of how hard it is to find good attachment points to lift from when a vehicle is on its side. After the job was complete my mentor and I critiqued what we had done and discussed every detail.

Fieldwork Started

I have completed my research paper and am in the process of completing my 15 hours of work with my mentor. We have went over tools and equipment, and have worked several large truck wrecks including the one pictured above on Interstate 485. I am learning more and more every day.