My Miracle was not just my own, it was a miracle for at least a dozen souls, as well as their families too.
As another Lead Foot Meat Hauler always running the left lane (AKA the Monfort Lane) pulling Refrigerated LTL loads between New York City, and Chicago, Ill. We knew the risks, we knew the roads, and we knew just how far to push the limits. Both the speed limits and the weight limits. LTL loads are simply an abbreviation for “Less Than Truckload” or multiple stops from multiple shippers, most of the time with various types of refrigerated cargo such as Beef, Lamb, Pork, and/or Cheese etc. We carried Swinging Sides of Beef and Lamb suspended from the ceilings of our trailer and loaded boxed meat and cheese in the spaces below. Yup, overweight but, only about 15k lbs to 20k lbs overweight. This was common practice back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. As an owner Operator you knew the risks and you managed them, to a point where they those risks are almost mitigated. But those risks were always there, in the back of your mind. Always hoping for the best, while we could not stop thinking of the worst-case scenario. Always thinking of how I would react if this or that happens, like a deer jumping out in front of me, etc. It was another Eastbound run on a drizzling, and dreary Saturday afternoon, which turned into a day I will never forget. As far as I am concerned, what happened that day was in my eyes a Miracle.
It was Christmas week, and I had delivered 8 stops from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis, then ran up to Chicago making at least 6 or 7 pick-ups along the way. It was Friday, and I was focused on getting home before New Years Eve. There were several of us Owner Operators that ran for this company, and we each had and area of operation. We would all meet at a cross dock terminal in Chicago, to swap and consolidate our cargo. I covered Metropolitan NYC area and Long Island. Just another typical Friday, leaving out of town at about Midnight, then meeting up in Lake Station Indiana to fuel up, and scale the trucks. Top off the fluids check the tires and add a little more air pressure to our tires since we were all heavy. This way we do not look heavy, but we are sacrificing traction. Another Risk we try to manage. This time tomorrow I will home in my own bed, and with my Family.
We all set out from Lake Station at 3 am, with full bellies and full tanks, everyone was heavy this trip. There were five of us in all and as always, I ran the front door. We all ran with CB radios tuned to channel 19 so we could hear what is going on up in front of us and as well as behind of us. We loved those radios; they kept us all awake and talking the whole trip. Connected you could say. We run at about 80 mph until the State Line.
We watched the Sun rise as we crossed into Ohio, and I stayed about a half mile or so in front of the guys. Just far enough to give them time to slow down if “Smokey Bear” is running West and checking for Eastbound speeders. They use Moving Radar, it allows them to travel in one direction while shooting radar at the traffic in the oncoming lanes. Then they make a U-turn and chase you down to hand you a citation. This is a very effective way of catching speeders. Even running at 70 mph is pushing it here. However, a half mile is not far enough from the guys if they don’t stop yacking away on the CB radio. I need to hear the other drivers, and these guys are Jabber Jawing on the radio.
About 4 hours later we cross into Pennsylvania, another state behind me. I’m almost home now. It starts to drizzle but, I am just getting my second wind and we are cruising steady now at about 85 MPH. Drizzle is off and on but no big deal. We start climbing Snow Shoe Mountain, the continental Divide and the highest elevation on I-80 in Pa. The guys will not stop jabber jawing. Unknown to us there was a terrible wreck just two miles ahead, but we did not hear the other drivers warning us over the radio, because the guys are talking and joking and just keeping each other awake.
As I crossed along the top of Snow Shoe I noticed the mist from the wet road surface was no longer coming off my trailer tires. A sure sign of BLACK ICE, the light drizzle is now frozen on the east side of the mountain. In that moment I begin yelling to my buddies on the CB “we got ICE… back it down, I am losing traction…back it down”. I started slowing down as I was still on level ground and when I would apply the brakes, the trailer would slide out of its lane. I was still on the CB repeating the alert, “BLACK ICE – Back it down….DO NOT come down the mountain. HOLD all traffic up top”. Then as I hit 60 mph, I came around the last bend before the steep down grade side of the mountain, there it was, a 10 or 12 car and truck pile up, about 1.5 miles straight down this hill. I cannot even slow down as the road surface is still Black ICE. As I am yelling on the CB STOP—–“DO Not come over the mountain, BLACK ICE – Back Out of It”. Trying to slow down so, I begin braking again, there more I apply the brakes the further into the left lane my trailer goes. Now I have the weight of the load pushing me and there is no slowing down. But there is nowhere for me to go. All the while still screaming on the CB to stop my Buddies from following me. Trucks were overturned in the center median, others Jackknifed and turned around buried in snow, cars were all over the place, and people were out of their cars on the shoulder. I could see all lanes blocked and people jumping out of their cars. I knew they could see me coming. Still a mile away but nothing to stop this disaster from occurring. I am playing each scenario in my head, and I was not going to let anyone else get hurt. I could hammer down to regain control and either turn right and go over the embankment and down 150’ to the freezing River, or turn left and bury it in the center median, hoping not to hit anyone. Then with only a half mile to go it happened, the right lane is clear. The Left Lane and the right shoulder were blocked, but by some miracle the right lane was now open. I just pressed down hard as I could on the accelerator, and watched the trailer easily straighten out. The people on the shoulder were not able to even stand behind the guardrail as there was a very steep drop off there. My trailer was no longer pushing me but now my speed was climbing 80-85-90 then I called for the other drivers behind me, and as they confirmed I was the last truck over the mountain that day, I came up on the scene of the Accident at the bottom of the hill. Then in an instant “Swoosh” I went right straight past it flying in the right lane, as it was MIRACULOUSLY wide open. I looked into the eyes of one of the people along the shoulder as she was clapping her hands in dis-belief that a jackknifed truck, across two lanes and easily headed over the edge on the right, or buried in snow from previous storms in the center median. Yet somehow, could recover without so much as a scratch. I know there is a purpose for my life, there must be. I am not sure what it is, but I vow to seek his guidance. Every day of my life, I thank the Lord for allowing me another chance at LIFE.