Is there anything else I should do in a situation like this?

Question

For those who don't know, I drive a truck for a living. Say I'm driving down the road one day and I notice that there's thick black smoke pooring out of the side of the trailer (but no flames). After pulling off to the side of the road, calling 911, leaving trailer doors closed, and separating truck from trailer (only if it is safe to do so), is there anything else I should do?

Answer 1

The smoke is a pretty big indicator to other traffic that something is wrong, but you should put out warning devices behind and ahead if it is safe to do so.

Answer 2

Take your bill of lading with you and get very far clear, and upwind.  When calling 911, inform them that you have the bill of lading with you, and are able to identify the cargo for them, especially if there's a haz-mat involved.  Make sure they understand that there is haz-mat involvement.  This will help with pre-arrival planning and proper equipment response.  Follow their prompts, though, and don't try to force-feed them the info before they're ready for it.   If you're familiar with the area, and have your bearings, it can't hurt to tell them which direction the smoke is blowing.  Then, give the bill of lading to the first fire officer on scene. It will help them greatly, in recognizing what material(s) they're dealing with, if they haven't already researched it while enroute.

I would disagree with the flares (for obvious reasons) cones, or triangles though.  In standard US road configuration, you would be pulled over to the right, and at the front of the truck.  You can't safely put enough space bewteen you and the truck in order to get behind it to deploy your cones, without walking out into the travel lane(s) and you definitely don't want to hug the side of a burning trailer, or wander through the smoke just for the sake of some cones.   The other motorists will see the thick smoke long before they'd see the cones anyway.  Simply, for what good it would do, it's not worth the risk.  

Disconnecting the truck from the trailer has a more definitive impact on public safety, though, as you're removing a large quantity of fuel from the fire's reach.  Ultimately, you will have to rely on your best judgement, as to whether or not you can safely uncouple, or if it is worth the risk.  If in doubt, park it and get away from it.

Thick black smoke indicates that the fire has most-likely progressed beyond a fire extinguisher's usefulness.  Don't take the personal risk, or waste your time with it.

Answer 3

If you have them with you, place marker flares 200 feet behind the trailer, and have the hazard lights on your trucks cab flashing and a marker flare 100 feet in front of it. If you have called 911 be sure to tell them to send the fire department also and not just the highway patrol.

DO NOT make yourself a target by trying to direct traffic!!!

Answer 4

Call your insurance company, and file an official police report.

Answer 5

I can't believe you are asking this question when you say you drive a truck for a living.

I would say you should carry a fire extinguisher in the cab....put flares out on the road.....etc.  It would depend also on what cargo you were carrying...how flammable is it?  Do you have a hazmat permit?  Too many variables to answer very well.

Answer 6

All depends on what is in the trailer and who owns it (has to pay if it gets toasted).

Answer 7

If you were not hauling any Haz Mat- put out your triangles behind the trailer to warn oncoming vehicles after you've called 911 to have FD to come out & investigate cause of smoke.

Class 1, 2, 2.1, 3, 4, 6, 8 & 9 Haz Mat- evacuate. If the smoke was so thick you could see it while traveling down the road, don't even waste time trying to uncouple the trailer. Contact 911 & Chemtrec & advise them of smoke coming from a trailer hauling Haz Mat & type of material.