Some nonpartisan outrage

[drumdude]

The first thing a trucker should have done in that emergency situation is to look for the runaway truck lane.

He drove past it thinking he could control the truck.

[drumdude]

The governor reduced the sentence to 10 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4oXhbXo1I4

[Gunnar]

He Certainly should have searched for a runaway truck lane and taken it if one was available, but I agree that the minimum mandatory sentencing guideline was probably unjust in this case. If there was negligence on the part of the trucking company in maintenance of the truck, they should share culpability for the tragedy. I can't help but wonder, though, if the fact that he was Hispanic helped tip the balance towards guilty in the jurors' minds.

Was there any indication that he tried to slow the truck using engine braking via down shifting to lower gears? If not, that could have contributed to the accident.

It's too bad that he didn't have a Tesla Semitruck so he could have utilized regenerative braking.

The Tesla Semi truck can’t be copied, and the others are embarrassing far behind

[Father Francis]

He Certainly should have searched for a runaway truck lane and taken it if one was available, but I agree that the minimum mandatory sentencing guideline was probably unjust in this case. If there was negligence on the part of the trucking company in maintenance of the truck, they should share culpability for the tragedy. I can't help but wonder, though, if the fact that he was Hispanic helped tip the balance towards guilty in the jurors' minds.

Was there any indication that he tried to slow the truck using engine braking via down shifting to lower gears? If not, that could have contributed to the accident.

It's too bad that he didn't have a Tesla Semitruck so he could have utilized regenerative braking.

The Tesla Semi truck can’t be copied, and the others are embarrassing far behind

They guy went past more than one runaway lane. I've also read that he wasn't properly trained and the trucks were not safe for the road.

That being said, he shouldn't have been sentenced to 110 years and the trucking company needs to take their share of the blame.

[Res Ipsa]

The governor reduced the sentence to 10 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4oXhbXo1I4

Good to see the ultimate check on the system step up and do his job.

[drumdude]

The governor reduced the sentence to 10 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4oXhbXo1I4

Good to see the ultimate check on the system step up and do his job.

Only because he got enough publicity. Mandatory minimum sentences need to be abolished.

[Gunnar]

They guy went past more than one runaway lane. I've also read that he wasn't properly trained and the trucks were not safe for the road.

That being said, he shouldn't have been sentenced to 110 years and the trucking company needs to take their share of the blame

Given those facts, I can't help but agree with you.

Unfortunately, there is a chronic and growing shortage of well qualified truck drivers, that major trucking companies are desperately trying to fill. Given that fact, it would not be surprising that he wasn't properly trained. That was probably not entirely his fault. There is a frighteningly large number of inadequately trained truck drivers on the road nowadays.

The trucking industry is short 80,000 drivers, a record high, Chris Spear, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, tells CNN.

Why some say the worst of the supply chain woes are near an end
Why some say the worst of the supply chain woes are near an end
That's a 30% increase from before the pandemic, when the industry already faced a labor shortage of 61,500 drivers.
"That's a pretty big spike," Spear added. Many drivers are retiring, dropping out of the industry. Increased consumer demand, prompting a need for more drivers, also plays a big role in the shortfall.

This is another area where the new Tesla Cyber Semis can help, because they reportedly will have the ability to drive autonomously.

[Father Francis]

Unfortunately, there is a chronic and growing shortage of well qualified truck drivers, that major trucking companies are desperately trying to fill. Given that fact, it would not be surprising that he wasn't properly trained. That was probably not entirely his fault. There is a frighteningly large number of inadequately trained truck drivers on the road nowadays.

Honestly, I feel bad for the guy. He probably didn't even realize his training was inadequate and he certainly didn't mean to hurt anyone. I'm sure he's going to suffer the rest of his life from unimaginable guilt. I really hold the trucking company more responsible than him.

[Gunnar]

Honestly, I feel bad for the guy. He probably didn't even realize his training was inadequate and he certainly didn't mean to hurt anyone. I'm sure he's going to suffer the rest of his life from unimaginable guilt. I really hold the trucking company more responsible than him.

I'm inclined to feel the same way. I have to also feel some sympathy for the trucking companies too, though. They are finding themselves in an increasingly desperate bind as a large proportion of their experienced drivers are reaching retirement age at a much faster rate than new, younger drivers are being recruited, while consumer demand for their services seems to be accelerating. I imagine that there is probably an increasingly acute shortage of qualified truck driving instructors as well. It is not a very pretty or enviable state of affairs for either the drivers or their employers.

[Father Francis]

I'm inclined to feel the same way. I have to also feel some sympathy for the trucking companies too, though. They are finding themselves in an increasingly desperate bind as a large proportion of their experienced drivers are reaching retirement age at a much faster rate than new, younger drivers are being recruited, while consumer demand for their services seems to be accelerating. I imagine that there is probably an increasingly acute shortage of qualified truck driving instructors as well. It is not a very pretty or enviable state of affairs for either the drivers or their employers.

I agree.

On a similar note, there's an insane shortage in healthcare right now. The other day I worked my unit of 27 patients with 3 nurses, two aides and one respiratory therapist. That meant 27 trached patients on vents with just one therapist and only two aides on a unit where most people require two aides for routine cares. The aides are supposed to round on each patient every two hours. That gives them a little over 4 minutes per patient to fulfill their duty. I can tell you from experience that even the easiest patients take at least 10 minutes for CNA cares.