re: stuff falling off truck/trailer horry stories

Last fall I had rented a big air compressor for a job. It was one of those that needed its own small trailer to haul around. So I was driving down the highway in the left lane when the trailer started to wiggle. I was like "uh-oh". Next thing I know the right side of the trailer slams onto the asphalt, and as I slow down the tire passes me.

I pull into the median and watch the tire. The road curves a little up ahead, so the tire crosses the median, hops the ditch in the middle, stays on course and goes into oncoming traffic. Cars are swerving, slamming on their brakes. I'm just praying no one is going to die from the inevitable accident. But no one hits it or anyone else, and the tire keeps rolling out of sight.

So I call the rental company and try to explain to them what happened, and for them to bring me another compressor. The guy on the phone tells me that tires on the trailer are the responsibility of the customer. I tell him that the tire looked completely fine as it passed me going 55mph down the road. It was the wheel that sheered off the axle that was the problem. He asked me to send a pic. I did. His manager called me back and apologized and said they'd bring me another one.

Now, as I get off the phone and get out of the truck, I see smoke everywhere. I look back and the entire median behind me is engulfed in flames. Sparks from the axle had caught it on fire. Fire department had to come and put it out. Crazy day that day.