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RIDE-ALONG

Posted July 15, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

It's a dreary Wednesday on the haul road and I'm aboard one of the 163 tractor-trailers, according to Knight Hawk Coal statistics, that represent the 46 trucking companies KHC contracts with to run coal from the mines to the Lone Eagle Dock along Route 3 between Chester and Rockwood.

In the past several months, there have been several significant traffic accidents involving tractor-trailers along Route 150 and Route 154, including ones in which the truck driver was not at fault.

To better understand the daily challenges the truck drivers face, I took part in a ride-along with Joe "Preacher" Watson, who regularly drives the route in question as a part of Ellis Trucking.

Watson, 60, started driving in 1975 and will soon celebrate his 40th anniversary behind the wheel. He's been with Ellis Trucking for four years, but his career has had him haul a variety of loads.

As I settled into the passenger's seat, Watson tells me he hadn't told anybody about the ride-along. That's fine, as my assignment was approved by KHC officials weeks ago, but flooding and conflicting schedules forced a delay.

"This is not the easiest trucking job I've ever had," Watson said, shifting gears with a practiced rhythm. "It's dangerous, you're around heavy equipment all the time, traffic, all that stuff is in your mind."

The Haul Road

According to KHC, the Route 150/Route 4 corridor handles 95 percent of the daily trips to Lone Eagle Dock, with a typical day amounting to 16,000 tons of coal delivered.

Once at the dock, trucks dump their loads on a grate built into the road beneath them, which then transfers the coal along a conveyor belt to a waiting barge on the nearby Mississippi River.

But that's the easy part. Getting to the dock is a separate matter entirely.

The haul road takes drivers through Chester, Steeleville and Percy, with rolling hills from the Mary's River Covered Bridge to the Steeleville T. The traffic between those cities is often one of the dangers of trucking in Randolph County.

Watson said he's seen vehicles - cars and trucks alike - close to within 15 feet of a truck's tailgate during runs to and from the mines. He also said he sees a lot of texting while driving, which is illegal in Illinois.

At roughly 80,000 pounds fully loaded, Watson said it could take up to 100 yards for a tractor-trailer to go from 55 mph to a full stop.

"There's stuff that can happen just like that," Watson said. "People follow too close. I've seen trucks follow too close, I've seen cars follow too close.

"You've probably seen the stickers on the back of the trailers that say if you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you. (Drivers) get a little anxious, get in a hurry...not good."

Watson said the trucks are more dangerous when they're empty.

"You slide around a lot more," he said. "You don't have the weight holding you down and you're supposed to follow between three or four truck lengths behind traffic."

An accident on June 26 on Route 154 at Eden Road was caused when the trailer of a tractor-trailer fishtailed on wet pavement and struck an oncoming Wenneman Meat Company pickup truck.

Other recent accidents along Route 150 and Route 154 ultimately claimed two lives and involved tractor-trailers that were not the cause of the accident.

"These guys, most of them have been doing it for 20-30 years," Watson said, referring to the coal truck drivers. "They can deal with (accidents) and learned to deal with it. They're really good guys."

Drivers are paid by the ton, with $3.35 the current rate, to haul coal to the dock. According to KHC, the company paid more than $22 million in wages and fuel surcharges to trucking contractors in 2014.

When asked what the challenges are driving the Route 150/Route 4 corridor, Watson only said "peace."

"If you've got peace in your heart, you can handle about anything," he said. "A lot of self-control with a lot of traffic, some not so nice.

"And that goes both ways, I don't want to...but you know."

The Facebook Effect

For every accident that involves a truck, whether it was the driver's fault or not, a fresh round of criticism seems to follow in a war of words that plays out across social media.

Based on the recent history of comments on The Herald Tribune's Facebook page, people in general seem quick to judge the drivers, even hours before an official crash report is released.

"You get some of it over the CB," Watson said, when asked if the drivers discuss what they read on Facebook. "Some of the younger guys do. Older guys, in one ear and out the other, they've got better things to do."

Watson said the drivers are generally like a big family, with a twist. During the ride-along, he interacted with his fellow drivers by their CB nickname with Stranger, Bullwinkle, Big Red being a few of the names.

"You've got your outlaws and your in-laws," he said with a chuckle. "I guess that's the general way to put it."

The Turn Lane

Watson said drivers are looking forward to the new turn lane at the intersection of Opdyke and State streets in Chester. The Chester City Council approved turning over a 0.58 acre section of Opdyke Street to the Illinois Department of Transportation to aid in the project, which is being paid for by KHC.

"Chester people at that intersection, for the most part, are very courteous," Watson said. "That goes both ways. We'll let two or three cars go.

"They're very good to us and It's a good relationship. It could always be better, but it's a good relationship."

Faith in freedom

When asked what he likes about driving, Watson's answer was short.

"Freedom," he said.

Asked to explain, he said it was more about having freedom along the road.

"It's not an 8-to-5 job in an office," he said.

Watson also spoke on how he earned his nickname.

"In 1997, the Lord got ahold of me and rededicated my life," he said. "I've spent most of it on the road the last 18 years. I preached out on the road, giving away Bibles, tracks and tapes (to other drivers)."

In the end, Watson's message was simple.

"Trucks move America," Watson said. "Without them, nothing's ever going to get done."

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